Many different dog breeds are used for hunting. According to Libraryindex.com, "The primary dog breeds used in hunting are beagles, spaniels, griffons, retrievers, setters, pointers and hounds. Dogs that hunt mostly by scent are called scent hounds, and dogs that hunt mostly by sight are called sight hounds. Hunting dogs perform a variety of tasks, including tracking prey, pointing prey out to the hunter and retrieving downed prey after it is shot."
Teaching your dog to hunt fox, or any prey for that matter, takes time and patience. Dogs love to please their masters so it shouldn't take too long for your animal to catch on. If your dog is just a puppy, be prepared to spend a lot more time with it than you would an older dog. Be sure to have plenty of treats on hand to reward the good behavior.
Things You'll Need
- Dog treats
- Retractable leash
- Choke collar
- Fox pelt
Instructions
Teach your dog to sit. Put your hand on your dog's back by it's hind end and lightly push down as you say "sit" to your dog. Keep practicing this until your dog obeys your command. Give your dog praise and a treat when he obeys the command to reinforce the behavior.
Teach your dog to hold. Command your dog to sit. Slowly back away from the dog while holding your arm out with the palm up and giving the command "hold." If he is having difficulty following you, approach him again and tell him to sit. Once he is again seated, repeat the backing away procedure with the outstretched arm until he gets the idea and stays where you leave him. Most dogs desire to please their owners, so with a little patience and a few treats you should be able to train him.
Teach your dog to come to you. Place a long, retractable leash and a choke collar on your dog and play with him for a few minutes, then let him wander around as he desires while still on the leash. Give the command "come," and if he resists, tighten the collar slightly and repeat the command "come." It won't take him long to get the idea. When he does come to you of his own accord, give him another treat.
Teach your dog to fetch. Place a fox pelt at some distance from you and your dog. Tell your dog to "fetch" the pelt, and then command him to bring it to you. Repeat this until your dog retrieves the pelt and brings it back to you. Praise the dog for a job well done.
Teach your dog to smell the scent. Show your dog a fox pelt and let him smell it thoroughly. Take the skin away from him and tell him to sit, then stay. Hide the pelt from him and then give the "fetch" command. Dogs have a very keen sense of smell, so it shouldn't take long for him to learn this lesson.