Let your friends take your dog??

[Mayfly]

I got a question for everyone. I would like to hear some input on this.

Do you or would you let your friends or family take your dog hunting???


I do and I can't figure out why someone wouldn't. If I can't make it out and someone wants to hunt my dog then by all means take her! She is a hunting dog and it is not fair to make her sit home while I work when she could be out hunting...right?? I trust her, she listens and if she doesn't she comes with a shock collar 

If I had kids that were old enough I would let them go hunting with their friends why would I not let my dog go with friends??

Someone made a comment like I was crazy for doing so and i just don't get it.

 

[cobb]

My kids, maybe, depending on who the individual was that they were going hunting with. 

My dog, no.

I can explain to my kids what the person that they were hunting with did unethical, illegal, or just plain wrong.  If the person they went hunting with instructed them wrong, demonstrated poor judgment or even scolded them, thus maybe confusing them when they were actually doing right.  My kids are smart and I can explain everything to correct these wrong, I cannot do that with my dog.

[schwinger]

Good question, I have let my father-in-law take my dog once or twice, but wouldn't let just anyone take him. I would let most friends and family take him depending on where they are going and who is in the group. Kind of like my kid I guess.

I can see where some people wouldn't though. It is alot of responsibilty to take someone elses dog especially if its for any length of time. I wouldn't take someone elses dog with me just because of the chance of the worst happening.

[golddogs]

NO WAY !!

I have one person I might let run my dogs. I have way too much time. $$$$ and effort in my guys to let someone who doesn't own dogs take them.

[GirlGuide]

Many years ago I let my old boyfriend and some friends take my springer spaniel hunting, I trusted him with her and he had taken her out many times. She was an incredible hunting dog, and I don't bird hunt or duck hunt and my dog always loved going with him.  In a joking manner, I would always warn him as they were leaving I'd say "don't even come home, if something happens to her!"  I never in a million years thought something would happen to her because I knew he cared about her as much as I did.  But then one day I got "the phone call" ...he called me up and said that Sadie had been shot!!  OMG, I about died, I said "you better be  lying to me!"  Well, he wasn't.  One of his friends had accidentally shot her.  My boyfriend had to bring her to a clinic that was almost 2 hours away to get help for her. The shot wasn't fatal and she ended up being okay, thank God!  I had a hard time talking with the friend that shot him, I know that he felt horrible and apologized as much as possible, BUT I still don't understand how you mistake a dog for a grouse... What the hell?? 
Live and learn I guess, and I learned my lesson.  NEVER again, did I let her go with these guys, I did let her go with my boyfriend again, but only when it was just him and my dog.

~gg

[Bobby Bass]

One of my dogs, Bud is a hunting machine, well grouse anyway. I do let him go out with a select few friends. My knee prevents me from getting out in the woods as much as I would like and this lets Bud get in the time hunting that he needs. He is now over eight and is starting to slow down some so we don't let him go out as much as when he was younger. ( no back to back days) A condition of his hunting is he is also taken out during the year for trips that are not during hunting season so he is not just being used for two months out of the year and then ignored. So if you want to hunt over him you have to spend time with him during the year. I do have a brother in law who lost his time with Bud because he was to busy during the summer to spend time with him  but did have time to bird hunt. As he gets older it will be just me and him.

PS, I don't worry about a shock collar because none of my dogs have ever felt one. Old school I guess, handy training tool, I just choose not to use them. They know by the tone of my voice if they are in the right or wrong and I have been lucky with some pretty good dogs.

[RedNJBird]

Years ago in highschool my best friend's parents were out of town for the weekend. Her boyfriend decided to take her dad's dog, (Best friend, left hand, pride and joy, etc...) out hunting. He ended up accidentally shooting and killing him.

We don't let anyone take our gsp Gunner out, partially because of my past experience and also because he's a sensitive dog. A stern voice usually corrects him and if not a warning tone from the collar. Red had to shock him once in the 4 years we've had him, (chasing turkeys) but other than that the collar goes on only to let him know it's time to do his job. We've hunted with other people and their dogs and its upsetting to see how freely and frequently they'll zap the dogs. It'd make me sick if someone did that to Gunner.

Maybe if it were someone we knew well and had hunted with enough. When my father-in-law visits it'd be fine...all we'd have to worry about is him feeding the dog bologne sandwiches. But so far it seems like the only guy's who ask are the ones who don't like dogs enough to own one but want to hunt with one.

[thunderpout]

Gotta chime in here, lets just start by sayin I myself am pretty picky in who I will bird hunt with, let alone sending my dog off with someone... Ive turned down(or made excuses ) to quite a few people that have wanted to go grouse hunting... some I wouldnt trust with a gun, alot I wouldnt want to show my hunting spots (close freinds maybe.. )... pheasent hunting tends to be more of a social occasion, if you will, everybodys cousin, nephew & brother in law goes, and your putting yer life in the hands of people you may know, but do you REALLY know their habits, experience, knowledge and common sense when hunting? Im not even talking about having my dogs here... of all the people I have hunted birds with, there's maybe two I would even consider "lending" my dog to, and I would question that a bit as to why I wasnt going with, and why we just didnt wait till I could go, if I couldnt...Those two guys would do the same for me I suppose If I asked, but its a weird favor.... almost like if a friend asked if he could take your girlfriend out on a date....   My only exeptions I would make would be if I had kids,(which I dont) and they'd have to be ready to do so, or my dad, but he's hung up his hunting duds years back... so I guess the answer is a basic NO....

[The General]

I will definately let my friends and family take my dog out anytime I'm not hunting.  Which gives them most of the days of the week and possibly 1 or 2 weekends.  I don't miss too many weekends of pheasant hunting.

[Spinach]

I would only allow a select couple of people take my dog out hunting, for the most part my answer would be a no, my brother is one person that I would allow and maybe one more person that I can think of. Too many things could happen in the woods and I'd hate to put any of my friends in a bad position in case something bad would happen.

My brother has hunted with me many times and handles my dog exactly as I do.

Other than that i would have to say no to anyone asking 

[Buster]

I agree with most postings. Very few people would be allowed the honor of hunting with my dog, except my normal hunting party members. Fortunately I have had a hunting party member allow me to hunt with his dog on a 3 day trip to SD no less. I am concerned about the freak accident, or an injury espec to the dogs foot/leg so am very careful, and know my party members are also.
My new pup is coming along nicely so next year the point will be moot.

[guythathunts]

I would let some of my hunting buddies and my brothers bring Duke, but not everyone. I want Duke to get out as much as he can, but if it is someone I don't trust I won't let them take him. Duke's my best bud and I would not put him in a situation that I didn't think would be safe or healthy for him. The guys that I would let take him, I have respect for, and they have respect for Duke. Also, if it is not someone that will watch him for a weekend while I am out of town, they are not going to take him in the field. My hunting buddies are my dog sitters!

[Cody Gruchow]

nope never in a million years would i let someone take my dog without me being there. to many things can happen. one of them can be someone shooting at low flying birds and hitting my dog who bounces alot when going through a field so that acciedent can happen very easily with a careless hunter. that and my dog really doesnt respond to alot of different people besides me, he wasnt socialized very well when he was a pup,(before i got him) so he shys away from other people and plus the reason i got him in the first place is because he will only hunt for ME! BTW greg aka thunderpout told me all his secret grouse hunting spots lol

[thunderpout]

SSShhhhh!

[Cody Gruchow]

for sale on ebay 

[Faceman]

I have always wanted a good hunting dog but have not had any yet. I dont have the time or space for one and that is not fair to a dog. But if I had one I dont think I would lend him out just because you dont know what could happen. I have a buddy that I hunt with who has offered me to take his dog on hunting trips and I always turn him down because I dont want anything to happen to him when my buddy is not around. I always thank him for the gesture but I cant do it. I also dont know what commands to use or the tone of voice to use and I dont want to screw up what the dog knows. With that being said the other reason I dont ever want to take his dog is because it was never traind very well and is not a very good hunting dog. He is a great family dog and an awsome camp dog but not a great hunter.

[Auggie]

No way. Other than my Dad and my boy when he is ready for it, and that is a long time from now. I wouldn't even take them to a boarding kennel. I have never had trouble getting someone to take care of them, in their familiar surroundings, if I was unable to bring them along. Most of the dogs that I have had wouldn't hunt for some one else if I wasn't along any way. I can't even imagine one of my friends even asking such a silly question of me.

[thunderpout]

Yeah... I agree, even if it was the one or two friends I would trust most, its just weird that they would ask.....

[Moving2thecountry]

I'd sell my dog for $10,000, but other than that, no. 

I put a lot of time into training her. 

I didn't even let my children play fetch with her until I trained them how to do it correctly.

Maybe when she is three or so.  Until then, I don't want her picking up any bad habbits:)

[SMIGRATOR]

I would never let my dog go with ANYONE unless it was her TRAINER, if he wants to take her more power to him but anyone else no way.

[ATM]

I would let a few that I have hunted with and know how pointers hunt, hunt with him.  Adam

[sochr000]

If I've hunted with them, and trust the way they hunt around her, then yes.  People who have shown that they have a short temper, don't understand a shock-collar, or just give me a bad vibe aren't allowed.

[PJ Maguire]

I hunt with a few guys that I would. But I also had one bad experience and have been hesitant ever since. 

[kingfisher1]

I am going to say no to this question, with one exception.  The only person that I trust taking my dog out hunting is my father.  My reasoning behind this is that the dog was trained by my father and I (I have either trained or helped train many hunting dogs), and the dog won't really respond to anyone besides my father and myself.  Also, I don't really trust any of my other hunting buddies to take out my $750 English Setter not shoot any low flying birds.  Most of my hunting buddies have the opinion of "if it flies, it dies" mentality, which scares me. 

[Duckslayer]

I would not have let her go with just any one but any one that I truested to take my son was welcome to take the dog as well.  Mind you that was a dam small list of folks and I was with them most of the time when they did go so the dog was there anyway!  Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[Big_D]

Oh.....ummm...HELL NO

[Herm]

Great Question Tim!


With the knowledge I have received with my involvement in Law Enforcement with K9 handlers I would say ABSOLUTELY NOT! The Dog looks up to you as the alpha (hopefully other wise you have problems). Letting others (pack outsiders) control your hunting dog will only confuse them. Dogs pick up on indicators from there alpha, if you let others use your dog the dog my pick up on the wrong indicators ... I have friends that i would trust with anything, but it is not about trust alone! Its about maintaining the huntability of your dog!

[Jdrummer]

first of all thanks everyone for a great read! After thinking up a answer or opinion from myself I would say that there would only be 2 , or possibly 3 people I would trust taking my dog out hunting with. (When I get a dog of course) Those people would be my dad and two of my closest friends. One buddy I could trust with my dog has a great hunting dog right now but he is getting old and I think that person would be in my dogs life as I trained it. The other friend would be a "doggy setter" like a few others have mentioned previously. He has enough room and accomodations for the dog when or if he would be watching him. That friend hunts waterfowl and pheasants so if season and timing permitted I would let him take my dog with .

[Grute Man]

I've put some effort into 2 different dogs just to find out it takes A LOT more effort than I had put forth.  Now I have 2 house dogs and I won't get a hunting dog until the good Lord calls these 2 home.  I don't want my hunting dog to learn bad habits from these 2; that's what happened to the 2nd of the 2. 

Once I do get a dog to work with and train to be a hunting dog, and after finding out how much effort is involved, there is no way on Earth I'd let someone take my dog out and undo all my work, tell me I did something wrong, hurt/kill my dog...They can either go with me and my dog or get their own dog.  The End.

I let a relative borrow my truck once and he over heated the engine; it was totaled.  I know it was an older truck but he blew it up and didn't help replace it or even apologize.  That's just a truck.  How close do you feel with your dog?  That's a relationship.

[MTCOMMER]

So im going out Pheasent hunting this weekend, anyone want to let me borrow their dog?!?   
JUST KIDDING.... 

I am with you guys, I would definitely not let any joe schmoe use my dog for hunting.  I would only allow those who spend time with her on a daily basis or atleast familiar with her to hunt with her (i.e Family only)  I trust my friends, but you never know what would happen if I wasnt present and sometime my friends dont think sometimes and all it takes is one low flying bird shot, or one slip up.