Uhunt Working Bailers & Holders Together

Uhunt Mag Information

  • Posted By : BRISTLE UP
  • Posted On : Jun 29, 2019
  • Views : 454
  • Category : PIG DOGGING » ARTICLES, TIPS & HOW TO GUIDES
  • Description : We never force a dog onto a pig, if they want to be there, they will go themselves.

Overview

  • By Hope & Mo

    Our team consists of holders and bailers working together as a team. Sometimes we will run the Kelpies by themselves with the holders on the ute and sometimes we will run the holders with the bailers. We have trained our holders to find as well, you can never have too many finders! Before we introduce our pups to pig chasing, we need to decide if that pup is going to be used for stock work on the farm as well. Two of our younger Kelpies (two years old), Mate and Dingo, are used for both stock work and pigging and they love doing both. Mate and Dingo were trained with all stock until we were happy with how they responded to recalls, obedience and work ethic, this took them a solid 10 -12 months. They were then able to run with the older dogs and began to learn scenting and bailing which they picked up very quickly. They both now understand the difference between stock work and pig chasing and can clock off one job when doing the other. Pups that are for pig chasing only are not introduced to stock in a “working situation”. 

    ( BELOW - Nelpie - Kelpie ) 


    They are not allowed to show any interest in the stock and we do this by having cattle, goats and sheep free roam around our house, in the yard and around the dogs’ kennels. This way they get used to the stock being around and don’t get excited when one pops up in front of them when chasing pigs. We also use training collars for when the pups are older, which allows us to have control of the dog in any situation no matter where they are. It gives us the chance to deal with any problem at that exact moment and is an effective way to teach a dog if the training collar is used properly. When the pups are at the age of confidently walking they are in the cab with us, not just when pig chasing but when we are driving around checking waters and stock. They begin to know their surroundings, smells, sounds, the feeling of driving around and the excitement of the other dogs. We introduce the pups to smaller pigs but don’t force them in front of a pig. Most of the time, if one pup shows interest and has a bark, the other will join in. A great way to get a pup to recognise the scent of a pig is to cut a leg off a rank boar, tie a bit of rope on the end and drag it around the yard then leave it in a corner or high grass. The pups will have a blast trying to find it and it will give them an early start on picking up scents on the run. When the pups are old enough, they are on the back of the ute and if they want to, they can get off and run with the older dogs. 

    ( BELOW - Sniper - Bullarab x Shar Pei x ) 


    We never force a dog onto a pig, if they want to be there, they will go themselves. We currently have a four month old kelpie pup that is jumping off on her own and following the older bailers to the pig and having a go at bailing. Nelpie the Kelpie is our four year old finder/bailer (will lug). Nelpie is one of the main dogs in our pack of 12 and he also works all stock. Nelpie was given to us at a year old from a sheep station when his previous owner was not able to handle his arrogance and hardiness. He was worked on stock before being run with our main finder/holder, Sniper. He learnt with great speed and keenness the skill of finding and bailing pigs and eventually we were able to run Nelpie on his own and have him bail for our holders. 

    ( BELOW - Bindi - Kelpie )


    We mostly run bailers especially in the summer because it saves our dogs from overheating or from being injured. We do often mix it up so the luggers find their own pigs too. Nelpie is an excellent finder who goes far and wide for his pigs and is an incredibly hard bailer. In his early days he never used to lug but in the last year or so he likes to get in the midst of all the action and hang on to the spare ear. This has made him a bit over confident and now he has a go lugging on his own. He now wears a neck collar for some protection which has helped already however we are trying to discourage him from this bad habit. There is always room for a dog and their owner to improve in any area in pig chasing, especially that patience is a must, otherwise just head on home.

    ( BELOW - Alexis - Pitty x Wolfhound ) 


    ( BELOW - Rebel - Bullarab / Shar Pei X Pitty X Wolfhound )