Training Scents

[WillowCreek]

I never hunted with dogs before but just got a pair of sisters that hust turned 3 months. I saw in a catalog this training scent that s'posed to teach dog to follow a scent. Theres a scent comes in rabbit and I'm thinking to buy it to help me out training these girls. Thought I'd find out if others used this kind of training scent, how long to use it for?

[Rosewood]

Trailing scents are OK but I've had better luck with live rabbits. Most placed you can find some sort of tame rabbit pretty cheap $5.00 or less then you can use that to get your young dogs interested that also gives them a visual as well as scent. Then after they know what a rabbit is stop the tame rabbit and expose them to wild rabbits. Domestic rabbits are good to start on but don't over do it. Get them on wild game as soon as possible. Another option is find someone with a starting pen.

[AlabamaSwamper]

Nothing beats the real thing and a training pen is best if you have one close by. IF not, take them to the wild and let them go. Nature will take over. You might buy an older dog if you can to help them along.

[wingpatch]

BE very very carefull, I have heard some very interesting stories about training & breaking scents? Who really knows what they put in them bottles ???????? I go along with ever one else nothing like the real thing.......Wingpatch

[Dom]

Wingpatch, no kiddin? What're the things you heard about trainng scents? Iuse them time to time for starting pups.

[rimshot]

At three months old, you still have two puppies. I would train them how to follow you and to learn your scent. They will start when the time is right if giving the chance. I train my pups on what I want them to run, wild rabbits. Buying rabbit scent in a bottle, what part of the rabbit do they get the scent from? I feel you would have just as much luck dragging a pork chop bone for them to follow. Have fun and it will last a life time..