2024 TLGDA Fun Day Follow Up
The LGDR believes it is a necessity to develop instincts and communication skills for dogs involved in activities like hog baying, cattle herding, treeing coons, or on the trail of a wounded animal. These skills not only enhance their ability to effectively communicate with their human handlers but also enable them to navigate and respond appropriately in various environments. By honing their instincts and communication skills, dogs become more reliable and efficient at their tasks. This ensures a successful and safe outcome for both themselves and their human counterparts. The annual TLGDA Fun Day out in Lampasas, TX provides owners and working dogs the ability to do just this in a controlled environment with experienced handlers. Why we LOVE participating each year!!!
This event provided hands-on learning for inexperienced dogs providing them with valuable real-world experiences and opportunities to develop their natural instincts. By participating in activities such as treeing raccoons or herding cattle, these dogs gained exposure to new environments, sights, sounds, and movements, which ultimately enhances their training and overall skill set. Furthermore, the presence of experienced dogs during these sessions serves as a valuable learning model, allowing the inexperienced dogs to observe and learn from their more seasoned counterparts.
The 2024 TLGDA Fun Day provided the above in abundance! Check out the pictures from the event!!!
The event was and always is open to all different dog breeds and their handlers as well as individuals without a dog who are interested in learning.
Trailing Wounded Game (Blood Trail)
1st Session
This is an essential skill if you plan to trail wounded game with working dog to trail wounded game. The Blue Lacy has a natural instinct to trail a scent as well as many other breeds. A certified United Blood Trackers (UBT) judge walked each handler and dog through an easy trail laid out with a prize at the end. Being able to receive feedback and tips from UBT judges during the blood trail activity not only helps dogs and owners develop their skills, but it also allows them to learn from experienced professionals in the field. The expertise and guidance provided by UBT judges can enhance the training process, improve the dog’s tracking abilities, and ensure that both the dog and owner are equipped to handle real-life hunting scenarios with confidence and efficiency.
Some pictures from this session
Treeing Coons
2nd Session
Training dogs to tree raccoons offers several benefits. It serves as a non-lethal method of controlling raccoon populations. By employing trained dogs, hunters can reduce the need to harm or kill raccoons, thereby promoting a more humane approach to wildlife management. Training dogs to tree raccoons can be an effective deterrent. By training dogs to detect and tree raccoons, humans can minimize the likelihood of raccoons causing damage.
Here is Marlo Ondrej, LGDR Registrar and Lacy descendent, working with Lacy’s. The goal is to teach the dogs to use the tree to ensure the coon stays there.
Cattle Herding
3rd Session
The dogs and handlers then spent time in the Bar 17 Arena receiving instruction on herding. They also watched an experienced TLGDA member and her Blue Lacy demonstrate. After the demonstration, anyone interested in exposing their dog to cattle had the opportunity to do so in a controlled environment. Allowing inexperienced dogs to herd cattle provides valuable learning opportunities and helps them develop their natural instincts. It also allows them to gain exposure to cattle sights, sounds, and movements, which can enhance their training and overall skill set. Additionally, the presence of experienced dogs during these sessions provides a learning model for inexperienced dogs
Hog Baying
4th Session
Dogs baying hogs not only showcases their innate hunting abilities but also highlights their long-standing partnership with humans in the pursuit of game. Throughout history, dogs, like the Blue Lacy, have played a crucial role in helping hunters locate and capture hogs, utilizing their acute sense of smell and vocalization skills to communicate and drive the prey. This age-old tradition not only demonstrates the remarkable bond between humans and canines but also underscores the enduring value of their instinctual behaviors.
During the Hog Baying session, younger, inexperienced dogs are given the opportunity to work with a wild hog piglet under controlled conditions. This hands-on experience allows them to develop their instincts and learn how to effectively bay and communicate with the hog. It is a valuable training process that helps these dogs build confidence and acquire the necessary skills for future encounters with wild boars.
Socializing
In the field, working dogs may encounter stimuli such as gunshots, dense vegetation, rough terrain, and extreme weather conditions. Regularly socializing working dogs exposes them to various environments, people, and animals, helping them become well-rounded and adaptable to different situations. By regularly interacting with different stimuli, such as loud noises, crowded spaces, and unfamiliar objects, working dogs learn to remain calm, focused, and responsive. This makes them more effective in their roles and better equipped to handle challenges in the field.
Marlo Ondrej, LGDR Registrar, plays a valuable role in training dogs with lack of socialization skills. With her expertise and experience, she helps these dogs and their owners overcome their challenges and become well-rounded working dogs. The second picture shows Marlo being assisted by her sister, Anedrea Hodges, LGDR Registrar, and her well-socialized Blue Lacy. They provided a supportive and controlled environment for the dogs to learn and develop their skills. This helps them be more prepared for future encounters.
The LGDR encourages everyone with any type of working dog or an interest in owning one to attend these events. Attending these events provides dog owners with the opportunity to connect with other like-minded individuals who share a passion for working dogs. It allows for knowledge sharing, training tips, and the chance to learn from experienced handlers. Additionally, participating in these events can strengthen the bond between the owner and their dog, leading to a happier and more fulfilled canine companion.
