Dog tracking collars can be bulky and can seem expensive to use. The tracking device can be annoying to carry, especially if you are hunting across rough terrain. All the same, a tacking collar can save your dog's life.
Types of Dog Tracking Collars
Early dog tracking collars consisted of a bell hung from a dog's neck. Later, this method was upgraded by adding a light to the dog's collar. Today, most dog tracking collars use either radio frequencies, GPS locator systems or a combination of both. These collars vary in expense based on the system used, the distance over which they are effective, and other features.
Training a Hunting Dog
Hunters that train their dogs to work independently of them must rely on their dog's "recall"--responding when given the command to return to their owner or handler--to recover their dogs in the field. Puppies that do not have a good recall or those dogs who will not automatically return when commanded to do so may benefit from wearing a tracking collar. Tracking collars can be worn with a separate electronic training collar, if required.
Lost Hunting Dog
Tracking collars are not perfect protection for hunting dogs. On some rare occasions, hunting dogs will travel outside the range of the tracking collar receiver. Due to trespassing laws that may prevent hunters from entering private property to search for or to retrieve their dogs, even dogs that wear tracking collars might be lost. People who find dogs with tracking collars should not remove those collars---and, according to the U.S. Sportsman's Alliance, in some areas may be prohibited by law from doing so. However, not every person who finds a hunting dog feels obligated to return it to the hunter.
Terriers
Some terriers are trained to "go to ground," meaning that they hunt prey in tunnels. Should a dog get stuck underground, due to a tunnel collapsing or narrowing or from getting lost, a tracking collar can help the handler find the dog beneath the surface and help recover it.
Sporting Events
Many organizations now realize that tracking collars can be invaluable, even during hunting or earthdog trials. According to the United Kennel Club beagle trial rules, participants are permitted to carry tracking collar receivers attached to their belts for this reason. Such devices can only be used after the event or after the dog has been eliminated from competition and all other dogs in its pack have been restrained on leash to be sent out a second time.
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