Peacock Deer Dogs

05/17/2023

04/13/2023

Off-season practice can sometimes provide tougher tracking conditions for the dogs.

When it gets hot & dry outside, the scent is harder for the dogs to pin down. It all comes down to those microscopic scent particles.

They can get burnt off if it's a nice sunny day & the track bakes in the heat. The scent also doesn't float in the air as well when there's no moisture for it to cling to, like the last couple of days here. This is a double-whammy if you're tracking over an area that's been mowed or is bare, since there's no vegetation for scent to stick to either.

Plus, the dogs work better when it's cool outside!

All of this is good to work the dog through. It's always a good idea to train for harder circumstances than you think you'll need - you never know how that Missouri weather is gonna go in the fall!

04/04/2023

Icarus says that any day is a good day, especially if it involves tracking down the elusive deer hide toy!

03/31/2023

Both dogs have gotten to go on some solo excursions recently. The training foundations they have make them enjoyable as travel companions when we aren't working!

03/15/2023

Icarus has kept us very busy these last couple of weeks! He was Winners dog three times: at the Belle City Classic on 3/4, and at the Heart of America Kennel Club on both 3/11 & 3/12.

He also went Reserve Winners Dog at the Dalmatian Specialty held by the Dalmatian Club of Greater St. Louis on 3/4.

He is such a fun dog!

03/09/2023

Did you know that taking does during peak rut can improve your chances at getting a buck?

This is a great article on some of the myths that we commonly believe about deer!

Folklore and science come into frequent conflict in deer hunting. Here are eight of the biggest surprises that many deer hunters find difficult to believe.

02/28/2023

Foundation work is not usually very flashy, but we try to keep it fun! Icarus has been learning a chin rest (putting his chin in my hand) so that I can gently encourage a longer "hold" & form muscle memory for head positioning.

He is still a bit chompy, but that's part of what we're working on. I've already seen an improvement in his hand-delivery with shed hunting because of these drills (see first clip).

02/21/2023

There was a much easier opening to get to that deer hide... But head-first into the thicket was where his nose told him to go. 😂

02/14/2023

Here's a throwback of Pilot all GoPro'd up during deer season of '21. The video usually ends up pretty bouncy, but makes for an interesting POV. Should I stick the GoPro onto Icarus next for some floppy-eared footage?

01/30/2023

Happy ! Here's a throwback to baby Icarus learning all about how fun deer hide is.

01/24/2023

This is an excellent opportunity for anyone wanting to get serious about blood tracking! I believe it is one of the biggest events in the country for our niche sport. We learned a ton last year!

01/21/2023

Ran our first practice track of 2023 this morning! Icarus really matured a lot over the winter, which means his focus while on the trail is much better. Other scents are much less distracting to him now.

And of course, he got to goof off afterwards with his buddy Aldo. 😁