Dog in Wrangler/TDB

F

Frank

Member
This is going to be my second year hunting out of my 14' Duck Wrangler and the first with my Boykin.
Do you guys really leave the dog outside the blind on the deck? I don't want to do that but if he's inside he won't be able to see. Do you cut a window in the blind? Maybe a milk crate or something to sit on? One of those double stage dog ladders? There are some seriously ingenious guys on this site with lots of experience. Any ideas?

Frank
 
Below is a picture of Capt. Terry in his 14-ft TBD with the two pups he had at that time. They spent lots of time hunting out of that rig and were very comfortable having their heads poking up. After the mark, Terry would direct either Rascal or Sammy to make the retrieve. Worked great except I never paid enough attention to know if he simply unbuckled the corner or if he dropped the side of the blind. Maybe Jim G. or another CT hunter knows for sure.

View attachment captterry.jpg
 
Sammy and Rascal.....I miss those guys. Barkley kinda caught on to look out thru the corner. Usually isn't too much of a problem as he handles......sort of..... I'd go with the crate idea to elevate the dog so he can stick out his head in a corner of the blind.

Was that pic the day I sunk my boat and Terry and BJ ran out of gas? Or the day that you ripped the keelson off your old boat? Or the day Terry lost his keys? Or the day my now ex-wife reported me missing to the cops because I didn't make it home just after lunch (Terry is sunrise to sunset if you ever go with him)
 
Right on the deck of mine, small piece of carpet gets the job done. Why wouldn't you want your dog there?
 
This is how we do it in a TDB 17. Once the bird/s are down the front part of the blind gets dropped the dog jumps up on the bow and scans the dekes for the dead bird; dog is subsequently sent. If needed and if the dog has been trained to handle ...handle. The dog retrieves to the boat, gets on the ladder jumps onto the bow where the front of the blind is held up until the shake is done, bird is taken, and the dog either goes again or gets in the boat. I always wipe down the dog with a shammy. I used to have a little one who liked to go under the bow and lay on a closed foam pad I had there..
 
Jim, I have a case of CRS on this hunt. It was a 3 boat hunt (yours, BJ's and Terry's) so it wasn't your wet day or my ripped off keelson day either. Could have been the other days you mentioned. Got to love the occasional group hunt for the comedy if nothing else.

Best,
Scott
 
Frank,

I don't know what the setup is inside a DW, but the TDB 14 has a dog platform that sits under the bow. My dog lays on a closed cell foam mat cut to fit the area - usualy have a towel thrown over the mat.

View attachment MLK05 014.jpg

If your dog is steady, it will learn quickly that whatever area you tell it to stay in is the place you want it. My dogs quickly learned that when I (we) stand to shoot, they can step down and poke their heads out the corner of the blind to mark falls.

View attachment 121104 010 (600 x 396).jpg

I carry a dry bag with some old towels in it and use the same method described above of letting my dog shake off before dropping the front panel of the blind, toweling her off, and having her return to her spot.

If you hunt your dog out of a dog blind in the field for geese, it's an easy transition for them (either way). I think they feel very at ease in that enclosed type of area. Sure makes for a lot safer environment as well.

I wouldn't hesitate to put him/her outside the blind if there's a stable platform, or possibly on the bank (again, this applies to areliably steady dog). Lot easier to have total control when they're inside IMO - even if the dog is a veteran and reliable.
 
Thanks guys,
I guess its not as big a deal as I was making it out to be. He's just a pup and this will be his first season
so I will keep him inside for safety and company, but poking his head out seems simple enough.
I'll be taking him out in the upcoming weeks so I can check out where and how he fits.

Frank
 
Frank,

I did the same thing as Capt Terry except I would unsnap the side panel to the support post and fold it back. My dog would sit at the heel position under the blind at the far rear. He was steady to shot which helped. Your dog can exit through the folded back hole in the blind. Once he is out of the boat just unsnap the buckle and help him back in. The grassing rail is a good grip for the front paws and then the rear. I did this for a lot of years with two dogs. If your dog is not steady to shot, you can put him on a real SHORT lead tied to the boat. But never leave him tied when you are under power. I hope this helps. Good luck.
 
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