Five dos and don'ts during the breeding and nesting season
Spring is just around the corner, and the sunny days are perfect for training – if only it weren't for the breeding and nesting season. When the young of native wild animals are born, extra caution is needed during walks and training sessions with your dog. But don't worry – if you keep a few things in mind, you can still train with your dog during this time!
Five Dos during the breeding and nesting season
1. Find suitable terrain
During the breeding and nesting season, the young of native wild animals are hidden everywhere, but there are still places where you can train. The key is to ask around. Suitable areas – even small ones – are often not as far away as you might think, and those who diligently inquire often succeed in finding a usable area. Fenced areas with mowed grass are particularly suitable and offer an optimal training environment.
Important to note: The mowed grass should no longer be lying on the meadow, as fawns like to hide there as well.
An example of a great training area: orchards. These are usually fenced and can often be used for training upon request. If your dog trainer has a training area, you can also use that, if necessary. However, you should arrange this beforehand. Alternatively, you can use public dog parks and training areas. While these are usually a bit more crowded, this doesn't have to hinder your training. You can use these circumstances, for example, to train your dog to remain focused and perform exercises despite temptations. You can also team up with others to find a suitable training area together. If you know a group that already has a location they use, you can join them. If you have no luck finding a suitable area, you can also place advertisements.
2. Use paths.
If meadows, forests, and large open spaces are unavailable, paths – for example, during walks – are also excellent places to train. If your dog is on a leash, heelwork is particularly suitable. This way, you don't have to leave the paths and therefore avoid the risk of encountering wildlife.
Dummy training exercises can be performed on paths and with a long line. You can send your dog down paths or across the corners between paths at intersections to train changes in terrain – but only if you have checked beforehand whether there is any young wildlife hidden there.
Even though plenty of exercise and running will tire your dog out, mental and olfactory work is at least as tiring. Once you've checked a small section along the edge of the path or in the grassy verge and ensured that you can use this area with your dog without disturbing wildlife, you can place toys or dummies there and send your dog ahead.
3. Practice the short search whistle.
If you want to make the search even more intensive, you can train your dog to use the short search whistle – an element from dummy training. This works very well during the breeding and nesting season because the short search whistle helps keep your dog focused on a small area (2 x 2 m). This is often neglected during training, and then dogs end up searching over a large area even when sent to a specific spot. However, make sure your dog starts searching immediately after the short search whistle. You can also practice the short search whistle in different directions. A dog's first instinct is to go forward. If he has to perform the short search behind, to the right, or to the left instead, it makes the exercise more challenging. Later, you can also train with distractions and, for example, have your dog search to the right while something is interesting to the left.
4. Train on the water instead of in it.
During the breeding and nesting season, bodies of water are often off-limits, as fawns hide in the meadows, while waterfowl chicks wait there. Nevertheless, you can use the water during this time to build and strengthen your dog's frustration tolerance. A simple exercise that also helps you relax can be: Grab a blanket and lie down with your dog so you have a good view of the water. Because the exercise isn't about swimming, you can choose bodies of water that you would normally avoid, perhaps because they don't have a suitable entry point for your dog. This exercise is particularly challenging for true water lovers: Simply lying there, observing the water, and not being allowed to jump in demands a lot from them and thus strengthens their frustration tolerance. It's also not a problem if your dog is on a leash for this exercise – it's about stillness, waiting, and perseverance.
5. Working on the basics.
You can use this time to work wonderfully on the basics. In addition to footwork, you can also practice many other things, such as everyday exercises like putting things down, finding a relaxed spot, and sitting (for extended periods), or swapping and fetching. The dead mouse game is particularly well-suited for practicing the latter.
Five don'ts during breeding and nesting season
1. Don't let your dog run off-leash.
Regulations regarding breeding and nesting seasons vary by state, but these seasons exist everywhere, regardless of how each state handles them. To best protect the environment and native wildlife, you should therefore always keep your dog on a leash, unless you are in a secure, fenced area.
Tip: If you'd like to know more precisely which German states have leash laws and at what times, then take a look at the article " Does the leash law for dogs apply everywhere in spring? ". There you'll find a list of the most important information.
2. Don't let your dog into meadows, fields, woods, or water.
Even if it looks like there's no wildlife around, young animals can be hidden anywhere! Fawns, in particular, are often found in unexpected places, such as along the edge of a well-used path. Deer also like to hide their young in tall grass or in the woods. To protect wildlife, you should therefore not let your dog into meadows, fields, woods, or water unless you can be sure there is no wildlife nearby.
3. Don't train the long search in the wrong places.
Anyone involved in dummy training has probably already guessed this from the last "don't": The long search should not be practiced in the wild during breeding and nesting season – the risk of encountering young wild animals is far too great. Of course, the long search can still be practiced, but only in suitable, fenced areas. If you can't find a suitable location, you can focus on a short search or on basic training.
4. Don't misjudge the leash.
During the breeding and nesting season, the leash is frequently used, but its importance is often misunderstood. What sounds obvious at first is sometimes not so easy to put into practice: once you're out and about, the leash quickly becomes secondary, as there are a whole host of other things to pay attention to. In this way, the leash can quickly become a hazard. Long lines, in particular, can be a tripping hazard – so always make sure to keep your hand on it when you're out with a longer leash. When throwing or placing something for your dog, keep the distance short so it's not farther than the length of the leash. This ensures that your dog isn't pulled backward and you don't stumble forward.
5. Do not touch wild animals.
Fawns freeze in fear instead of running away when they are discovered. In such a case, it is essential not to touch them, and your dog should not be allowed to approach the animal, even if he wants to sniff and say a friendly "hello." If you must photograph the animals, do so only from a safe distance and without a flash. If you come across an injured animal, the same rule applies: do not touch it under any circumstances. However, please inform the responsible game wardens or the police so that the animal can receive help.
Conclusion: Proper training during the breeding and nesting season
Breeding and nesting season - 5 tips for dealing with your dog. Even though caution is advised during the breeding and nesting season to protect wildlife, training doesn't have to stop. By carefully choosing suitable training locations and keeping an eye on the leash (if necessary), you can still practice during this time, including the short search whistle, heelwork, and other basic commands. If you do encounter young animals, knowing how to react will prevent accidents or help you assist injured ones. I hope these five dos and don'ts help you get through the breeding and nesting season safely and enjoy some wonderful moments with your four-legged friend!