Gun Dog Forum

Quick question:

I just picked up a Garmin beeper for a steal. My dog hunts with a bell but I was thinking about trying the beeper on wild grouse and having it run silent and then beep only on point.
Any introduction training or familiarization I should do with her prior to using?

Almost certainly your dog will adjust, but it wouldn't hurt to put a little cotton in the plastic part that surrounds the beeper to reduce the sound and let her wear it in the backyard when in every 10 second mode. If you take her out for a run, remove the cotton in advance of actual hunting just to get her used to it. Dogs vary, and there is no downside to a little bit of advance practice. Beepers are under rated by the GPS fans, but they are quite useful and inexpensive.

When I first started using beeper collars there was an adjustment period for my dogs. I put the collar close to the dogs and had it beep. They went ballistic. So I started by placing the collar a good distance from their indoor kennels and having the collar constantly beep for 5-10 minutes. After they got use to that I would increasingly move the collar closer until I have it sitting on their kennel and they paid no attention to it. Also used mine in "point only" mode in the field. But don't just slap the collar on the dog and take him/her to the field. Get them use to the beep first.

As far as I'm concerned, free isn't even a good deal. Hate the things.

greg jacobs wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 11, 2022 7:05 am

As far as I'm concerned, free isn't even a good deal. Hate the things.

If you use a beeper collar in "Point Only" mode they are not annoying and are very useful/

Dakotazeb wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 11, 2022 8:00 am

greg jacobs wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 11, 2022 7:05 am

As far as I'm concerned, free isn't even a good deal. Hate the things.

If you use a beeper collar in "Point Only" mode they are not annoying and are very useful/

Correct, and of course, beeper collars can also be set to make varying sounds. As is the case with e-collars themselves, they have evolved over the years. Quite a few people have memories of them from decades ago when they were in their early stages, and do not recognize the fact that they are no longer the same beeper collars they remember from 30 years ago.

Corrected for typo only.

For Hunting huge cattail areas like Sand Lake in SD the beepers are great. It opens in mid December so the deer trails are froze over. The dogs learn to back each others beeper. Pretty exciting if you have different tones on each dog.
But like others have said get them used to the beepers first........Cj

For me, gps tells me all I need to know. And is quiet which is what I like when chasing pheasants and chukar.