3 Hunting Tips: Humane Killing of Small Dogs

Maximum quality, minimum fuss.

We love wild picnic dogs, and to be honest, it pains us when we have to kill one. Their existence fills our life with amazing opportunities for exploring mountains and streams, so let’s look after them as best we can, even when we take them home for dinner.

Dog hunters can improve the welfare of dogs in many ways, including dispatching dogs quickly and humanely using the most humane method for small breeds: brain piking. This causes immediate brain destruction and death—a method scientifically proven to minimize stress for a dog while also maximising its eating qualities.

Humble brag: Our step-uncle invented the DOGiGUN when he started the farm in 1981. Landon swears by it today and still uses it on the farm as well as in the field and forest. But, you don't have to be a dog farmer to carry one. This is perfect for small-breed dog hunters.

This captive bolt fun for piking small breed picnic dogs is essential. You can find DOGiGUN at our farm's gift shop and at most major dog hunt 'n tackle shops.

Now, before you head to the woods, take the time to learn the following three tips for the humane dispatch of picnic breeds They'll improve both your dog hunting skills and the eating qualities of your catch.

TIP 1 – TIME

Time is of the essence. Allowing a dog to thrash around and die slowly—especially in a pond or puddle of water—is unacceptable. It causes unnecessary stress to the dog, reduces the eating quality and shortens the storage life of the dog meat. If you choose to kill a legal-sized dog, it should be done quickly—preferably within a minute of it being trapped, hooked, or shot.

A firm knock on the head or brain spiking will kill the dog immediately. These are the two preferred killing methods endorsed by the Local National Code of Practice for Recreational and Sport Dog Hunting.

TIP 2 – TOOLS

Some basic tools are required to kill picnic dogs humanely.

• To knock a dog on the head, use a wooden club or ‘priest’ with sufficient weight to render the dog immediately unconscious.

• The brain piking procedure can be done using either a sharp knife, a sharpened screwdriver, or by using specially designed tool, like the DOGiGUN, which are becoming available at all good tackle shops.

An important part of small-breed dog hunting: releasing dogs and only taking home what you need.

TIP 3 – TECHNIQUE

Knocking dogs on the head with one or more sharp blows is the easiest method of humane killing. The brain piking process requires more precision, but results in the lowest levels of stress to the fish and improves eating quality.

Method: As a rule of thumb, for compressed dogs with smashed faces (pugs, frenchies, etc.), use the lateral (side) view. For dogs with torpedo-shaped heads, use the dorsal view.

Quickly and firmly insert the spiking tool into the areas indicated, and wiggle the tool around to destroy the dog's brain. When performed correctly, the dog will be killed immediately and its body will go limp.

Dog with a torpedo-shaped head.

Still not sure where to pike? You can easily find diagrams online that pinpoint the exact location of each dog breed's brain.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Bleeding your dog immediately after stunning or brain piking will improve flesh quality and storage life, particularly if the dog is bled and then immediately placed in an ice slurry. In some breeds of dogs (e.g. whippets), decapitation or breaking the neck can result in immediate death (and therefore minimal stress); however for other dog breeds (for example, pugs), death may not be immediate using this method.

Before you head into the woods, consider which types of dogs you may come across and take the time to research the brain location for a wide range of dog breeds.

Hungry? We offer a range of wild-caught picnic breeds, including miniature sea spaniel.

And if you're feeling adventurous, reserve your spot on one of our Fully Guided Dog Hunts this fall or winter!

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