Arlo's First Shed Hunting Experience

Arlo's First Shed!

Guillermo Tucci wanted to find out what this whole shed hunting with dogs thing was all about. My lab, Arlo, can track a pheasant across a cow pasture, through a crowded mall, and out the other side—all while the pheasant is flying, running, and jumping. How hard can it be for him to find an antler that just lays there?

So, I get an antler, show it to Arlo, and say, "Arlo, shed!" Then, I toss the thing across the yard. (Hey, it's a start!) Within 30 minutes, I worked him up to blind plantings of the shed, and he's doing it! Okay, I’ve got myself a shed dog now! Maybe not a champion yet, but hey, let’s head to the woods.

We start out along a well-used deer trail because, honestly, I don’t really know what I’m doing. I tell him, "Arlo, shed!" and he lets out a big bark and starts sniffing. Hmm… okay, well, maybe 15 minutes into it, I spot an antler shed up ahead, just laying near the trail. "Holy crap! There’s one!" I just waited back and watched as Arlo hit the scent, tracked it down, and brought it back. No kidding, in the first 15 minutes! I tell him, "Good boy! Good boy!" and give him the "Arlo, shed?" cue. He barks and takes off again.

A little while later, he's getting distracted. "What’s that?! Oh boy, must be the other side!" Just then, out comes a big turkey. Well, yup—he's still a bird dog too!

Total for the first day of shed hunting: 1 shed, 1 turkey, and 2 grouse flushes. Dogs are fun!

• Guillermo Tucci