I had a potentially scary situation this afternoon hunting that I was able to turn into a teaching experience. I was out hunting pheasants with my lab and a young Brittany when we came across a porcupine. Luckily it was out in the open on the edge of a meadow and the dogs were both wearing e-collars. I saw it with a little bit of warning, so I was able to get the controller out and crank it up. I sent the lab out into the thick brush with an “over” cast so I could deal with the situation one dog at a time. The Brittany, about seven months old, got within about 10 feet and then went on point. I took a step closer and he started to creep in. The porcupine turned, bristled up and was ready to counter attack. I waited until the dog was about three feet away, just as he was taking another step and the porcupine started to move I let him have it hard with the e-collar. He came yiping out of there like he’d been struck. Quickly he decided that he didn’t want anything to do with these painful critters. Then I had basically the same experience with my lab when she came over.
Through the years I have had a few dogs get a face full of quills from a porcupine and it is a nasty experience for both me and the dog. I hope this lesson sticks.
