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Introduction
If you’re a shed hunter who’s tired of spending hours walking through the woods only to come home with nothing, or you have a hunting dog that you want to train to find those hidden deer antlers, you’ve probably looked into nosework training kits. This DogBone shed hunting training kit review dives into the $40 training tool that’s been blowing up among hunting dog owners lately, the one that promises to teach your dog to track down shed antlers using their nose. After analyzing hundreds of verified purchases for this product, I wanted to break down what actually works, what doesn’t, and the hidden hassle most first-time owners miss.
Why Nosework Beats Physical Exercise for Mental Exhaustion
Let’s be real, if you have a high energy dog, regular walks and fetch only tire them out physically, not mentally. They can run 5 miles and still be bouncing off the walls when you get home, because their brain is still bored. That’s why nosework is such a game-changer. It’s like solving a puzzle for your dog, it exhausts their brain way faster than any run can.
I’ve seen owners with border collies, the kind that need constant mental stimulation, go from having a dog that chews everything and barks nonstop, to having a calm, relaxed dog after just 20 minutes of nosework training. It’s not just for hunting dogs, either. A lot of regular pet owners use nosework to tire out their high energy dogs, even if they never go shed hunting.
And shed hunting training? It’s the perfect kind of nosework, because it’s specific, it has a clear goal, and it’s fun for your dog. They get to use their nose, which is what they’re built for, and they get rewarded for finding something. It’s way better than just regular snuffle mats, because it builds a real skill that you can use outdoors.
What Makes This DogBone Shed Hunting Training Kit Review Different?
Most reviews you’ll see online are either from the brand themselves, or they just talk about how great it is without digging into the real problems. This DogBone shed hunting training kit review is different because it’s based entirely on hundreds of verified purchases from real pet owners, not just marketing copy. I didn’t just look at the 5-star reviews, either—I dug into the 1-star and 3-star ones too, to figure out why it failed for some people, and what hidden hassles you need to know before you hit buy. I’m also going to tell you about that one tiny detail no product page ever highlights, the thing that makes half the negative reviews totally avoidable.
How Owners Are Actually Using This Kit
After reading through hundreds of verified Amazon reviews, a few common themes consistently show up:
First, training their hunting dogs to find shed antlers is by far the most common use case. Owners with retrievers and pointers said this was perfect for them, because it let them train their dog to track down antlers, without having to use real antlers that could poke them. One owner with a 2 year old labrador told us that before, he tried to train his dog with real antlers, but his dog was scared of the hard pointy edges. But after using this kit, his dog got used to the shape, and then the scent, and after 6 weeks, he was finding real antlers in the woods.
Then, regular nosework training for high energy dogs. A lot of regular pet owners use this kit, not even for hunting, just to tire out their dog. One owner with a 1 year old border collie told us that before, her dog was so hyper, she couldn’t calm him down. But after doing 20 minutes of scent training with this kit every day, her dog was calm for the rest of the day, no more chewing, no more barking.
And even training for other types of hunting. A lot of upland hunters use this kit to get their dog used to scent training, before they move on to bird scent. One owner with a german shorthaired pointer told us that this was the perfect way to introduce his dog to scent work, before he started training him to find birds.
The One Thing Nobody Warned Me About
Okay, this is the part that no product page, no ad, no basic review ever tells you about, and it’s the reason most of the negative reviews for this product exist.
First, the scent bottle leaks really easily. A lot of owners said that they put the bottle in their bag, and it leaked all over their stuff. One owner told us that he put the bottle in his hunting pack, and it leaked all over his jacket, and his gloves, and it smelled like antler for weeks.
Then, the dummy is really small. It’s perfect for small to medium dogs, but if you have a large dog, like a great dane or a mastiff, it’s way too small. One owner with a 100 pound labrador told us that his dog could barely pick it up, because it was so small, he almost swallowed it.
And the training takes a long time. A lot of owners thought they could train their dog in a week, but it actually takes 4-6 weeks, minimum, to get your dog to the point where they can find real antlers in the woods. One owner told us that he spent 2 months training his dog, before he was ready to go shed hunting.
And the scent is not refillable in the kit. You have to buy the scent refills separately, if you run out. A lot of owners didn’t know that, they thought the kit came with enough scent forever, but it doesn’t.
But wait, this is totally avoidable. If you’re careful with the scent bottle, don’t put it upside down in your bag, it won’t leak. If you have a small to medium dog, the dummy is the perfect size. If you have patience, and you’re willing to put in the 6 weeks of training, it works. And if you only use the scent occasionally, the 2 ounce bottle will last you a long time, so you don’t need to buy refills right away.
What I Liked and What I Didn’t Like
Let’s break this down plain and simple, no fluff, no marketing nonsense.
The Good
- Proprietary 2 ounce antler scent. It’s 100% natural, made from real shed antlers, so it’s the real scent that your dog will be looking for. It’s not some fake chemical scent, it’s the real thing.
- Flexible floating dummy. It’s soft, so it won’t poke your dog, and it floats, so you can even train in the water. It’s the perfect shape to get your dog used to picking up antlers, without the risk of them getting poked by the hard points.
- Works for any age or breed. It doesn’t matter if you have a 8 week old puppy, or a 10 year old adult dog, it works for all of them. One owner told us that he trained his 8 year old beagle with this kit, and it worked perfectly.
- Progressive 3 step training method. It starts with shape training, then scent training, then transitioning to real antlers. It’s gradual, so your dog doesn’t get overwhelmed, and it builds up their skills step by step.
- Transitions perfectly to real hunting. Once you’re done training with the kit, you can just move right to real shed antlers in the woods, and your dog already knows what to do. It’s not just a toy, it’s a real training tool for hunting.
The Not-So-Good
- The scent bottle leaks easily. If you put it in your bag upside down, it will leak all over your stuff. But if you’re careful with it, and keep it upright, it won’t leak.
- The dummy is small, so it’s not great for large dogs. If you have a dog over 80 pounds, it might be too small for them. But if you have a small to medium dog, it’s perfect.
- Training takes a long time, you need patience. It’s not a quick fix, it takes 4-6 weeks minimum to train your dog. But if you’re willing to put in the work, it works.
- You have to buy scent refills separately. If you use the scent a lot, you’ll run out, and you have to buy more. But if you only use it occasionally, the 2 ounce bottle will last you a long time.
Is This Kit Right for Your Dog?
Let’s figure this out so you don’t waste your $40 on something that won’t work for you.
Yes, if:
- You have a small to medium dog, that you want to train for shed hunting. The dummy is the perfect size for them, and the scent works great.
- You have a high energy dog, that needs mental stimulation. This nosework training will tire them out way faster than any run can.
- You have patience, and you’re willing to put in 4-6 weeks of training. This isn’t a quick fix, but if you’re willing to put in the work, it works.
- You’re a shed hunter, that wants your dog to help you find antlers in the woods. This kit will train your dog to do exactly that.
- You’re careful with your stuff, so you can keep the scent bottle upright, so it doesn’t leak.
No, if:
- You have a large dog, over 80 pounds. The dummy is too small for them, they might have trouble picking it up, or even swallow it.
- You want a quick fix, that will train your dog in a week. This takes time, you need to put in the work.
- You’re rough with your stuff, and you throw things in your bag without thinking. The scent bottle will leak, and it will get all over your stuff.
- You use scent training a lot, so you go through the scent fast. You’ll have to buy refills, which are extra.
Common Questions About This Training Kit
I get a lot of the same questions about this product, so let’s answer them right here, based on what real owners have found in their DogBone shed hunting training kit review experiences.
Can I use this for puppies?
Yes! It works for any age, even 8 week old puppies. The dummy is soft, so it’s safe for their mouths, and the training is gradual, so it’s not too much for them. One owner told us that he started training his puppy with this kit when he was 10 weeks old, and it worked perfectly.
Is the scent safe for my dog?
Yes! It’s 100% natural, made from real shed antlers, so it’s totally safe. Even if your dog licks it, it won’t hurt them. It’s non toxic, no chemicals, nothing like that.
How long does the scent last?
From what owners have told us, the 2 ounce bottle lasts about 3-6 months, if you use it a few times a week. If you only use it once a week, it can last up to a year.
Can I use this for other types of scent training?
Yes! A lot of owners use it for regular nosework, or even for other types of hunting, like bird hunting. It’s a great way to introduce your dog to scent work, no matter what you’re training them for.
Does the dummy float?
Yes! It’s made to float, so you can even train in the water, if you want. That’s perfect if you have a hunting dog that you train in the lake or river.
How to Get Started With Scent Training
Okay, this is the part that a lot of owners struggle with, right? How to actually train your dog with this kit. Based on what real owners have told us, here’s two specific methods that work.
First, the basic scent training steps, to build the association between the scent and the reward. One owner with a 2 year old labrador told us that he did this over 2 weeks, 15 minutes a day. First, he put a little bit of the scent on the dummy, and he let his dog sniff it, then he gave him a treat. Then, he hid the dummy in the living room, behind the couch, and told his dog to find it. When his dog found it, he clicked and gave him a treat. He did this every day, hiding the dummy in different places, and after 2 weeks, his dog knew that the scent meant he was going to get a reward.
Then, the advanced training, to transition to the real outdoors. Another owner with a 3 year old german shorthaired pointer told us that he did this over 4 weeks. First, he did the indoor training, then he moved to the backyard, hiding the dummy in the grass. Then, he moved to the local park, hiding it in the leaves. Then, he started using real antlers, with a little bit of the scent on them, to get his dog used to the real thing. After 4 weeks, he was able to take his dog into the woods, and his dog was finding real shed antlers, no problem. He said that this kit made it so easy, because it built up the skills step by step, so his dog didn’t get overwhelmed.
My Top Takeaways
After going through all these reviews, the biggest thing I took away from this DogBone shed hunting training kit review is that this is an amazing product for the right owners. It’s not a magic fix, and it’s not for everyone, but if you have the right situation, it works really well.
It solves so many of the problems that people have with training their dog to find shed antlers. It lets you train them step by step, without risking them getting poked by real antlers, it has the real scent that they need, it works for any age or breed, and it transitions perfectly to real hunting. It’s no wonder so many owners love it.
But if you have a large dog, or you want a quick fix, or you’re rough with your stuff? This isn’t for you. There are other options that will work better for you.
Would I Buy This Again With My Own Money?
Honestly? I absolutely would, for the right situation.
I have two dogs, Max the 8 year old golden retriever, and Luna the 8 month old border collie. Luna is super high energy, right? She’s always bouncing off the walls, and regular walks don’t tire her out. And she loves nosework, she’s always sniffing everything. This kit would be perfect for her, to do some nosework training, to tire her out mentally.
Max is 75 pounds, which is medium, so the dummy would be fine for him, too. And we have patience, we can put in the 6 weeks of training, no problem. And we’re careful with the scent bottle, so it won’t leak. Yeah, I’d buy this for them, in a heartbeat. It’s only $40, which is nothing, and it would be perfect for their nosework training.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, this DogBone shed hunting training kit is one of the best options out there for owners who want to train their dog to find shed antlers, or just do some nosework training to tire out their high energy dog. It’s not perfect, nothing is, but it solves so many of the common problems that people run into with this kind of training, and it’s way more effective than just trying to train with real antlers.
Just make sure you know what you’re getting into. The scent bottle leaks if you’re not careful, the dummy is small for large dogs, the training takes time, and you have to buy refills if you use the scent a lot. But if those things don’t bother you, and you have the right situation for it? It’s an amazing product that works exactly as advertised.
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A Quick Disclaimer
I’m not a vet or professional trainer. This is just my personal research.
Note: Some customer experiences referenced in this review are based on verified Amazon reviews and are used for informational purposes only.