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Tracking Dog Questions
#8991814
01/22/24 06:22 AM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 35,154
Brother in-law
OP
THF Celebrity
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OP
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 35,154 |
If there were a top 3 what are youre top breed picks?
Any good book or videos out?
Trying to help a friend of a friend that hunt rough brush country
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8992779
01/23/24 04:05 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,853
Texan Til I Die
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,853 |
You might consider a full sized Dachshund. Friend has one that turned into a great tracker and was almost completely self trained. About the only "training" they did was to get the dog to stay fairly close and not get too far ahead of the people.
Silver spurs and gold tequila keep me hanging on. Pretty girls and old cantinas give me shelter from the storm.
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8992790
01/23/24 04:16 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,603
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,603 |
If there were a top 3 what are youre top breed picks?
Any good book or videos out?
Trying to help a friend of a friend that hunt rough brush country Jag Terrier, Lacy or Lab. Tracking dogs are no different then bird dogs He/she who hunts the most wins. Its all about how much time you want to spend training them.
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: BOBO the Clown]
#8992861
01/23/24 05:50 PM
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Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 778
Double AC
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 778 |
Tracking dogs are no different than bird dogs He/she who hunts the most wins. Its all about how much time you want to spend training them. This. That being said, unless you are going to be on trails consistently, which is near impossible in my opinion as an ethical, recreational huntery, are better off choosing a dog that fits your lifestyle from a pet perspective and training it to trail rather than getting a working dog. My dog is trained to blood trail and she maybe gets one or two trails a year simply because our shots on the ranch rarely end up with animals going more than 50yds.
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8993028
01/23/24 10:12 PM
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 326
diablodog
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 326 |
I am on my 4th generation of West Highland White terriers . All of them were great trackers . Great noses , loved hunting , would never give up . Besides blood tracking , they would track live game trails . I got to where I could read them enough to know what animal they were tracking . They would also point and retrieve quail . One of mine found a 3 carat diamond ring on a jogging trail after just sniffing the woman's hand . She had been looking for hours , he found it in 5 minutes . That reward was a big one , much more than he got for finding wounded deer for hunters .
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8995601
01/28/24 03:12 AM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 469
VAFish
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 469 |
Join United Blood Trackers. They have a book on their web site, and a very active members only facebook group. https://www.unitedbloodtrackers.org/
"If your plan is for one year, plant rice. If your plan is for ten years, plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years, educate children." -- Confucius
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8996324
01/29/24 12:03 PM
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,342
copperhead
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,342 |
While guiding on a TYHP hunt this season, one of the staff brought his Blue Lacys in case his services were needed. These dogs were phenomenal. He explained how the dogs worked and tracked and even had the chance to actually track two wounded deer. While in camp, the dogs were like any others, curious and enjoyed being petted by the kids. When the owner put a collar with a bell and GPS tracker on the dogs, they were all business. They knew it was time to work. Usually within 10 minutes of being released to start the trail, the deer was found. I always thought the dogs tracked the blood but they don't, it's a secretion from the interdigital gland located between the front hooves. When a deer is wounded it secretes a substance the dogs pick up on. It's why they can pick up the wounded deer out of a herd. Only that deer releases the scent. Another thing I found out is when a deer senses danger, he'll stomp his/her foot. I always thought this was to get whatever spooked them to move. Now I've learned it's how they release the substance out of their hooves as a warning to other deer danger might be close by. Never too old to learn something new.
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: copperhead]
#8996362
01/29/24 01:58 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,603
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,603 |
While guiding on a TYHP hunt this season, one of the staff brought his Blue Lacys in case his services were needed. These dogs were phenomenal. He explained how the dogs worked and tracked and even had the chance to actually track two wounded deer. While in camp, the dogs were like any others, curious and enjoyed being petted by the kids. When the owner put a collar with a bell and GPS tracker on the dogs, they were all business. They knew it was time to work. Usually within 10 minutes of being released to start the trail, the deer was found. I always thought the dogs tracked the blood but they don't, it's a secretion from the interdigital gland located between the front hooves. When a deer is wounded it secretes a substance the dogs pick up on. It's why they can pick up the wounded deer out of a herd. Only that deer releases the scent. Another thing I found out is when a deer senses danger, he'll stomp his/her foot. I always thought this was to get whatever spooked them to move. Now I've learned it's how they release the substance out of their hooves as a warning to other deer danger might be close by. Never too old to learn something new. I watched hounds get called off a bear that out ran them, then follow their back trail 4 plus miles to the exact spot they were let out hours before hand. Pretty enlightening watch the GPS
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: ntxtrapper]
#8996432
01/29/24 03:33 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,227
J.G.
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,227 |
The official dog of Texas. I've only been around two of them, owned by the same man. He lives on 30 acres. Those dogs as young adults had to run a whole lot every day. Full of energy!
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8999108
02/03/24 06:11 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,006
HornSlayer
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,006 |
This is actually easy. Number 1 is and will always be an American Bloodhound, then a coonhound (Black & Tan, Redbone and Bluetick) or German Pointer. After those three, it gets a little more complicated because you get in the Germanic breeds such as Malinois, German Sheperds, Dachshunds and of course the hybrids like a Blue Lacy. Here's the deal, pretty much any dog can be trained to be a tracker to a point. But not all dogs can process a track and if they lose the sent determine how to find it again. Dogs that are bred to track such as Bloodhounds, Coonhounds and Pointers know to circle when the track is dropped and they can tell which direction the game is heading based on the strength of sent. They can distinguish between a wounded deer and one that is not even when there is no blood trail. Other things to consider are how social the animal is and how it behaves around other dogs and people. Some of these high strung dogs don't want to be jacked with and it tends to be hereditary. They may be great in the field but there is no way you would let your children play with them. Dogs may be man's best friend, but not all dogs and dog breeds are friendly.
That brings me to the Versatile breeds such as German Shorthaired/ Wirehaired pointers, Vizlas, Bracco's and a dozen others that Point, Retrieve and Track game. Owning a specialist like a Lab or even a bloodhound maybe the way to go if you know exactly what your hunting and you only need a dog to meet those specific needs. For me I wanted a dog that can go with me on all my hunts regardless. So I picked a German Shorthaired Pointer, it is amazing to watch this dog work a track or to watch her track down a wounded dove in thick grass. I have owned Treeing Walkers and while they may have a better nose than a pointer, they range way to far and are one of those breeds that can be temperamental.
Last edited by HornSlayer; 02/03/24 06:17 AM.
They make ammo specifically for hunting for a reason!
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: HornSlayer]
#8999162
02/03/24 02:24 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,227
J.G.
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,227 |
Very interesting. Thank you for sharing your experience!
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8999172
02/03/24 02:41 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,941
Simple Searcher
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,941 |
My brother has a female corgi that does a pretty good job naturally. It was never taught to track but has found several deer. It is funny to watch that short legged dog scamper through the woods. We have followed a blood trail for a hundred yards a couple of times just to find her sitting there by the dead deer. We have learned to watch her.
"Man is still a hunter, still a simple searcher after meat..." Robert C. Ruark
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: Simple Searcher]
#8999193
02/03/24 03:03 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,372
Creekrunner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,372 |
My brother has a female corgi that does a pretty good job naturally. It was never taught to track but has found several deer. It is funny to watch that short legged dog scamper through the woods. We have followed a blood trail for a hundred yards a couple of times just to find her sitting there by the dead deer. We have learned to watch her. Dogs are the best.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: Creekrunner]
#8999203
02/03/24 03:23 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,227
J.G.
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,227 |
My brother has a female corgi that does a pretty good job naturally. It was never taught to track but has found several deer. It is funny to watch that short legged dog scamper through the woods. We have followed a blood trail for a hundred yards a couple of times just to find her sitting there by the dead deer. We have learned to watch her. Dogs are the best. We don't deserve them.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8999209
02/03/24 03:28 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,534
kmon11
junior
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junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,534 |
My Dad had a lab that was good at it, drug a few boned out deer legs around for her as a pup and she found those and got to keep the leg as hers, at least for a few days. My Dad was on crutches at the time for several years and put her on a trail she would go find it, go back to him and walk along with him following to the deer. One that was a bad shot on the back leg up through the gut was still alive she did that with when they got close the deer got up and tried to run off but did so with her hanging on to the broken leg. About 50 yards further it hit the creek with her still onto the leg. She got across the creek from it and my Dad got the finishing shot from above it. The deer sank in the creek so guess who got wet getting it out, would love to do that again for him any time but he went home 12 years ago.
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true Mainstream news might be fun to watch
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: copperhead]
#8999249
02/03/24 04:41 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,564
freerange
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,564 |
While guiding on a TYHP hunt this season, one of the staff brought his Blue Lacys in case his services were needed. These dogs were phenomenal. He explained how the dogs worked and tracked and even had the chance to actually track two wounded deer. While in camp, the dogs were like any others, curious and enjoyed being petted by the kids. When the owner put a collar with a bell and GPS tracker on the dogs, they were all business. They knew it was time to work. Usually within 10 minutes of being released to start the trail, the deer was found. I always thought the dogs tracked the blood but they don't, it's a secretion from the interdigital gland located between the front hooves. When a deer is wounded it secretes a substance the dogs pick up on. It's why they can pick up the wounded deer out of a herd. Only that deer releases the scent. Another thing I found out is when a deer senses danger, he'll stomp his/her foot. I always thought this was to get whatever spooked them to move. Now I've learned it's how they release the substance out of their hooves as a warning to other deer danger might be close by. Never too old to learn something new. ^^^This is a lot of what I have learned over the last few years. I never knew anything about tracking dogs when I was only around rifle hunters. Since Ive been around bow hunters and started to bow hunt myself I have learned so much. It seems everyone has a tracker on speed dial or has a dog themself. We have become friends with a really good one and he has taught me a lot about shot placement, anatomy and tracking. His dog is amazing and Im not sure what breed it is.
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: kmon11]
#8999331
02/03/24 06:45 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,227
J.G.
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,227 |
My Dad had a lab that was good at it, drug a few boned out deer legs around for her as a pup and she found those and got to keep the leg as hers, at least for a few days. My Dad was on crutches at the time for several years and put her on a trail she would go find it, go back to him and walk along with him following to the deer. One that was a bad shot on the back leg up through the gut was still alive she did that with when they got close the deer got up and tried to run off but did so with her hanging on to the broken leg. About 50 yards further it hit the creek with her still onto the leg. She got across the creek from it and my Dad got the finishing shot from above it. The deer sank in the creek so guess who got wet getting it out, would love to do that again for him any time but he went home 12 years ago.
That was a good girl! Labradors have some of the best hearts. And very intelligent to boot.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8999794
02/04/24 05:17 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 572
nyalubwe
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 572 |
Breed doesnt matter too much, so long as the dog has the drive for it.Friend in Texas uses a 1/2 basset and 1/2 ShihTzu of all things. I like a small agile dog in case the game isn't dead, my own was 1/2 Border Collie and 1/2 Australian shepherd and was excellent at it... In Africa on a couple trips we used a dachshundXFox terrier, also excellent at it.
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8999868
02/04/24 07:51 PM
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Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 778
Double AC
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 778 |
Yep my girl is just a good old mutt. According to the DNA test she is 60% great Pyrenees, 10% Alaskan malamute and German Shepherd, 5% Husky, in the balance is Australian shepherd, and supposedly Grey wolf. This pic is from her first trip to the ranch at eight months old, where she trailed a wounded buck over half a mile in freezing rain and over an eight hour period (had to wait five hours to get confirmation from a neighboring landowner to cross into his property)
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: Brother in-law]
#9000343
02/05/24 05:46 PM
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,223
Smokey Bear
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,223 |
Blood hound has the coldest nose. In my opinion bloodhounds are unquestionably #1 when it comes to natural tracking ability. After that there is room for a lot of discussion. I think the rest of the hounds and the continental breeds of versatile dogs are certainly worth consideration next. Most all dogs can and will take up a hot track. A cold nosed dog takes tracking to another level.
Side note: even the dog with a piss poor nose can somehow manage to find the foulest smelling, most disgusting, dead and rotting carcass within 10 miles, and roll in it….
Smokey Bear---Lone Star State.
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: Smokey Bear]
#9000347
02/05/24 05:53 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,603
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,603 |
Blood hound has the coldest nose. In my opinion bloodhounds are unquestionably #1 when it comes to natural tracking ability. After that there is room for a lot of discussion. I think the rest of the hounds and the continental breeds of versatile dogs are certainly worth consideration next. Most all dogs can and will take up a hot track. A cold nosed dog takes tracking to another level.
Side note: even the dog with a piss poor nose can somehow manage to find the foulest smelling, most disgusting, dead and rotting carcass within 10 miles, and roll in it…. or your lease mates poop. Flip a rock folks!!!
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: Brother in-law]
#9000374
02/05/24 06:45 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,585
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,585 |
Trained my beagle to blood trail. Only using for personal use is tuff to keep them in shape. She is working on 16 years old now and enjoying the spoiled life for her golden years.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: Brother in-law]
#9000381
02/05/24 07:00 PM
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Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 17
GalvestonWader
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 17 |
This book is widely considered the best for how to train a tracking dog https://www.amazon.com/Tracking-Dogs-Finding-Wounded-Deer/dp/0972508929I had a Lacy and used that book to train him. That dog was awesome. A Jagd Terrier is also a great tracker. These are high energy working dogs that need a job. They are not your typical house pet that stays kenneled all day while you are at work.
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Re: Tracking Dog Questions
[Re: GalvestonWader]
#9000509
02/05/24 11:15 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,603
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,603 |
This book is widely considered the best for how to train a tracking dog https://www.amazon.com/Tracking-Dogs-Finding-Wounded-Deer/dp/0972508929I had a Lacy and used that book to train him. That dog was awesome. A Jagd Terrier is also a great tracker. These are high energy working dogs that need a job. They are not your typical house pet that stays kenneled all day while you are at work. I watched a jag jump 4 hounds to go straight to the nose of a Bear, monster bear as in made book. Jag’s arent for everyone, their lack of fear has no equal. But damn they are cool dogs
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