A bit of her background firstly. So, about 8 months ago I started training my German shepherd for retrieving pigeon and crows and what not as I found she has a cracking nose on her and wanted her to do more with it instead of wasting it. She will now retrieve out to 50 yards or so happily. I am now interested in seeing what she would be like for tracking deer. Like I said, a good nose on her! She is now 2 years and 2 months old. She is steady to deer whilst on the lead, she will happily sit 20 yards away from them watching there movements without making a sound. She also lets me know where they are if there close by, she will stop, ***** up her ears and watch/listen. Quite like a pointer would do in fairness. Her recall is also at a good level as in she will return mid chase if she's hot on something. Is it a bit late to get her to an acceptable level? I'm hoping she will turn out to be an 'all round dog' in the sense she will sit in a hide for hours on end, she will retrieve and I know she can pick up and follow scent of deer and when left to her own devices will usually find deer. What pointers/Advice could you give in the tracking side of things? I have previously put her on a rabbit trail (dragged said rabbit about 60 yards or so and started her at the point I first put it down) she had found it within 20 seconds, nose down tail up on the trail until she found it. It wasn't in a straight line either. Would that be something worth doing with deer blood? Or drag a leg for 100 yards and see what happens? Any advice appreciated!
