Fully trained deer dogs

People are forgetting that a lot depends upon the dog regards to when it becomes fully competent. All dogs are different and some learn much quicker than others and also depend on how much training/work they get and competence of owner!
 
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There are plenty of “fully trained” gundogs offered for sale, and there is a ready market for those who have taken up shooting and want the perfect dog to sit alongside them showing up there masterly prowess when shooting tame chickens, sorry I mean truly fast and wild phaesants and ducks.

Mostly such dogs are trained to within an inch of their lives, have minimal get up and go and will only do things on command. There is generally a trophy girlfriend / wife / mistress / boyfriend or lover on the end of the lead which have an equal level of intelligence or personality.

As for stalking / tracking dogs - in the UK these are pretty new thing really. 30 odd years ago any body who suggested taking a dog out stalking was thought of as some sort of odd ball. And we have very different views of what a deer dog actually should do.

On the continent, in many countries there is a requirement for dogs to be licensed to hunt, and they have to pass a series of tests before they teach a certain age to be allowed to track and follow up wounded game. There is a market for such dogs, but generally trained dogs will only pass hands to other experienced hunters, or if you want one you will be trained alongside the dog. And if you don’t make the grade the dog will go elsewhere.
 
Do you want a deer dog or a tracking dog there is a difference. Most folk want a dog to find a deer they have shot within 20 meters or so of the shot site. If this is the case get yourself a lab ,terrier or whatever, within 18months it should be quite capable of finding deer. If you want a dedicated tracking dog then be prepared to do the work yourself you will only get out what you put in. My HS bitch was 3 years old before she really started coming into her own. She’s 9 now, walks to heel, winds deer and will track with the best of them, but only because I put the work in.
 

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Do you want a deer dog or a tracking dog there is a difference. Most folk want a dog to find a deer they have shot within 20 meters or so of the shot site. If this is the case get yourself a lab ,terrier or whatever, within 18months it should be quite capable of finding deer. If you want a dedicated tracking dog then be prepared to do the work yourself you will only get out what you put in. My HS bitch was 3 years old before she really started coming into her own. She’s 9 now, walks to heel, winds deer and will track with the best of them, but only because I put the work in.

Kudos for showing shots that have gone wrong, dog looks happy!
 
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