Widu said "working breed" but then I see no problem if a chihuahua can get to the required standard then fine,use it.Why on earth would it matter what the dogs breed is? surely if the dog and handler work to the required standards, then the breed is entirely irrelevant?
The 72 Hrs track is an example not obviously the standard. So in real terms the standard should be 24 hours old 1,000 to 1,500 m, a number of right angles and one 120 degree turn and at least one wound couch + the finding of an unmarked strike point. Track to be laid with scent shoes, blood if used has to be No more than 120ml or not at all. If the dog leaves the track more than 20 m twice then Fail , + a time limit.
This is for the tracking register, no need for more, not less either. As for any other puppy or basic track tests whatever is agreed, but no pieces of paper Cert's we are not in pre -school. This is again just my opinion and the more pieces of worthless paper we have the more complicated it becomes. Surely if people wish to get on the register and help others then they and hound must capable of this as a minimum. We know that in real life situations we mostly cannot be there in ten minutes.
As for all breeds let's be sensible here and stick to working breeds. This is to train people and dog and if both are unsuitable then sorry they need to realise this is not a fun dog club.
Widu.
Why couldn't your dog do that test?There is no way that my dog could complete the suggested test. However she has found every deer, dead or wounded I have put her onto.
If anyone needs the use of a unregistered, untrained, unruly, feral dog and handler in the New Forest area please feel free to give me a shout.
Regards
Ed
Why couldn't your dog do that test?
Or is it just people are against tests?
I got a call from a fellow stalker this morning who's client had wounded a big roe buck and he couldn't locate it, he asked if I could help or could I recommend someone with a good tracking dog as this was not a dead deer to find but a very mobile animal, I could not help myself but put him in touch with a good tracking friend of mine.
This got me wondering how many people use the SD deer dog register ether as a stalker or as a tracking team ?
surely its now time for a system like this in this country
http://schweiss.dk/hunters-map
this has got to be the way forward, its good for the stalker and more importantly deer welfare
I know there are lots of issues with this such as boundary's, insurance and training standard's and many more but things must surely change sooner or later, like it, or like it not.
your thoughts
Tony
Don't get me wrong, I am not against the proposed idea. I am just stating that there will be many decent dogs that can track wounded deer who may take over the time limit of a test and may stray off the trail over 20m more than twice. I don't believe that we are currently in the position of other N European countries where they have a large number of deer dogs able to complete such a test.
Also to throw a further spanner in the works... Surely all 'Pro Stalkers' in the UK should have their own competent deer dogs. If not and they call on a member of any proposed deer dog register, why not be able to charge for your services ? The Pro Stalker is charging for his?
Please note I am not suggesting that a recreational stalker in need of a dog should be charged.
Regards
Ed
One thing worrys be here, and of course it may not be as it comes across in your post, you say you got a call from a stalker asking your help as a client had wounded a big buck.
Would he have asked for your help if it had been a button buck? I hope so!
I think we are already going a little off track, ( no pun intended) it should not matter who calls Pro or not, motorist , Police. No charge.
Reason- If you charge say £50 or £10 if someone wounds a small muntie worth £5 will they ring, answer = probably Not.
This has to be about ending suffering, if you believe that the pro should pay but not the recreational stalker sorry but your wrong lots of recreational guys are much better off than most Pro's. That sounds like a personal gripe to me and if we charge what if we fail to find the beast do we give the money back. It has to be no charge end of.
We need to agree a standard to get on the register first, before we worry about whether we call a registered team or an unregistered team.
Also hopefully the pro and everyone should ring someone on the register no matter how big the head of the beast or what sex it is if they need to.
