what breed for tracking ???

[Hales Smut]

In tracking big game there are two options .

You have the search after a good shot , where the deer/boar runs 60/80/100 meters ( maybe in cover or woodland ) collapses and dies . For this about any gundogbreed must be trainable . Also the clumber from our forum member Ash will be perfectly capable of doing this .

Than you have the badly placed shot on a maybe strong stag or boar , which is just behind the vital organs or breaks a leg . Everybody will be able to immagine a situation where the deer can go far , very far . Let's make the situation a bit more complicated . There is about 10 - 12 inch of snow or long heather or strong bracken . When you tracked this beast for 2 or 3 miles it goes of when it sees you and still runs for about another mile and you need the dog to chase the annimal , bay it and pull it down .
This is another ball game .

This is where the " german " dogs become strong . They are big enough to go over snow , heather or bracken . They are naturaly loud so that you can hear where the beast and your dog go to and they are " sharp " enough to pull down a large annimal . A teckel is a nice dog . I owned one about ten years ago , but isn't capable of dealing with this second situation . The clumber might not have the pace neither the sharpness for it . A labrador will be able to do many things , but will not be loud and will miss some sharpness . It's horses for courses .
The Bavarian , Hannover , Wirehaired pointer , Shorthaired pointer , Kopov , Dachsbracke , Wachtehund ..... will be able to do this .
If I would put my time in training a tracking dog I would like to be prepared for both situations . What about you ?

 

[stone]

so where does a ridgeback fit into this equation
specailist dog , specialist breeding and all that

 

[Stand Buck]

The Bavarian , Hannover and Lab cannot deal with the second situation thet do not have the ability to cover the ground quickly enough for a mobile 'runner'.

 

[Paul 600]

I had a Teckel, great dog but as you say not much good on a strong runner!. I know have HPR's 8) I did look at importing a Kopov but sense prevailed, I could not justify it for a one trick pony. I expect my dogs to do what ever I ask and not just track, Do you

 

[Hales Smut]

Hello Deer man . First of all I would like to say that English is only my third language . So from time to time I might not always be 100 % on the question .
I think an HPR might make an excellent tracking dog . Certainly the GWP with it's slightly harder caracter/temperament might be very good .
If it would be my dog , I would only use him for tracking and maybe to do some wildfowling . The examples you see of the truly versatile HPR are certainly true . But what percentage of the breed are realy that good ?
Working the dog with high nose on birds or rabbits will not help him ignoring those scents when he has to concentrate for 100 % on a difficult track. There certainly will be a reaction from somebody who has the true versatile dog , but how many dogs are able to do that ?

Teckels can be great dogs , with great noses that are able to work a 24/48 hour old track . There will be hundreds of places where the teckel will be very usefull , but his size gives him certain limits .

 

[Paul 600]

HS, I use my dogs for all aspects of my shooting be it duck, pigeon, pheasant of fox.

I totally ruined by first HPR (a Viszla) by stopping her from pointing rabbits etc and only concentrating on deer. She will find deer no problems but pays little attention to other game. I also tried a different method to find deer instead of just blood trails i used to train her to find tiny plastic containers with traces of blood, a bit like a search dog. She became very good like this.

With my GWP I let her find and hunt game but on my terms! I have done no retriever work with her yet she retrieves everything, she has even retrieved a Muntjac. I have no problems switching from game or vermin to deer work. I hope my new pup will be the same!

I loved the Teckel although there were many times when she drove me to despair! Great little dogs!

 

[Dorsetvetstudent]

Just a query..

Would a beagle be any good as a deer dog? I've hunted them for several years as a whipper in and kennel assistant to a local pack and I love them to bits, but they do hunt deer instead of the laid trail given half a chance which leads to me running about/getting shouted at (although I know the Chilmark won't hunt deer).
I have a few years left at vet school and thus can't have my own in the near future, but every year there are a few unwanted pups and I was wondering whether anyone has heard of one being trained as a good deer dog or whether the hunting instinct is just too strong?

 

[doghound]

I dont think peole are thinking about this from a wounded deer perspective, all they want to do when wounded and that includes leg damage etc is stand still somewhere quiet and they will do this sooner rather than later if not chased. There is no such thing as a "runner" only a wounded deer being chased by a dog.

Teckel owners dont run about the countryside chasing wounded deer they track methodically with what must be the most single minded breed of dog, and after approaching the wounded deer slowly, despatch it.

Granted it does not always go as simply but it is very efective and the difference with this and loose tracking is it brings you and the deer together not put extra miles between you and the deer.

 

[doghound]

Still baffled by the "let my dog chase the wounded deer" scenario, how do you find your dog and venison when it is all over.

does everyone own one of these?

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=8576#astro

 

[willie_gunn]

Now that's a neat piece of kit!!

I've been using one of the UK low-tech versions:

Dorsetvetstudent - my experience of beagles is that the hunting instinct is too strong although this is based only on pups from beagle packs. You're lucky with the Chilmark - ours would always head for the horizon if they crossed deer scent!

If you look at US and South African customs they use them for sniffing work....but of course they are always on a lead

willie_gunn