Training a tracking dog

[TexasBowtech]

Thanks for all the input. I think I am going to take him on some pig tracks just to get him some real world practice before deer season.

[Bayouboy]

All I have ever done is to take the dog to the woods. I start on tracks that are easy to find. After one or two the dogs have always had it figured out. Most people will have a "special" harness and leash that they only use when tracking game. When the dog gets that harness on they will know what is up. Good luck.

-john

Pretty much what I did. My lacy came from a TBH member that has lacy tracking dogs. So, he definitely had the genes. I did find using the leash was a p i t a in East Tx woods. I don't use a leash any longer. I do a few tail, leg, or hide drags with him on occasion. The best thing for me has been every time my son or I get a deer we go to camp and get him so he can find it. Even if we have to drag it into the brush.

[Rubeng]

We've got a few exotics here at the casa

And your dogs don’t run off after different scents. It’s what I’m saying. Unless you’re training your dog to find pigs that aren’t wounded, line a hog dog, I wouldn’t worry about putting em down on any blood trail.

[huntresss]

The key is to train your dog to follow the blood. They will learn to pick out the wounded animal and follow just that animal. We've trained our pups using everything from squirrel, rabbit, pig, deer and even chicken blood...whatever I had on hand, or could legally kill at the time. The point is to make it fun and have a reward at the end of the trail. I documented the training process of one of our jagds on here, but can't figure out how to search for it. I'll keep trying to find it to bring back up.