Blood tracking????

[BubbaHFD]

I was just looking through a recent dog breed post here on the GS and it got me thinking......I have a new 7 month old bloodhound that I got from a fellow member here about a month and a half ago that found him as a really skinny stray so I took him in and he's been a great dog....stubborn but good dog lol. Anyways to my question. I have never had tracking dog and would love to teach my Bloodhound Jake to be a blood dog.....cant get a much better scent dog than a Bloodhound. But I have no idea where or how to start. I've had bird dogs but I'm new to the sent tracking. I also have a Basset Hound that'll be 2 in October that Id like to train as well but he may be to old to start training?? Any recommendations from the tracking gurus would be greatly appreciated

[Greywolf in Hawaii]

Here's a short starting video, sometimes they follow the humans scent as well as the blood, but it's a good place to start. keep it simple and he'll grasp the idea real quick. straight line trails with few turns then get more complicated with turns and blood spaced further apart. a drag on a stick is also helpful.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I7mzdLfNO4"]Training a Puppy to Trail Blood - YouTube[/ame]

Plenty of books and videos on blood trailing.

[gusman]

Some of the guys on big game houndsmen can probably answer a lot of your questions

[Texantax]

If them dogs follow you around they ain't gonna get nothing but cookie crumbs Lol bud, I should be able to get ya plenty of blood this season, just let me know if you want some. Just start laying some trails in the woods and see how they do. They either wanna do it or they don't!

[TP3]

Buy the book "Tracking Dogs for Finding Wounded Deer" by John Jeaneney (sp). It has tons of good information from shot placement, doping wounds, reading sign, gear, etc. Worth the money for any hunter. Especially one trying to train a blood dog.

[pyrobow]

My experience with training is probably not the norm but here goes. I tried to start my beagle pup at about 4 months. Her attention span was to short. I worked short trails the next couple of months but not enough. Opening day of dove season my short legged Beagle was trying to keep up with a Lab and a Brittany. The next day I toke her hunting by herself. During that hunt she chased down a wounded bird and caught it. She did not want to let go. It was at that point that I think she turned on to blood

Starting the second weekend of Bow season she started with her first deer track. She was 7 months old. She is now seven of seven on retrievable deer, with her longest being almost a mile long.

I say all this to say I am not sure there is a right way to train them. If they have the nose and desire the rest will follow.

The one thing that I am convinced of is that you want the dog to be Yours. By that I mean spoil her or come close to spoiling her. Treat her like one of the family and she will go to the end of the world for you.

Another point to remember is trust your dog. She will probably be training you far more than you train her.

My beagles nose has rarely ever left the ground in her short life (1 year 4)months. If they have it the rest is easy.

[Bisch]

Buy the book "Tracking Dogs for Finding Wounded Deer" by John Jeaneney (sp). It has tons of good information from shot placement, doping wounds, reading sign, gear, etc. Worth the money for any hunter. Especially one trying to train a blood dog.

X2!

Bisch

[Bowhunter1994]

X2!

Bisch

X3
Read it!
Then go back and skim through for any questions while training .

[BubbaHFD]

Thanks for the info guys. My dogs are family to me. Ill have to look into that book. Any other info will be appreciated

[Bowhunter1994]

Also a movie - track with shack..
YouTube him

[BubbaHFD]

I'm going to check that out

[Chance Love]

The BEST way is to put them on a LOT of deer. A LOT of deer.

[Cuz]

Buy the book "Tracking Dogs for Finding Wounded Deer" by John Jeaneney (sp). It has tons of good information from shot placement, doping wounds, reading sign, gear, etc. Worth the money for any hunter. Especially one trying to train a blood dog.

This is what I did. Followed most of the idea in it with my own little twists and now my WHD is a tracking sun of a gun!!
You HAVE to have a dog that has "it" in em first. Then its just a matter of learning your dog and lots of practice and praise!
She's found numerous kills that otherwise would not have been found. And she LOVES tracking hogs!

[Landrover]

If it is in there DNA they will do it! Bayou's nose never leaves the ground..........not even for a photo-op!!!

[Texas Tracker]

All good advice My standard got on her first deer at 6 weeks and loves doing it. She is also addicted to tennis balls so some times I will put some blood on the ball and play with her at night in the dark to get her keened in on the scent. She also get the tennis ball as a reward when she finds my kill.