GUMBO the CATAHOULA

[RaginCagin]

I copied this from my post on AggieArcher’s thread…..

Here is how I am started my pup out:

I have a deer ear on a string connected to a 6 ft. fiberglass fishing pole type rod that I run mock trails with. I put a small amount of blood in a sandwich bag and put the ear in the bag and mix it around insuring there is blood all over the ear. Then I run a trail for him and put his food at the end as a reward. I drag the ear out to my side to separate my scent trail from the blood trail. I make a note of exactly where I have dragged the ear so later I can help keep the pup on the blood trail, and off my scent trail. For now I keep the pup on a long leash to help rein him back in when he loses attention/focus; and to keep him away from my scent line.

I don’t let my pup eat after about 8 in the evening. Then first thing in the morning before I feed him, I go run a mock trail for him. This way he will be hungry and have more incentive to follow the trail once he figures out he gets to eat at the trails end. I also put the food in a little container he cannot easily see or recognize, and then I hide it in the grass/ bushes at the end of the trail.

When running your mock trails try to set them up where the dog has to track the scent with the wind to his back so he can’t follow the smell of you, the blood, or the food in the air.

I also put blood on the ear and drag it around on the ground for the pup to chase and catch. It gives the pup a great workout.

Catahoula's use the wind to scent blood and and deer scents more than any other dog I have ever seen so trying to get a young pup to learn a scent trail with the wind to his back seem a little backwards. Mine has found numerous deer after making large circles and getting downwind of the dead deer. Several times he would be 200 yards downwind before picking up a scent and follow back to the deer straight into the wind by just picking up the scent in the air and no blood.

[systemnt]

Hey Tyler,

I went from using a drag, to a plastic condiment squirt bottle like Texas Tracker posted but I couldn’t control the blood very good with it; and it leaked a little from where the top screwed on. I considered using a spray bottle, but that is not feasible considering the small amount of blood I am using per trail.

So…… I dug around and found this funny looking curved tip syringe. It holds right at ½ an oz. of blood.

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I run the blood through a fine strainer before filling the syringe so it doesn’t clog up.

It can shoot out a super fine stream, or it will dispense very small drops; whichever you decide. I have found it works very well for this application. I am using about ½ an oz. of blood per hundred yard trail.

I use the blood very sparingly when laying down a trail; dispensing just a little bit every three or four steps.

I also warm the blood up like you would warm up milk in a baby’s bottle. But I only warm up what I am about to use. I fill the syringe (or small squirt bottle) with the amount of blood I am going to use, then I set the container in hot water for a few minutes to warm the blood up good; then I go lay my trail.

I went out and got a water bottle for a bicycle it allows for a drip squeeze.., wont leak, and seals shut real well..

[gig one]

Nice looking pup

[Hunter58]

Good lookin pup

[MySRT8U]

Dude I love that name!!! And awesome looking pup brotha

[TUCO]

Catahoula's use the wind to scent blood and and deer scents more than any other dog I have ever seen so trying to get a young pup to learn a scent trail with the wind to his back seem a little backwards. Mine has found numerous deer after making large circles and getting downwind of the dead deer. Several times he would be 200 yards downwind before picking up a scent and follow back to the deer straight into the wind by just picking up the scent in the air and no blood.

I agree they find a lot of bucks from working the wind Josh. And I see your point.

But I don’t consider working a dog with the wind to his back as counterproductive training; quite the opposite.

By doing this I am forcing him to work the trail as much as I can.

I want him to work on his trailing skills, not just rely on working the wind.

This is my third Catahoula. They seem to be a natural at whatever task you put them to. Running a blood trail is no different.

I realize they find a lot of animals on the wind; and my pup already knows how to work an upwind trail by tacking the wind.

If I cut him loose on the downwind side of a mock trail I have made he will follow the blood trail until he smells blood or food farther ahead of him; then he will just leapfrog forward tacking the wind and go straight to his food.

I brought him to the start of a mock blood trail a few days back from a downwind position and he keyed on the blood from 30-40 yards out.

I can just imagine how far a dog can smell a rutted up buck from downwind. Heck I can smell one from 30 yards….

I had the privilege to watch a great tracker & pair of dogs work several times last year. In each case the blood trail; however minute, was what they seemed to be keying on. It appeared to me they were not relying on the wind in the least, but were totally focused on the blood trail. On one particular track covering 700 yards (downwind), we found the buck alive with his back to a creek, and the wind in his face.

The buck didn’t end up in that spot by accident…It gave him the edge….but it wasn’t enough of one…He scored 170+.

A dog working the wind would have never found that buck unless he would have swam the creek and worked the whole other side.

[rednecktbrizz7]

**** I miss my catahoula now... Wish I had more time for her:/

[TUCO]

rewards/treats ?

I have been using these treats for his training and he loves them.

A 2½ lb. jar is only $10 at Wal-Mart, and there must be at least 300 treats in that container.

These are ideal for pups as they are small bites, and are also hard so the pup tends to chew up the treat, not swallow it whole like some of the soft treats.

I carry a few in my shirt pocket so I can reward him for doing well instantly.

If your pup knows that you have one of these in your hand I guarantee you will have their full and undivided attention.

He learned all his obedience commands very quickly with these little treats as an incentive.

These little gems will definitely speed up the learning curve….get some.

[Swampa]

Great looking pup!

[Rileym272]

Great looking dog I can't wait to get mine

[El Coyote]

Very nice tuco

[TUCO]

Great looking dog I can't wait to get mine

When are you getting yours Riley?

[Chew]

Thanks for the info

[RaginCagin]

I agree they find a lot of bucks from working the wind Josh. And I see your point.



But I don’t consider working a dog with the wind to his back as counterproductive training; quite the opposite.



By doing this I am forcing him to work the trail as much as I can.



I want him to work on his trailing skills, not just rely on working the wind.



This is my third Catahoula. They seem to be a natural at whatever task you put them to. Running a blood trail is no different.



I realize they find a lot of animals on the wind; and my pup already knows how to work an upwind trail by tacking the wind.



If I cut him loose on the downwind side of a mock trail I have made he will follow the blood trail until he smells blood or food farther ahead of him; then he will just leapfrog forward tacking the wind and go straight to his food.



I brought him to the start of a mock blood trail a few days back from a downwind position and he keyed on the blood from 30-40 yards out.



I can just imagine how far a dog can smell a rutted up buck from downwind. Heck I can smell one from 30 yards….



I had the privilege to watch a great tracker & pair of dogs work several times last year. In each case the blood trail; however minute, was what they seemed to be keying on. It appeared to me they were not relying on the wind in the least, but were totally focused on the blood trail. On one particular track covering 700 yards (downwind), we found the buck alive with his back to a creek, and the wind in his face.



The buck didn’t end up in that spot by accident…It gave him the edge….but it wasn’t enough of one…He scored 170+.



A dog working the wind would have never found that buck unless he would have swam the creek and worked the whole other side.

You are right. They are a breed that just figures out a situation and doesn't give up and God help the animal if the dog jumps it and it's not on a leash.

[BTLowry]

Good looking dog James

Reminds me of the one my dad had when I was a kid. Color was nearly identical