Hunting/tracking dog opinions

[Flex]

So many options and variables. I think about any dog with drive can be a good tracker. Just depends on if you are talking about helping find occasional deer, or tracking 3 miles away a deer that was wounded.

My lab is a bird machine but tracks well. Use her in the dark when I shoot one in the evening. We also ran a ton of rat terriers and terrier/hound mixes in LA that were great.

I would consider what you want out of the dog the other 350 days a year like the previous poster mentioned.

Example- You buy a walker hound for tracking and a house pet and it gets out of the yard one time you may never see it again.

[jstamps50]

The other portion of the year I'd largely be still tracking, just hogs. If I'm off work, I'm at my lease, doing something. Usually pigs and predators

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[Quackerbox]

I think a dog with drive, could be a mutt, but with serious drive would be your best bet.

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One of the best goose retrievers I ever hunted over was a big yellow male dog a guy found on the side of the road as a pup. He thought it was a lab and when the dog got bigger it was clear he wasn't 100%. We all thought he had some great dane in him or something cause he was so tall. Either way it didn't matter, there wasn't a dog on the prairie that would out run him to a goose

Great dog with an awesome temperament

[LivinADream]

One of the best goose retrievers I ever hunted over was a big yellow male dog a guy found on the side of the road as a pup. He thought it was a lab and when the dog got bigger it was clear he wasn't 100%. We all thought he had some great dane in him or something cause he was so tall. Either way it didn't matter, there wasn't a dog on the prairie that would out run him to a goose



Great dog with an awesome temperament

I dove hunted over a mini Schnauzer one time. Little rascal picked up 2 limits and didn't miss a bird. Sat in the owners lap while he shot.

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[Tex]

The other portion of the year I'd largely be still tracking, just hogs. If I'm off work, I'm at my lease, doing something. Usually pigs and predators

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I’ve had JRT’s, Catahoula’s and now a Lacy. One of the best was a Lab/Weimeriner cross. It sounds like you are going to have a companion dog and use it to track occasionally. Honestly any dog that you build a good relationship with and wants to please you can be taught to trail.

I have two Blue Laussie females left that are 10 weeks old and ready to go if you’re interested. Dad and granddad are both all around dogs and love to track. $50. Good luck.


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[Texas Tracker]

Well guys I always catch hell but I have a standard poodle that worked out great for me. She has high drive always willing to please dose both ground and air scenting and was the easiest and smartest dog I have ever trained. At 62 I have trained a lot of k9s mostly Labs and GSD. Now she will not bay a wounded deer or hog but she sure will find the game you are looking for. Thanks to Rob - Atfuldraw and his tracking seminars she has been a great tracking dog for me.

Here is some info on the breed.

http://vipoodle.org/versatile-poodles/tracking-poodles/

[jstamps50]

I’ve had JRT’s, Catahoula’s and now a Lacy. One of the best was a Lab/Weimeriner cross. It sounds like you are going to have a companion dog and use it to track occasionally. Honestly any dog that you build a good relationship with and wants to please you can be taught to trail.

I have two Blue Laussie females left that are 10 weeks old and ready to go if you’re interested. Dad and granddad are both all around dogs and love to track. $50. Good luck.


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You have two lacy pups or laussie?


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[Atfulldraw]

Well guys I always catch hell but I have a standard poodle that worked out great for me. She has high drive always willing to please dose both ground and air scenting and was the easiest and smartest dog I have ever trained. At 62 I have trained a lot of k9s mostly Labs and GSD. Now she will not bay a wounded deer or hog but she sure will find the game you are looking for. Thanks to Rob - Atfuldraw and his tracking seminars she has been a great tracking dog for me.

Here is some info on the breed.

http://vipoodle.org/versatile-poodles/tracking-poodles/

I'm glad to hear she is still tracking for you

One of my favorite memories at those seminars was seeing the look that poodle gave you when we took her over to the hog bay pen.

She was like "I came for the tracking, but I didn't sign up for this!"

[txhunter90]

I have raised registered catahoulas since the 80's. They make great tracking dogs like most cur dogs will. Here is the problem. If you get a real working dog what do you do with them the 350+ days a year that you are not tracking? These dogs tend to be high energy, high prey drive, and hard headed. These traits and being a good pet do not really go together. I also raised miniature dachshunds. They weigh 7-9 pounds make great pets and track extremely well. They are much easier to take with you, easy to keep up with in the woods, and are great pets for the 350+ days they are not tracking.

-john

I second the dachshund. I picked up my 2nd one German/Ukraine blood lines.(doesnt have to be) They are mostly calm in the house and love to be with the family. Not an ounce of mean in her when it comes to family and kids. But, once she is working, whole different animal. While most of them are not going to be baying and keeping up with deer. They have the nose next to a bloodhound. But, there are alot of great options. But, if you are not consistently working say a patterdale, jagd, or malanois I would stay away. As they are all great hunter's they are very high prey drive.
Find a dog that fits your needs and how much you are going to work them. I work my dachshund atleast 3 days a week on tracks. I deter from the previous dogs mention because I have a newborn. She can sit inside all day with us no problem and be enjoyable.

[AntlerCollector]

I have a Blue Lacy, and had a Jagd Terrier. What the Jagd lacked in size it made up for in ferociousness! I watched mine shed the back legs of a 200 pound boar until it just sat down on the ground. Both are excellent blood trackers.

[Blackmouth]

I loved my blackmouth cur, and if you are looking to hunt hogs, they'll do that too.

I believe John Jeanneney's book "Tracking Dogs for Finding Wounded Deer" talks about several breeds that are good for tracking. As many have stated, several breeds will fit the description, just have to have the individual that wants to work for you and whatever your personal preference is.

[Grayson]

I'm glad to hear she is still tracking for you

One of my favorite memories at those seminars was seeing the look that poodle gave you when we took her over to the hog bay pen.

She was like "I came for the tracking, but I didn't sign up for this!"

lol

[Gary Roberson]

For a blood trailer, I would go with the cur dogs and perhaps cross a little border collie in there for extra intelligence. It is difficult to find a dog that is really good a blood trailing and also big game. I guess that lions and bears are what you are thinking when you say, big game????
I am not a fan of the little terrier dogs as they are extremely hyper and generally aggressive with other dogs.
Adios,
Gary

[jstamps50]

For a blood trailer, I would go with the cur dogs and perhaps cross a little border collie in there for extra intelligence. It is difficult to find a dog that is really good a blood trailing and also big game. I guess that lions and bears are what you are thinking when you say, big game????
I am not a fan of the little terrier dogs as they are extremely hyper and generally aggressive with other dogs.
Adios,
Gary

By big game I mean whitetail, mulies and hogs vs birds.

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[lodgepole]

My healer was great, don’t know if that is common with the breed but he wanted to please sooo bad.


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