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Best Dog for the Job

Homebrew454 said:
I think any dog with the desire to please its owner would work. Just keep in mind it will take a lot of training to make this work.

Malinois are nice because they can only focus on one thing at once. But they have crazy crazy crazy energy. They listen really well and are easy to train. But they shed quite a bit. Also did I mention they have a lot of energy?

We got our Malinois more for protection. I've been pondering tracking with him too. I may take him with on my spring scouting trip.

If it were me, I would look at something you could use to hunt other game/birds with if you're into that. More things you can do with the dog the better.

Also, if you decide to get a dog for this, look at getting another dog to replace it after 7-10 years. Dogs really can help to train each other.



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Not into anything but deer and turkeys. LOL dont think a dog will help with my turkeys.
 
I'm not wanting to a big dog. Maybe a medium size kinda like a Jack Russell size. The German Shorthaired pointer looks promising. Anyone have one of those? Its bigger than i would like but maybe an option.
 
CooterBrown said:
I'm not wanting to a big dog. Maybe a medium size kinda like a Jack Russell size. The German Shorthaired pointer looks promising. Anyone have one of those? Its bigger than i would like but maybe an option.
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I've been looking into this too since my dog passed almost 2 years ago now. I need it to be a good family dog and it'll be an indoor dog. Would be great not to shed but I've given up on that idea. I want it to be versatile and most importantly just want a buddy I can take to the woods with me. Finding deer, sheds, squirrels will be a plus.

This is my list:

Brittany Spaniel
Border Collie
English Shepherd
Mountain Cur
Black mouth cur
Australian Shepherd
German Shorthaired Pointer
Lab

My neighbors have had 2 GSPs. They're gorgeous dogs and very well behaved. Their electric fence stopped working 1 day and they thought they had lost 1 of them. It was after sunset so I grabbed the flashlights and we were ready to go looking. Walked around back and he was frozen still pointing down the back hill. Nothing would break him off that point lol. I'm guessing he saw a rabbit and thought the fence was still working and was just stuck in genetic hunting mode. They don't hunt and haven't trained the dogs for that but it was pretty cool.
 
I’ve had German shorthairs before, they are great and very loyal dogs, not sure how they would perform on blood tracking and sheds, totally against what they are breed for. That being said any dog with a good brain can be taught to do so amazing things. If I wanted a smaller breed I would go with the dachshund “weiner dog”.
 
Bigterp said:
Ain’t that the truth!!!! Both of my dogs got loose the other day & the mountain cur immediately came back inside when I called & sat next to me eyes locked, waiting on the next command. The beagle was zigzagging in the woods & reluctantly came over to investigate whether I actually had bacon or it was a bluff……..
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Mine won’t even do that until I get stern and blow the whistle a few times. Then he reluctantly comes (sometimes) with the look of “oh no dads mad” my lab on the other hand could be breeding the neighbors dog and one call and he’s next to me waiting
 
CooterBrown said:
What is the best breed of dog for wounded deer tracking but also good at finding sheds?
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Nearly any dog can do it with the right trainer. There’s a guy here in Florida that tracks them with little dachshunds. They are amazing. My personal preference are Bluetick coon hounds. Their noses and bay are second only to bloodhounds but they seem to be more eager and easier to train in my experience…
My buddy has a Catahoula Leopard Dog. It’s only 4 and a half months old but he’s already successful trailing 350 yard tracks and we are running them across little inlets and old trails. His nose isn’t as good as my bluetick for a super cold trail but the dog is insanely smarty and easier to leash train than mine was.
 
I have zero experience in this, but one thing I would consider is opting for a smaller dog over a bigger one.

The reason is if you have to have on a lead you don't want an excited tracker pulling down hills, over rocks, through thick brush, etc. - especially in the dark.

Just something to consider.
 
I have had a German Shorthair (GSP). They have crazy energy. Unless you have a way of releasing it I would avoid it. My wife told me we can never again have one due to the energy they have.

Great nose though. They use them in Wisconsin to drive around bear hunting. They have the GSP in the bed of the truck and when it scents the bear they release the hounds. It is amazing how good their nose is.

I would avoid the Australian shepherd as they are psychotic with their herding. I know a couple of people that have them and that is all the dog wants to do. Even in the house with their friends that come over.

The shepherd or malinois are close workers. Well trained they won't stray more than 25-50 yards away. Both are great trackers and easy to train, but can be aggressive if not properly socialized and trained.

GSP I had would be 200 yards out I in a field 75-100 yards in woods. Shot more birds over her than any lab I ever hunted with. Nose is far superior to labs. I would bet, if legal where you live, you could use a GSP to hunt turkeys. Just phenomenal drive to hunt birds. Any and all birds.

It is speculated that they are derived from numerous breeding with hounds. My GSP followed a wounded bear trail with me but got distracted with birds. I never trained her on the tracking though. I think it would have been relatively easy but her drive for birds would have been hard to overcome.

I think for you a hound might the better option.



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I don't have much to add on the tracking/ shed dog portion, but I have a GSP bird dog. I love him, but, to repeat everyone else, they are high energy dogs. They need to be exercised. No matter what they are doing, if birds are around, they will be distracted by said birds.

That being said, I do plan to try training my next one for shed hunting.

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Bavarian Mountain Hound if you can get one. Last time I checked someone basically has to give you one to get one. Another thing to consider is where are you using it. Small dogs in the deep South have to deal with snake bites, gators, and deep water from time to time, Makes it tough on small breeds. I have two Australian Cattle Dogs (Blue Heelers) and one is surprisingly good with tracking but I would never recommend them to anyone for any reason- LOL.
 
CooterBrown said:
I'm not wanting to a big dog. Maybe a medium size kinda like a Jack Russell size. The German Shorthaired pointer looks promising. Anyone have one of those? Its bigger than i would like but maybe an option.
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I’m on my 3rd shorthair. I’d say he could be trained to track blood but I wouldn’t want him dragging me around the woods (might be incorrect but I believe tracking dogs have to be on a checkcord in Indiana).
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inarcher711 said:
I’m on my 3rd shorthair. I’d say he could be trained to track blood but I wouldn’t want him dragging me around the woods (might be incorrect but I believe tracking dogs have to be on a checkcord in Indiana).
e6a6f3a491089ce67333c1c1372b4d38.jpg



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You can use dogs to track wounded deer in Indiana, but they have to be leashed.

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