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Best Dog for the Job

I have a Kemmer cur. She’s done well for the amount of real tracks she’s been exposed to.

Labs from a good working line. Especially for she’d hunting. They have a great nose and an equally great will to please.

The dachshund from good tracking lines do great but in a state like mine where you can track off lead a dog big enough to run down a wounded deer and bay until you can get there a dachshund doesn’t make much sense.

Bloodhounds are a specialist breed. They are big enough to climb or jump most people’s fences. During a track if the deer crosses a fence you’ll likely have to pick the 100+ pound dog up and over the fence. Even though they are big enough to stop and bay a deer they are used exclusively on lead. Their nose is their master and they don’t know when to stop. Most people that run them in Georgia are going after couple day old kills or tracks attempted by other dogs and failed. They have huge areas

It takes a lot of drive and focus for a dog to work a long old track. Not-every dog in every breed will be successful. Pretty much any dog can find deer you or me couldn’t with just a little training.
 
CooterBrown said:
What is the best breed of dog for wounded deer tracking but also good at finding sheds?
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What state are you in?

Depending whether you're in an on or off lead state would have some bearing on what breed you use for tracking. Also keep in mind the off season is way longer than tracking season so pick a breed that fits in with your lifestyle all year. My wife tracks with a wire haired dachshund on lead and it's been a good fit for her.

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Bowonly said:
What state are you in?

Depending whether you're in an on or off lead state would have some bearing on what breed you use for tracking. Also keep in mind the off season is way longer than tracking season so pick a breed that fits in with your lifestyle all year. My wife tracks with a wire haired dachshund on lead and it's been a good fit for her.

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I'm in South Alabama and we can track off lead
 
It wont be an inside dog. Me and my wife both dont want a dog in the house. Thankfully that is one thing we agree on.
 
Off lead gives a lot of advantages but between baying injured deer, water and snakes, you'd probably want to avoid the smaller breeds. Blue lacey, black mouth cur, Catahoula, there's no shortage of hound types that would do what you want well.

GSP's and labs may be more versatile when it comes to also finding sheds. I can't speak to that.

There's no guarantees but I'd insist on getting a pup from actual working lines. If the parents track they'll have plenty of pics.
 
CooterBrown said:
I'm in South Alabama and we can track off lead
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Friendly reminder that on state land, you cant legally track off lead.

That said, I've put my lab on several deer and always just ran him on a shock collar and kept him in sight. Haven't had a complaint or issue with LEOs yet. I carry a lead, but using it in the swamp would be enough of an issue that I would just abandon the deer tbh.
 
I have no evidence to say I’m right but I think a Boykin would make a good shed/tracking dog. Good size and lots of drive.
 
When the Blood Tracking Dogs first started in earnest here in WNY the recommended breed was believe it or not, long haired Dachshund, but I'm not exactly sure why. I think any dog with a good nose and obedience can be trained for this important task.
 
Camelcluch said:
I have no evidence to say I’m right but I think a Boykin would make a good shed/tracking dog. Good size and lots of drive.
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I tend to think the same thing based on the handful I have been around. I think my Chessie would do great trailing but she cant yank a shoulder plum off if she decides she is going and is on a lead. LOL
 
A Boykin Spaniel would be good. My buddy had an American Water Spaniel and that dog was an excellent upland dog and great with pheasants. Not so high strung like the English Setters it would hunt with but just as gamey and needed to see where you were all the time before it got too far.
 
BTaylor said:
I tend to think the same thing based on the handful I have been around. I think my Chessie would do great trailing but she cant yank a shoulder plum off if she decides she is going and is on a lead. LOL
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the best dog I have ever had by a large margin was a Chessie/black lab mix. I think she was more intelligent then some people I know.
 
My Boykin experience is limited to the one I have. He’s like a smaller better looking lab ON CRACK.
I know a local Boykin trainer and he’s agreed with what I’ve seen in my Boykin as compared to labs. They may be smarter but get bored with repetitive drills easily. They don’t have as strong a desire to please their master. They need to be worked on an e collar more often than not.
 
Any good videos on training him. He is 14 weeks old. Bandit is his name
 
CooterBrown said:
Any good videos on training him. He is 14 weeks old. Bandit is his name
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It’s a shame you don’t live close to me, we do an obedience class once a week here local. In my opinion there is nothing more important than just basic obedience before worrying about advanced training. Nice looking pup and good luck with him!
 
Nice looking dog. Start with basic obedience. Get him whistle trained to return and stop, best thing I ever did for my GSP.

I would start with a long check cord and tracking in an open area. Keep in mind that it's attention span is pretty short right now, but it will pick up things like a sponge. Try to make training fun.

Also, check out standing stone kennels on YouTube. A lot of bird hunting and training info there. They specialize in GSP training. Above all be patient as GSP can be stubborn.

As far as tracking goes, I can't be much help. I'm looking into it as well for my Malinois.

Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk
 
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