Tracking Dog Resources

[fireball31]

Might be a stupid question. I've got a german shepard/pit bull mix.  He's got the strongest prey drive I've ever seen in a dog and It seems like a waste to take it out of him. I'm extremely interested in whether it is possible to turn a 18-24month (he's a rescue) old dog how to be a blood tracker. here's a pic of the beast in question.  His name is Grizzly cause I can't seem to break him. LOL

 http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n603/Bob_Schuitema/grizzly001.jpg

[Dryfired]

Find yourself a copy of "Training tracking dogs" by William Koehler. You will need to do preliminary obedience training first of course. Agility training is a lot of fun too with capable breeds, there is a suite of books by William Koehler to help you out. He is the guru in my opinion and has good techniques that work with high-drive breeds.

[Keefer]

Fireball,  I've got a friend named Bruce and he has those Black Mouth Kurs...Funny one of his Biggest dogs that had past away was named "Grizzly" but He has a PUP that looks like he has those feet Grizzly had....That little Pup went out in the woods with us a few months ago and we just watched him as he started exploring and tracking on his own or should I say by watching his Mama...My buddy uses them to track deer and has been very successful...Keefer's <><

[Hatrick]

fireball31, good question. I have a 5 month old beagle, Moose, that I'd like to eventually do some tracking with.

Dryfired, thanks for the information. I'm going to look that book up.

[S. Brant Osborn]

I believe that any breed can be taught to track.  But not every indvidual dog is up to it.  The best I ever saw was a German shepard.  He lived with a man whose home was the meeting spot for a local hunting club. He had many opertunities to learn.  If your dog shows potential, you are right, it would be a shame not to help him learn.

[tracker1]

Fireball31, I read Tracking Dogs for finding wounded deer by John Jeanneney this winter i found it a very good book for training blood tracking dogs.  I have a Jack Russel that i want to train this summer to blood trail.  I saved deer blood and livers to train with.

[fireball31]

Thanks for the info guys.