Bear Dog"s first year.

Jerry Russell · January 15, 2015, 08:21:00 PM

Just a little year end update on my blood dog Bear. He is just over a year old now and boy did we have a fun blood tracking season.

Our urban area deer season still has a few weeks left in Georgia but the tracking calls have pretty much shut down. To tell you the truth we are tired and ready to get back to training for next year. As I reflect on our first year together (Bear dog and me) I guess I would say that we are well ahead of where I had hoped we would be as a team. He is still just a pup but he gets stronger every track. He has the best cold nose of any dog I have owned and great desire.

We started 2014 with UBT-2 testing when he was 5 months old and he made his first find of a couple of hogs that I knew were small and not dangerous. We moved into turkey season and he tracked a bird for one of my hunters. My Canada bear camp was the true test of his progression and after his first encounter it was evident that I had me a tracker. He did a fantastic job for me and recovered several bears including a couple that went well beyond a mile in rugged mountains. Solid work for a 9 month old pup. We encountered several live bears and had a great time in that wilderness.

Deer season came and he didn't miss a beat. He made some great recoveries in some really adverse tracking conditions. I was proud of his work and we made a bunch of friends and believers in the power of a trained blood dog. I still think my favorite track was when my 17 year old son handled him on his recurve buck.

We survived his medical emergency (rock swallowing) and a few other minor scrapes during the year. He is a tough pup for sure.

Our next level is training with his new GPS collar system and all that goes with that. I know adolescence is coming for him and while I am not looking forward to his "teenage years" we will get through it together.

We will track a few hogs this spring (under very tightly controlled conditions) to stay sharp, a couple bow shot turkeys I am sure and then get ready for a HUGE bear season. I expect that he will hit the ground on 15-18 bears in June and a few more in Georgia's fall bear season.

Best of luck in the coming year to all the tracking teams. Train hard and stay safe.
Here is picture with some of his tracks for bear camp. Several Trad Gang members got to see him work.

Jerry Russell · January 15, 2015, 08:22:00 PM

ron w · January 16, 2015, 11:53:00 AM

Good looking hound.......what kind is it.

DanielB89 · January 16, 2015, 12:01:00 PM

Jerry, that is great! congrats on the good dog!

Whip · January 16, 2015, 01:16:00 PM

A tracking dog adds a whole new level to bowhunting. I look forward to tracks as much or more than sitting in a tree anymore.
Looks like Bear Dog is on his way to a great career!

TradBrewSC · January 16, 2015, 01:19:00 PM

good stuff!

Cyclic-Rivers · January 16, 2015, 06:04:00 PM

Looks like bear has it in his Blood. There is nothing like the bond of a man and his dog, especially when they work together.

drewsbow · January 16, 2015, 06:14:00 PM

well done , nothing like a good dog

The Night Stalker · January 16, 2015, 06:48:00 PM

Jerry, after I posted last summer about wirehair Dauchound . I got on the list for a Jeanneney puppy. Their first dog was breed about a week or so ago. The wait begins.

fujimo · January 16, 2015, 07:34:00 PM

yup, i know how you feel, my SWD will be here monday!!!tic...toc....

Jerry Russell · January 16, 2015, 09:37:00 PM

Bear is a Bavarian Mountain Hound. He is a great hunting partner.

wapiti792 · January 16, 2015, 10:18:00 PM

Having seeN Bear work first hand I know how good he is

I also know how fun a pup he is as we shared some truck time and tracking time...I can't wait to see him in action this spring

sheepdogreno · January 17, 2015, 06:22:00 AM

That's awesome! Love seeing someone enjoying training and using a dog for a purpose. K9 work is one of my passions! Your doing something right keep it up!