Anyone got a blood tracking dog? Offer it as a service?

I got questions.

Ask them man. Maybe others might want to know.

I used the service of one last fall.

Wanting another dog and thinking a working dog.

Enough call for one to justify and keep it trained up?

How does one quote the work, per hour/job and what about property lines. Can't track where permission not granted.

State legalities? Any issues with being accused of using it as a cover for other stuff?

Dead recovery vs wounded recovery at what point is a track ended?

Wounded, survivable vs not?

Leashed or not?

Allow the dog to bay or catch?

Just lots of questions and what ifs.

Had an old blue heeler that would track wounded deer. I guess she found at least two per year for the 13 years she hunted with my group. It was important not to walk much farther than the last sign of blood. If a group of hunters walks all over the woods, then calls for me to bring my dog, it is a lot harder for the dog because many boot tracks are on top of the deer scent and the dog gets confused. At least it was for mine. My blue heeler would never bark unless the deer was still alive. She would lick it for five minutes then return to us just like Lassie did on TV, and would guide us back to the deer. In very thick cutovers and briars, we could often follow behind the dog, but at night and in an open woods, the dog would get way ahead of everyone and it was best just to wait for the dog to return.

Many times I would let her find a deer that I had already seen fall dead. That kept her interested I think and added to her experience. If you had to drag a deer that she found, you had to drag her also. She would chomp down on a ham, growl, and try to pull the deer backward.

That dog absolutely knew her role and she was so proud when she found a deer. She would ride back to camp on the gas tank of a four-wheeler, with the deer on the racks. It was her deer. She died in 2019.

If you train a blood dog, I think it would be best to never take it with you to the deer stand. The reason is, a dog inside a deer stand must be taught not to growl or bark when you see deer. When it is time to retrieve, you want the dog to bark when it finds the deer. I think my dog thought she was not supposed to ever bark at a deer.

My dog did not work from a leash.

I had German Hunting Terriers (Jagdterrier) (4 in a Row) for almost 40 Years. Best Dogs for our particular Purpose. Mostly tracking off Leash wounded Grizzly's, Black Bears, Timber Wolves and Cougar.Because of Regulations, on Leash Moose and other ungulate Dogs must be on Leash. German hunting Terriers are small, very aggressive and never give up. I takes a special Person and constant hunting opportunities otherwise they drive you Crazy. A Grizzly in the yard, let a Hunting Terrier loose and you will start to feel sorry for the Grizzly which will take off with the Terrier in tow making his live miserable. Terrier will usually be back home in Camp a few hours later, Tong hanging out and smiling from ear to Ear.

We use small Aircraft (Piper Super Cub-180 C-Super Stinson and such) to move Hunters & Guides from Camp to Camp so weight is always first on ones mind. Moving a 20 Pound Hunting Terrier for a Search out of another Camp is a lot more doable then moving a 90 lbs Blue Tick not to mention the small amount of Food a Terrier needs compared to the big Hounds.

Right now I don't have one anymore because I am hoping to retire from my Guide-Outfitting Business in northern British Columbia rather sooner then later but I do miss these little Gangsters terrible.

There are plenty purebred German Hunting Terriers available in Germany and also a number of Breeders in the States.

Good Luck to all !

I had a female Border Collie we called super dog, among other skills she picked up deer trailing like a pro, and she too would think it was her's and would pull against you dragging it out, lol
I never leashed her and never used her for others, Here, you need to be State certified, dog on leash, and a bunch of other stuff. Most of the guys that own and use them like wire haired Dachshunds.

They get a fair amount of use cause it's only archery here, and the majority of bow hunters " here" can't find their butt with both hands...

X2 on the jagd terrier. Nobody charging for that up here that I know of

Do jagd's blood trail? I thought most of them are bred for more terrier qualities.

As far as breed I kind of figure most all canines haves a good enough nose. My wondering is what traits and temperament I want wrapped around that nose.

Jagds are on the list but not sure I truly need a black and tan claymore mine. If bears were on the menu then probably so. Hogs might keep them on the list.

But I still haven't determined if I want a dog that will catch or bay or just locate.

Thought about well bred curs or Catahoulies?

That's the direction my thinking is going.

If just locate only I think a leashed dachshund or similar sized/temperament breed would do the job.

If off leash or needing to hold a critter until arrival then one of the curs BMC, Mountain, Catahoula, Lacy.

Check with your state regs as to if you can or not. MN just allowed it a few years ago and dogs must be on a (30'?) leash or less. Talked to one guy awhile back who made good money tracking deer but don't recall all of the details other than he never went more than 150 miles from home and charged mileage as well as tracking time. Ran himself ragged for a few weeks during hunting season and about wore out his truck but made good money in tips.

Legal here as well as in neighboring states.

Used one once . Guy has it here local. It came from Georgia the country not the state. Forgot the breed but it looked like all muscle and grit. One ear missing from following a badger down a hole. It would find the blood then recognize that deer and that one only scent. Track it until you gave up or the deer was found. No quit in the little bugger.

People breed so breed specific nowadays, I would love to find a purpose bred beagle terrier mix.

Guy I used had a special bloodline of Beagle. $150 if you were within like 150 miles. Tips encouraged. Track until finf deer or both parties agree to give up. Guy said he could tell by dogs actions the majority of the time if the deer was going to live or not. 26 hrs after shot for my deer and dog had zero problems finding it. Leash only here and I don't see why that would be a negative unless you were trying to bay up a nonlethal shot deer. Dog tracks pheromones released by deer that is wounded. If shot is nonlethal and the deer begins to recover it slowly stops releasing the pheromones. Guy makes great $ for about a 6 weeks around here

There's an association for this. I believe Google Blood Tracking Dogs and you should find it. A lot of good information and list of breeds popular for it and information on there personalities.

That last about baying up a deer that would have survived. I've seen deer with scars, missing legs, etc as testament to just how much that can survive. Makes me wonder where the line lies in recovery and hunting.

But I also fully believe a dog can tell as they have incredible noses and can read and understand things by smell that we will never understand.