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Tracking Dogs


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Never go stalking without her , ninety nine times out of a hundred you never need them but just that once it's the tool for the job . I always let her find them anyway and she gets her reward , not forgetting it's a pleasure just having her out . ..

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Who uses them and how do they get on? I have been training mine for a bit and enjoy it as much as the stalking

All the time and with good results. It's got to the point I just leave the rifle at home :D .

 

Training dogs is working with dogs and it should be enjoyable. What are you using, that little Spaniel x ?

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I'm no expert and this is a little bit of a tangent so please forgive me. Isn't the main use of an experienced stalking dog actually for before the shot is even taken? Walking 'to heel' just a couple yards in front winding while you are watching? Able to give that indication that game is close before you quite have a line of sight.

 

Not sure I could justify training a dog specifically and solely for following up but for the above sounds great fun.

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I'm no expert and this is a little bit of a tangent so please forgive me. Isn't the main use of an experienced stalking dog actually for before the shot is even taken? Walking 'to heel' just a couple yards in front winding while you are watching? Able to give that indication that game is close before you quite have a line of sight.

 

Not sure I could justify training a dog specifically and solely for following up but for the above sounds great fun.

Tracking dog, is to find shot game "after" it has been shot. Tracking is just another string in ya dogs bow.

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The spaniel x is far too hectic and has a 2 second memory! She'd be distracted and off bushing in no time at all. I've got Willow the lurcher doing it. I take her with me stalking anyway as Born said, one day I needed her to track and she just did it. Since then I'm hooked and been to a couple of training days with the UKDTR. I let her find anything that hasn't dropped on the spot even if I can see it. She loves it. I'm learning to read her body language a bit more now too which helps, also helps that she'll do anything for a bit of liver! I've started getting calls from lads I know to help them when they lose one now they know she can do it. I'm a total novice but learning a little bit on each track and loving it!

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I'm no expert and this is a little bit of a tangent so please forgive me. Isn't the main use of an experienced stalking dog actually for before the shot is even taken? Walking 'to heel' just a couple yards in front winding while you are watching? Able to give that indication that game is close before you quite have a line of sight.

 

Not sure I could justify training a dog specifically and solely for following up but for the above sounds great fun.

We had to have one because any deer running even a few yards would be into the trees and lost from sight nearly immediately after shot , so they used to stay in the pickup untill needed

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I'm no expert and this is a little bit of a tangent so please forgive me. Isn't the main use of an experienced stalking dog actually for before the shot is even taken? Walking 'to heel' just a couple yards in front winding while you are watching? Able to give that indication that game is close before you quite have a line of sight.

 

Not sure I could justify training a dog specifically and solely for following up but for the above sounds great fun.

Tracking dog, is to find shot game "after" it has been shot. Tracking is just another string in ya dogs bow.

 

 

I get that, lol, as I said it was a bit of a tangent. I guess my comment really was that we read a lot about stalkers having tracking dogs and hardly anything about them using their 'tracking dogs' for the far more regularly occurring job of actually indicating to the stalker what is just over the rise or through all those trees. Not knocking anyone either.

 

I've got a young cocker coming on for typical spaniel work but he walks to heel sensibly enough and so I'm taking him out with the rifle now just to see what happens really. He may very well spend most of the time in the truck if he becomes useful and just come out when needed, maybe not, see how it goes. I like the idea of having a sensibly coloured stalking dog though that is capable of doing more than just following up the one or two deer in a hundred that wouldn't be found otherwise.

 

Just interested if anyone used their 'tracking dogs' for more than simply tracking. :thumbs:

Edited by Born Hunter
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For me it depends on the situation, she's always in the truck anyway but if I'm stalking in woodland or anywhere moving around she comes with me as her senses are fat better than mine. If I'm using a high seat I leave her in the truck though as I don't think it helps having her at ground level. I also have bear in mind she's a multi purpose dog, if other quarry walks past while she's sat under a seat rather than at heel it's a lot to ask expecting her ignore it

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For me it depends on the situation, she's always in the truck anyway but if I'm stalking in woodland or anywhere moving around she comes with me as her senses are fat better than mine. If I'm using a high seat I leave her in the truck though as I don't think it helps having her at ground level. I also have bear in mind she's a multi purpose dog, if other quarry walks past while she's sat under a seat rather than at heel it's a lot to ask expecting her ignore it

 

Fair doos, I think I'll end up the same way with this pup. His first priority has to be bird work, but I do a bit of all sorts and don't like having a shit load of dogs about to be specialists for all those jobs. Even at heel, spaniels can be a bit 'busy', not quite as slow and focused as say a lab or GWP and all that white will perhaps add to make me a bit more visible, maybe not. In which case, if the pup turns out useful but at times a hindrance then he'll be left in the truck when appropriate. I'm just f***ing about really, see what happens....

 

It's cool you're using a lurcher. I bet that goes down a treat with the elitist deer stalker types! LOL

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I'm no expert and this is a little bit of a tangent so please forgive me. Isn't the main use of an experienced stalking dog actually for before the shot is even taken? Walking 'to heel' just a couple yards in front winding while you are watching? Able to give that indication that game is close before you quite have a line of sight.

 

Not sure I could justify training a dog specifically and solely for following up but for the above sounds great fun.

My old dog scented deer at outrageous distances , if she sat down their was a deer in the vicinity without fail ..she walked with her head just in front of me continually scenting and soon as she scented one she sat down and wouldn't move , can't think how many deer that dog got me .The new dog has come on well this season , sits and stays under the seat , scenting is much improved on her first season and her tracking is spot on ..will she be as good as the old dog ? who knows I'd like to think I could be that lucky ..

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So what happens to wounded deer if you don't keep or have access to a dog?

 

Obviously the vast majority die close to the shot site but imperfect shots must happen and even well placed shots can run on and be lost in cover.

 

I would have lost one the other day or at the very least had to come and look for it again the following day

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