Blood Track Training

[jweese]

Last deer season and winter was an awesome year for a young tracking dog - this year looks even more promising as the training has started again. I kept two large margarine containers of deer blood, several tails and other various body parts.

At this point, Misty goes insane as soon as she smells blood on the ground (even diluted as I always do) and always follows it right to the end of the trail (where I typically leave a small piece of frozen deer liver as a treat). She does this without hesitation and never waivers. She also had some awesome tracks last season as well, that brings me to my questions:

* Where should the training go from here? She can already track long distance, and several day old tracks.
* Do we simply switch over to a maintenance / practice session once a week or something to that effect?
* How could one make it more difficult? More of a dilution of blood/water?

Aside from blood tracking, we have been tracking hooves and tails around as well - and she is able to track them. All around, she's turned into an awesome hound.

Furthermore - if anyone in the Belleville area needs some blood to start tracking-training, I can provide a small baggy of it. This was actually the hardest thing for me to find when I started training Misty, not everyone remembers to keep some blood from their kills.

[Marker]

I just started this winter and your dog is further ahead on your tracking training than mine but from what I was told by the breeder/coach, and the reading I have done the next step could be one of two things:

1. increase distance between blood drops to four feet (not sure if you have done that)
2. introduce a scent obstacle such as a small shallow creek or hard surface such as a road that the dog has to pick up the trail on the other side

I was also told to add as much variety as possible in my training so I use different locations, times of day, age of track etc.

This will be my first year on deer tracking (WMU 79/87) and I hope my dog is as successful as yours looks to be.

[jweese]

1. increase distance between blood drops to four feet (not sure if you have done that)
2. introduce a scent obstacle such as a small shallow creek or hard surface such as a road that the dog has to pick up the trail on the other side

This will be my first year on deer tracking (WMU 79/87) and I hope my dog is as successful as yours looks to be.

I think Misty had both those covered last season for sure. She tracked a couple deer under fresh snow, across swamps, and where no blood could be seen.

A few folks have brought to light however - was she actually blood tracking, or tracking the scent of a dead animal. Because she has tracked when there has been no visible sign of a trail even. Ultimately - I think, if she finds the body, however she does it - it's a bonus.

I think I'll start tossing in some scents though, just to confuse her - oranges, perhaps some other blood (I have rabbit and beef as well). I don't know if it'll make a difference, but we'll find out for sure.

The one thing I DO need to work on is having her leashed, I don't think it'll be an issue - but all the deer she tracked last season were when she was running free. Not sure how she'll handle being leashed.

Good luck on your training, I certainly find it fun!

[Marker]

Yep - distractions are be a problem for my dog but can be trained for by adding some 'cross trails' to the mix - this is a few months away for me as I am doing turns next but it is on the list of training I am to do.
I was told to set a trail (ie blood) then have another scent trail cross over the blood trail at 90 degrees to teach the dog not to follow the distraction. In some ways this is a like a creek crossing but instead of water there is the distraction of the new scent to follow. The cross trail can be something like a helper walking through the woods.

[jweese]

As distractions go, other dogs is a major distraction for Misty. If there's another dog around she will just act like an and do nothing but play

[Waftrudnir]

sounds like you're far beyond the red stuff with her.
you should make sure that she tracks the hoof impression of one particular deer and not any that come her way. you may want to start with blood to make it easier to identify them at the beginning. possibly later you can challenge her with crossing tracks to see if she's still follows the original one. leash will definitely help her to slow down

[Marker]

We just finished a 24hr man trailing course and this is what we learned. Although we were doing SAR work the same training on cross trails with other dogs making the cross trail would work for you.

I have attached a page from 'K-9 Trailing' regarding training for distractions by setting up a cross trail.

When first starting out keep the desired trail fresh (ie deer blood) and the undesired cross trail (ie other dog) older, after a few sessions you can start reversing the ages in small increments until the deer blood is aged and the undesired cross trail (other dog) is fresh. Keep your dog on a short leash in the begginning as you will have marked the blood trail and also marked the cross trail so you know EXACTLY where to give the dog corrections when required, most folks use the small gardening flags - the type to mark sprinkler heads.

Keep your eye on the dog when approaching the intersection of the deer blood and cross trail, she will most likely exihibit a change in behaviour which could be subtle like a head pop, this is a learning experience for you as a handler.

You MUST keep this game fun for the dog, find out what Misty likes - for some dogs its a squeeky toy, some like liver treats. Use this reward ONLY for your tracking, this will build the drive required for those long trails you may face in the future.

Good luck.


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