How to Train Your Dog to Track Deer
By Kelsey

Posted: October 4, 2012

How to Train Your Dog to Track Deer

 

  1. First, you need to select the right dog. Get a purebred hound or hound mix young pup – you should start training when the dog is 3-6 months old.  It is recommended to stick with hound breeds like Walkers, Setters, Beagles and Bluetick.
  2. Healthy dogs are better tracking dogs – they key is your dogs diet and knowing what , how much and how often to feed your dog.
  3. When you start training, first expose your dog to a deer’s scent. Use hide from the leg section for deer that aren’t wounded. But if you want your dog to track the wounded deer – use blood.
  4. Drag or scatter the deer’s scent across a field or in the woods that is away from the dog’s sight. Start at the beginning of the trail and let your dog smell out your trail.
  5. Once your dog has that down, it is time to do the real test. Go driving around for deer, once you sight one, let your dog out and see if the tracking begins.
  6. You can also use an older or merely more experienced dog to help train the new dog. Even if the older dog is slow – that is actually good for training younger dogs. What you do is release both dogs after you have seen a deer and let the young dog watch and learn.
  7. Always remember consistency and time are extremely important in training your dogs. It may take weeks so don’t give up on your dog.
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