It's a well-known fact that dogs are man's best friend. Nowadays, they are primarily used as adorable pets. But these distant descendants of wolves have retained certain traits that make them formidable hunters. It didn't take long for humans to capitalize on this to develop over time dog breeds specifically adapted for hunting. This is the case, for example, with blood tracking dogs, commonly known as tracking dogs.
Uses of Blood Tracking Dogs
The blood tracking dog is a hunting dog that has received special training and education that make them able to track wounded big game that have become untraceable to the hunter. Of course, training isn't everything. Some breeds are more predisposed than others. With their keen sense of smell, blood tracking dogs enable wounded animals to be quickly found, allowing them to escape a slow agonizing death. Likewise, they can continue tracking day or night for up to two days after the hunter's last shot.
Type of Hunting Practiced by Blood Tracking Dogs
Blood tracking dogs are used in a specific type of hunting: blood tracking. It essentially involves everything possible to quickly find wounded game (wild boar, deer, etc.). This activity originated in Eastern Europe and reached France in the 1980s. During its tracking, the blood tracking dog must be closely followed by a blood tracking handler. The handler forms a team with the dog and is responsible for interpreting all the clues that the blood tracking dog reveals. This allows them to determine where the projectile hit the animal. With such information, they can then stop the search if they judge the wound to be non-lethal or continue to retrieve the game otherwise.
Feeding Blood Tracking Dogs
The diet of blood tracking dogs is crucial in maintaining optimal performance during long tracking periods. Blood tracking dogs are often hunting dogs and therefore have special needs. For their diet, several options are available.
Firstly, for simplicity, you can opt for simple dog kibbles. In this case, make sure to at least offer premium quality kibbles, which are richer in high-quality proteins. Premium kibbles often contain pork, beef, or chicken meat and cereals.
During activity periods, energy needs are higher, and food portions should be increased. An increase of about 20% in portions is recommended to cover the dog's additional needs. Similarly, you can opt for a BARF diet. This solution essentially involves providing your dog with raw meat, meaty bones, offal, and some fruits and vegetables in the form of a vegetable mix.
Main Blood Tracking Dog Breeds
In tradition, certain dog breeds are specialized in blood tracking. This is notably the case with the Bavarian Mountain Hound, Hanoverian Hound, or Alpine Dachsbracke. Other dogs, thanks to their ability (odor recognition among others) or their ease of learning, have good predispositions to become blood tracking dogs. This is the case, for example, with pointers, foxhounds, shepherds, or Polish Hounds.
The Bavarian Mountain Hound
The Bavarian Mountain Hound is a blood tracking dog originating from Germany. It is a medium-sized scent hound with a slender morphology. It does not exceed 20.47 inches [52 cm] at the withers for males and 18.89 inches [48 cm] for females. Its ears are quite long and drooping, and its coat is short. The Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound is also recognizable by its coat, which has a light fawn to dark brown hue.
Similarly, this dog has great abilities for hunting and tracking, but has always been used for the search for large wounded game. In terms of character, the Bavarian Hound is rather calm. It is particularly attached to its owner and is reserved towards strangers. Highly versatile, it will adapt easily to family life, but should not be considered solely as a companion dog.
The Hanoverian Hound
Originating from Germany like the Bavarian Mountain Hound, the Hanoverian Hound is rather robust and massive. Slightly larger than the Bavarian Hound (males stand 19.68 to 21.65 inches [50-55 cm] at the withers, and females 18.89 to 20.86 inches [48-53 cm]), it is also more sturdy. This dog with a coat of deer red, more or less dark, with overflowing lips, has a short and dense coat.
Highly intelligent, it also has a highly developed sense of smell. It is no wonder that it excels in tracking and is considered a blood tracking dog breed in its own right. Moreover, it is loyal and very affectionate towards its owner. But just like its cousin, it thrives best in open spaces where it can use its amazing sense of smell.
The Alpine Dachsbracke
The Alpine Dachsbracke is a scent hound originating from Austria. Like its numerous basset-type cousins, it is rather short (13.38 to 16.53 inches [34-42 cm]) and somewhat elongated. Its coat is most often fawn or black and tan. Robust in constitution, it has broad and drooping ears. This dog is primarily used in the blood tracking of ungulates.
Regarding its temperament, the Alpine Dachsbracke is alert and friendly. It is also a good family dog that can even serve as a guard dog. It is recommended to provide early training for recall as needed. It is indeed an independent and active dog.
Training and Education of Blood Tracking Dogs
Training your dog for blood tracking is a rather time-consuming task, but nonetheless fascinating. While it's true that certain breeds are specialized for this activity, almost all of your canine companions can, with proper training, be used for this purpose.
Choosing the Puppy
Given that most dog breeds can become good blood tracking dogs with appropriate training, it's important to choose one that you like when visiting the kennel (dog breeding facility). This will facilitate the establishment of a climate of trust.
Tools for Training Your Blood Tracking Dog
To facilitate training your blood tracking dog, it is advisable to equip yourself with certain tools such as the training collar, the whistle, or a tracking collar. The latter is primarily intended to ensure your dog's safety. This is notably the case with the Garmin Alpha 100 which has various levels of stimulation, and which you can find on websites selling equipment dedicated to hunting dogs. However, it's important to adhere to regulations regarding this type of collar during hunting. You are only allowed to track your dog in the context of a hunting with shooting and solely to ensure its safety and avoid road collisions.
Education Proper
Training your blood tracking dog should start from its tenderest age (2 to 6 months). It must be progressive, methodical, and it's essential to take your time during its training and when handling the dog. Learning begins by creating artificial tracks in an ideally clear environment. Initially, you can leave skin trails and ensure that it manages to successfully follow the laid track.
Gradually increase the difficulty by moving to blood on the artificial track. The most important thing is not to put your puppy in a situation of failure (hence the gradual increase in difficulty). As its education progresses, it will be able to signal the small clues you intentionally place on the track. The end of this learning period will be marked by a work test for the dog and you (its handler).
In Conclusion
In conclusion, blood tracking dogs are very useful during hunting season to find wounded large game that have managed to escape, such as wild boars, deer, and roe deer. And it is through the call of the great outdoors that they can show you all their exceptional tracking qualities. They nonetheless remain good companions for most. But for them to play their part properly, you must not overlook their education, starting from a young age.
