How To Train A Blood Tracking Dog: Proven Methods

What is a blood tracking dog? A blood tracking dog is a canine trained to follow the scent of blood, typically from wounded game, to help hunters locate their downed animals. Can I train a blood tracking dog myself? Yes, with patience, consistency, and the right techniques, you can successfully train your own blood tracking dog. Who is a blood tracking dog for? Blood tracking dogs are invaluable for hunters who wish to ethically and efficiently recover wounded game, ensuring no animal suffers unnecessarily.

Training a blood tracking dog is a rewarding journey that strengthens the bond between you and your canine companion. It requires dedication, a methodical approach, and a deep appreciation for a dog’s natural scenting abilities. This comprehensive guide will walk you through proven methods for teaching blood tracking, from the foundational principles to advanced techniques. Whether you’re aiming to create a proficient blood trail hunting dog or simply want to hone your dog’s scent discrimination training, these methods will set you on the right path.

Building the Foundation: Early Scent Introduction

The journey of training blood trailing hounds begins long before the first actual track is laid. It starts with nurturing your dog’s natural instincts and building a positive association with scent work. Early scent introduction is crucial for developing a keen and reliable tracking partner.

Introducing Scent Balls and Simple Trails

Scent Balls: The first step involves creating or acquiring scent balls. These are typically made of leather, fabric, or rope, and are soaked in scent material – initially, clean deer or rabbit hide is an excellent starting point. You can also use commercially available scent lures.
Positive Association: Begin by simply hiding the scent ball and encouraging your dog to find it, rewarding them enthusiastically when they do. Make it a fun game. This builds a positive association with “finding things” through scent.
Short, Straight Trails: Once your dog is reliably finding the scent ball, start laying very short, straight trails in a controlled environment like your backyard. Place the scent ball at the end of the trail.
Encouragement: Walk with your dog, encouraging them with praise and a happy tone. Let them investigate the scent. When they find the ball, lavish them with praise and a high-value reward (treats, a favorite toy, or a special game of tug).

Key Principles for Early Scent Introduction

Keep it Fun: The primary goal is to make scent work an enjoyable experience for your dog.
Short Sessions: Keep training sessions short, especially in the beginning, to prevent your dog from becoming fatigued or bored.
High-Value Rewards: Use rewards that your dog truly loves to motivate them.
Consistency: Regular, short sessions are more effective than infrequent, long ones.

Developing Scent Discrimination Training

As your dog gains confidence with basic scent retrieval, it’s time to introduce scent discrimination training. This is vital for ensuring your dog can distinguish the specific scent you want them to follow, especially in environments where other smells are present.

Teaching Your Dog to Target a Specific Scent

This involves presenting your dog with multiple scent sources and rewarding them only when they choose the correct one.

Controlled Environment: Start in a quiet, familiar area with minimal distractions.
Introducing Multiple Scents: Place two or three scent items on the ground, one of which is your target scent (e.g., blood-soaked material). The other items should be neutral or a different, less appealing scent.
Direction and Command: Present the target scent to your dog, perhaps on a scent drag or directly onto a retrieve item. Then, place it among the other scents. Use a clear command like “Seek” or “Track.”
Positive Reinforcement: When your dog immediately investigates and selects the target scent, reward them generously. If they investigate the wrong scent, offer no reward and redirect them back to the correct one. You can also use a gentle “no” to discourage them from picking up the wrong scent.
Gradual Increase in Difficulty: Slowly increase the number of scent items and the similarity of the scents. For instance, you might introduce other animal scents or older blood scents.

Practical Blood Tracking Scenarios for Discrimination

Fading Scent: Start with strong scent trails and gradually introduce fading scents to mimic real-world conditions.
Cross-Tracking: Lay a track and then lay another track that crosses it. Your dog should continue on the original track, demonstrating they can ignore the new scent.
Windy Conditions: Practice in varying wind conditions to teach your dog to work through scent drift.

Laying Your First Blood Trails: Teaching Blood Tracking

This is where the practical blood tracking begins. The goal is to teach your dog to follow a scent trail specifically left by wounded game.

Methods for Laying Effective Blood Trails

Scent Material: Use fresh, clean blood collected from harvested game. You can soak cotton swabs, pieces of cloth, or drag a piece of hide through the blood.
Scent Drag: A scent drag is a piece of absorbent material (like a piece of carpet or fleece) soaked in blood, which you drag along the ground to create the trail.
The “Veeder” Technique: For a stronger scent concentration at the point of injury, you can use a “veeder,” which is a cotton ball or similar item heavily soaked in blood.

Step-by-Step Trail Laying

Start Point: Designate a clear starting point for the trail. This is where you’ll introduce your dog to the scent.
The Trail Itself: Lay the trail at a pace that allows for scent deposition. For initial training, aim for a steady deposition of scent. Avoid contaminating the trail with your own scent as much as possible by walking on the edges or using protective coverings on your boots.
Turns and Angles: Introduce gradual turns and angles to teach your dog to follow the changes in direction.
“Hot” Trails vs. “Cold” Trails: Initially, lay “hot” trails – meaning the trail is laid shortly before the dog is to follow it. As your dog progresses, you’ll lay “cold” trails, where the scent has had time to settle and potentially fade. This is essential for advanced blood tracking training.
The End Goal: The end of the trail should ideally be the retrieve article, which is the item you want your dog to find, such as a blood-soaked hide or a simulated wounded animal.

Commands and Techniques for the Trail

The Command: Use a consistent command like “Track,” “Hunt,” or “Find.”
Leading the Dog: For the very first few trails, you might gently guide your dog along the path, but quickly transition to letting them lead.
Reading Your Dog: Pay close attention to your dog’s body language. A focused nose, tail position, and gait will tell you if they are on the scent.
Reinforcement Along the Trail: Offer occasional praise as your dog works the trail. The ultimate reward comes at the end.

Advancing Your Blood Tracking Dog: Beyond the Basics

Once your dog is reliably following scent trails, it’s time to refine their skills and prepare them for real-world hunting scenarios. This involves increasing the complexity of the trails and testing their ability to overcome challenges.

Increasing Trail Difficulty

Trail Length: Gradually increase the length of the trails. Start with 50-100 yards and work up to several hundred yards or even a mile.
Age of Trail: Lay trails that are progressively older. Start with trails laid an hour or two before, then move to 4-6 hours, 12 hours, and eventually 24 hours or more. This tests their ability to pick up older, fainter scents.
Terrain and Cover: Practice in various terrains – woods, fields, hills, and brush. This teaches them to adapt their scenting to different environments.
Weather Conditions: Train in different weather, including rain, wind, and temperature changes. Wind can scatter scent, while rain can wash it away, forcing your dog to work harder and use their nose more effectively.
Obstacles and Distractions: Introduce natural obstacles like creeks, fallen logs, or thick brush that your dog must navigate. Also, practice in areas with other animal scents or human activity to test their focus.

Advanced Blood Tracking Training Techniques

“Lost” Game: Occasionally, you might want to simulate losing the trail. If your dog loses the scent, calmly bring them back to a point where you are sure they were on it and encourage them to work it again. Avoid frustration for both of you.
“Dead” Ends: Lay trails that have deliberately confusing elements, such as false turns or areas where scent might be disrupted.
Simulating a Shot: For a more realistic scenario, you can simulate a shot before laying the trail.

Scent Trails in Action: Practical Blood Tracking

When you’re ready to apply these skills in a hunting context, remember that every wounded animal presents a unique challenge.

Respect the Scent: Once you find evidence of a wounded animal (blood, hair, etc.), let your dog have a good initial sniff of the “blood pool” or the point of impact before starting the track.
Controlled Start: If possible, keep the area around the initial blood evidence clear of excessive human scent.
Allow Your Dog to Work: Trust your dog’s nose. Let them lead the way, and provide encouragement and support.
Be Patient: Not all tracks are straightforward. Some may require more time and effort from both you and your dog.
End Goal: The ultimate goal is the safe and ethical recovery of the animal.

Troubleshooting Common Issues in Blood Tracking Dog Training

Even with the best methods, you might encounter challenges. Here are some common issues and how to address them:

When Your Dog Loses the Trail

Problem: Your dog repeatedly loses the scent or veers off the track.
Possible Causes:
- The trail is too old or too faint.
- Distractions in the environment.
- The dog is not focused or is fatigued.
- The trail has a significant disruption (e.g., a creek crossing, a busy road).
Solutions:
- Backtrack: Go back to a point where you know the dog was on scent and try again.
- Strengthen the Scent: Lay a stronger, hotter trail next time.
- Reduce Distractions: Train in a quieter area.
- Shorter Trails: Break down long trails into shorter segments.
- Practice Creek Crossings: Deliberately lay trails that cross creeks and teach your dog to find the scent on the other side.

Over-Enthusiasm and Poor Focus

Problem: Your dog is too excited, pulling ahead, or not focused on the scent.
Possible Causes:
- High prey drive not channeled correctly.
- Lack of impulse control.
- Too much pressure or anticipation.
Solutions:
- Obedience Training: Reinforce basic obedience commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “heel.”
- Impulse Control Exercises: Practice waiting for food, toys, or permission to proceed.
- Calm Reinforcement: Reward calm behavior on the trail.
- Vary the Reward: Sometimes, the reward is simply finding the retrieve article; other times, it’s praise or a quick tug.

Not Picking Up the Scent at All

Problem: Your dog seems uninterested or unable to find the trail.
Possible Causes:
- The scent is too old or has been degraded by weather.
- The dog’s nose is not developed for this type of work.
- Lack of positive reinforcement in early training.
- Health issues affecting their sense of smell.
Solutions:
- Stronger Scent: Use fresher blood and deposit more of it.
- Scent Ball Work: Return to scent ball retrieval games to rebuild enthusiasm.
- Consult a Vet: Rule out any underlying health issues.
- Professional Guidance: If problems persist, consider consulting with an experienced blood tracking dog trainer.

Maintaining and Testing Your Blood Tracking Dog

Training is an ongoing process. Regular practice and periodic testing will keep your blood tracking dog sharp and ensure their skills remain at a high level.

Continuous Practice and Skill Maintenance

Regular Sessions: Aim for at least one training session per week, even during the off-season.
Varying Scenarios: Continue to lay trails with varying lengths, ages, and conditions to keep the work engaging and challenging.
Simulated Hunts: Practice with dummy retrieves that simulate different scenarios you might encounter during a real hunt.

Testing Your Dog’s Abilities

Local Clubs and Organizations: Many regions have hunting dog clubs or tracking organizations that offer testing or mock trials. These can be excellent ways to gauge your dog’s progress and learn from experienced handlers.
Benchmarking: Keep records of your training sessions, noting trail conditions, age, length, and your dog’s performance. This helps you track improvement and identify areas that need more work.
Real-World Application: The ultimate test is, of course, a successful retrieve in the field.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What age is best to start training a blood tracking dog?
A: You can begin introducing scent games and simple retrieval as early as 8-10 weeks old. Formal tracking training can start around 6 months of age, once basic obedience is established.
Q: How much blood do I need to lay a trail?
A: For initial training, a few drops of blood on cotton swabs deposited every 20-30 feet can be sufficient. For longer or older trails, you’ll need more significant scent deposition using a scent drag or multiple blood sources.
Q: Can I use artificial scents?
A: Artificial scents can be useful for initial scent introduction and discrimination training, but for practical blood tracking, especially in hunting, using natural blood from the intended game species is highly recommended for the most effective results.
Q: My dog is getting discouraged. What should I do?
A: Always end training sessions on a positive note. If your dog is struggling, make the task easier, reward them for any small success, and take a break from more challenging exercises. Focus on fun and building confidence.
Q: How long does it take to train a blood tracking dog?
A: The timeframe varies greatly depending on the dog’s breed, individual aptitude, handler’s consistency, and the frequency of training. Some dogs may be proficient within a few months of dedicated training, while others might take a year or more to reach advanced levels. Patience and persistence are key.
Q: What breeds are best for blood tracking?
A: Breeds with a strong natural scenting ability and drive are typically preferred. This includes hounds (e.g., Bloodhounds, Basset Hounds), German Shorthaired Pointers, Weimaraners, Labrador Retrievers, and many other scent hounds and versatile hunting breeds. However, many dogs of various breeds can be trained with the right dedication.

By following these proven methods, you can develop a skilled and reliable blood tracking dog that will be an invaluable asset in your hunting pursuits. Remember that every dog is an individual, so adapt these techniques to suit your dog’s personality and learning style, always prioritizing a positive and rewarding training experience.