How to Train Your Dog to Track Wounded Deer

Hello Olivia, I would begin playing games that encourage pup to use their nose (usually a line or treats and treat hiding games), and hide and seek come type games where they get used to searching for people they love who are hiding and calling them. I would also look into search and rescue training specifically. Check out this article on search and rescue. I would start pup on the "Right Track method" from that article at first. https://wagwalking.com/training/search-and-rescue Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Paige, For the car seating, I would actually practice a Down-stay on the seat or floorboard. Most dogs will stay better in the Down position while riding if your car can accommodate it. Either way, start by practicing Down or Sit-Stay while the car is stationary at home. Work up to long duration Sit-Stays in that setting. Once pup is great at Sitting in the car without getting up, then recruit a second person to enforce the command while the other person drives. It's important to do this with two people so the driver can just drive. Work up to pulling in and out of the garage, driving around the neighborhood, then longer distances gradually. Try to end the training with pup doing well still each time if you can. When you don't have a second person to help train, I would use a car harness for pup, like ruffwear or kurgo car harnesses. so you can buckle pup into the set. This is safer for pup in the event of a crash and you, so pup can't get into your lap. For the tracking, I would actually start with obedience commands to get pup to the point where they are reliable off leash. You can practice games like Hide and Seek Come, treat hiding, ect...to get pup into the habit of using their nose to find things in general as a puppy. If you can get a hold of deer blood or check out local deer processor for any discarded deer parts, like organs that can be used for scent and blood, I would use the Squeeze Bottle method or Beef Liver Method (but use deer organs instead of you can get that - if you can't get those, then use beef). Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello! I have heard of people having lots of success using tanned hide. So you shouldn't have any problems. The company Dog Bone Hunter sells processed and preserved deer hides that work really well.

Hello Kaci, I would see how good her scenting ability is and how interested in scent work she seems, to decide. Practice hiding treats and encouraging pup to find - show pup where they are the first few times while giving a finding command. See how pup does when they are not shown where they are (keep locations easy at first). Hide a treat under one of three to five different identical cups, and see if pup can sniff out which has the treat. Hide somewhere close by and have another person give pup a finding command and take pup to you. Practice several times until pup learns the command, then see if pup can find you on their own. Don't make these exercises too difficult at first, while pup is still learning the games - but notice whether pup tries to use their nose to locate, or only depends on other senses. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Robert, Because of the nature of what you are going to be teaching, you will want her to know when it's time to work and when it's not time to work, so I do suggest using different equipment than what you normally use for walks. A bell might be enough but to be safe I would probably have a different harness. Also, what type of harness do you use for walking her? If that harness is a front clip or no-pull harness, you also will want something different for tracking - such as a padded back clip harness - more like what's used in search and rescue. Don't worry about the length of your question. Detail help me give a better answer. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden