[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/do-we-really-need-to-train-a-dog-to-track-deer\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/do-we-really-need-to-train-a-dog-to-track-deer\/","headline":"Do We Really Need to Train a Dog to Track Deer?","name":"Do We Really Need to Train a Dog to Track Deer?","description":"\u201cSo, how can I train my dog to track a dead deer?\u201d \u00a0This is probably one of the most often...","datePublished":"2016-10-06","dateModified":"2018-06-12","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/author\/hagosto\/#Person","name":"Hector Agosto","url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/author\/hagosto\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7bfedbdc5ef3ed8f8df91eb37e1ffbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7bfedbdc5ef3ed8f8df91eb37e1ffbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Legendary Whitetails","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/logo-legendary-whitetails.png","url":"http:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/logo-legendary-whitetails.png","width":522,"height":226}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Dog1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Dog1.jpg","height":1200,"width":1800},"url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/do-we-really-need-to-train-a-dog-to-track-deer\/","about":["Hunting"],"wordCount":1153,"keywords":["Hunting","Hunting Strategy","Tips"],"articleBody":"\u201cSo, how can I train my dog to track a dead deer?\u201d \u00a0This is probably one of the most often asked questions I hear these days, particularly as fall approaches and deer season is underway. If you\u2019re a dog owner and have aspirations of using them for game recovery, there’s no better time to begin training them to recover deer.So back to that often asked question, \u201cHow can I train my dog to track\u201d?\u00a0 My standard answer comes instinctively, and typically starts off describing the relatively simple approach we take.\u00a0 I explain the steps of introducing our dogs to specific scents in certain situations that allow them to begin putting the pieces of this \u201cpuzzle\u201d together.\u00a0 I always want to know what kind of dog you might be training, as different styles of dogs can require different approaches when it comes to training techniques.\u00a0 For myself, I am usually working with retrieving breeds.\u00a0 When you think about it, for my dogs or any retrieving breed, game recovery is nothing more than a long distance game of retrieve.A successful tracking mission!Recently, I was doing an interview with an outdoor writer about the advantages of using tracking dogs and I got to thinking about things afterwards . . . I really don\u2019t train any of the dogs I work with to track, no different than I really don\u2019t train retrievers to make retrieves.\u00a0 Instead, these are things that they do naturally.\u00a0 They are born with it, it\u2019s been bred into them for centuries, and I am simply doing things in training to bring out those natural traits.We talked in pretty great detail about the things that I think are often times the most overlooked advantages of having a tracking dog to help you recover your otherwise lost game.\u00a0 The most important point may have been that training a dog for game recovery really isn\u2019t hard.\u00a0 I\u2019ll go so far as saying that it may be the easiest thing I do when it comes to the training process with a deer dog.Now, I realize that there will be trackers that read that last line and are angered and insulted by the insinuation that training a tracking dog is easy.\u00a0 Let me first say I do not mean to minimize the level of work and commitment that goes into developing a great game recovery dog.\u00a0 But trackers, similar to most any field, craft, or trade include participants that range in levels from what can be considered experts or masters,\u00a0all the way down to the most novice or amateur levels of handlers.What I do mean is that I completely believe that just about anyone of any level of training expertise can find success in training just about any dog (breed or age) when it comes to finding mortally wounded animals.\u00a0\u00a0 A major reason for that goes back to what we talked about earlier when I mentioned that we don\u2019t really train the dog to track, instead we bring out the natural tendencies they already have inside them.Are you still not sure if you can do this?\u00a0 Here are a few questions for you to think about\u2026Do you have a dog?Does your dog seem to use its nose around the house or yard?Does your dog show you signs of intelligence and a willingness to please you?Do you have an interest using your dog to help in game recovery?If you have answered \u201cyes\u201d to any of these questions, I would say you have what it takes to do it.\u00a0 Now it\u2019s putting it all together and executing the plan.I think that one of the biggest mistakes many people make when it comes to looking into game recovery dogs is that they are under the assumption that in order to have or train one, they will need to dedicate a ton of time to train it up to “master tracker” status.\u00a0 That\u2019s simply not true.\u00a0 No different than owning\u00a0a set of golf clubs…just because I own a set doesn\u2019t mean that I must play at the PGA level.\u00a0 I still have the right to play most courses, have as much or as little fun as I would like doing it, and if I happen to hit a hole in one\u2026guess what, it still counts.\u00a0 And that is despite the fact I may only play a few rounds a year and certainly don\u2019t get paid for my efforts!\u00a0 Although I am not great, I really enjoy the game of golf and will get out of it what I put into it.\u00a0 Training a tracking dog can be seen in the same light.\u00a0 The more you put into it, the more you will likely get out of it.\u00a0 If you put some time into training and are able to use your dog to help recover a handful of deer this year or even one that may have otherwise not been, there\u2019s your hole in one and it definitely still counts!For more information on putting together and executing your game recovery training plan, check out www.dogbonehunter.com"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"Legendary Whitetail's Blog"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/do-we-really-need-to-train-a-dog-to-track-deer\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"Do We Really Need to Train a Dog to Track Deer?"}}]}]