Tracking question

[mike]

Had an unfortunate incident whilst training the other day.

Rabbit got up, managed to get Harley to sit, rabbit was shot (enough to knock it over) but the rabbit was still alive and ran off, as soon as I realised it was alive I sent Harley for the retrieve. The rabbit ran into a large area of woodland and put up about 30 partridge. Unfortunately one of the guns took a shot at one of the partridge and Harley sat (which is what he is trained to do) but it disrupted him retrieving the rabbit and gave it time to get away.

Despite searching for a good long while we (and the dogs) couldn't find the rabbit, which I feel bad about.

My question is this, if I actively taught a dog to track blood would he of been able to find the rabbit with all the distracting smells from the large number of partridge that got up? I have no idea how wounded the rabbit was and despite knowing exactly where it was shot and the entry point into the woods could see no blood.

I'd be interested in hearing peoples opinions on the best way of tackling this.

[marjolein]

It's normal, that a young and/or unexperienced dog makes a mistake like this. That's why you should always have a back up dog in cases like this. It's so important to put a shot animal out of it's misery straight away.

If I were you, I'd start training for this. Just take a dead animal and make a track and let the dog work the track and retrieve. Increase the length of the track gradually, but be careful, he needs to have succes every time you practice. He'll get the idea very soon. If he's done such a retrieve during an actual hunt one time, he'll know it for life.
Don't worry too much about it, it's sorted in no time.

[mike]

marjolein said:

It's normal, that an young and or unexperienced dog makes a mistake like this. That's why you should always have a back up dog in cases like this. It's so important to put a shot animal out of it's misery straight away.

Couldn't agree more.

marjolein said:

If I were you, I'd start training for this. Just take a dead animal and make a track and let the dog work the track and retrieve. Increase the length of the track gradually, but be careful, he needs to have succes every time you practice. He'll get the idea very soon. If he's done such a retrieve during an actual hunt one time, he'll know it for life.
Don't worry too much about it, it's sorted in no time.

So you don't think that the large number of birds that the rabbit put up as it went into the woods would have made any difference to an experienced dog?

Will certainly add it on to the ever lengthening list of things to do (does this list ever get any shorter or does it only grow in size?)

Is it the sort of thing that you can read up on and have a good idea of what you're doing or do you really need to be shown what to do?

[marjolein]

mike said:

So you don't think that the large number of birds that the rabbit put up as it went into the woods would have made any difference to an experienced dog?

No, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have made a difference. I am sure it wouldn't with my dogs.

[mike]

Thanks for that Mar.

Are the principles for tracking wounded small game the same as those for tracking large game? (i've been reading through the posts in this board and you recomended a book on tracking big game www.born-to-track.com/our-writing/john/tracking-wounded-big-game.htm ) Would it be helpful for learningmore about tracking small game and pricked birds?

[marjolein]

No, it's not the same and I don't think buying the book would be helpful for you problem.
Tracking small game is always done off lead while blood tracking large game is done on the lead. The main thing with tracking large game is being able to read your dog. Knowing when he's on and when he's off track.
Tracking small game is all about the dogs ability to work out that track at speed and being persistant and independant.

[mike]

Thanks Mar.

[marjolein]

Just my humble opinion btw Mike.....