Blood spoor dogs??

**Fred24** · 04-02-2010, 15:15

The mcKaynine team trained a staffie to track leopard scat, but it was a lot of PT, staffies just don't have the stamina - like Paul said. The woman who ran the leopard project already had a staffie, which is why she wanted to use her.

They were bred to be fiighting dogs, not hunting dogs. Good for sprints, not marathons :to:

**Paul** · 04-02-2010, 15:22

Originally Posted by Fred24

Good for sprints, not marathons :to:

Actually, St... uh 'Fred', dogs in general don't have much stamina.

In a previous life I was involved in a lot of tracking. We experimented with all sorts of funky stuff, including running teams of patrol dogs on the spoor. At the end of the day we found that humans will run the legs off dogs over any kind of distance, and can track better than dogs anyway.

Once the dogs start getting tired they start making mistakes.

**Paul** · 04-02-2010, 15:24

Originally Posted by Fred24

The mcKaynine team trained a staffie to track leopard

Ask Shannon about training a sheep to do canine agility competitions

**Fred24** · 04-02-2010, 15:50

Paulie - ask Shannon bout trying to train my Ridgie not to have her sheep for lunch

BTW: Don't u want my Franchi ?

**Paul** · 04-02-2010, 16:05

Originally Posted by Fred24

BTW: Don't u want my Franchi ?

Skint right now. Saving for a few more RMRs...

**Fred24** · 05-02-2010, 07:10

Originally Posted by Paul

At the end of the day we found that humans will run the legs off dogs over any kind of distance, and can track better than dogs anyway

So you're saying - next time you go hunting hire yourself one of the "Dogs of War" like a 32 "Buffalo Soldier" ??

**Xuruma** · 20-07-2012, 09:01

Hi Jonty
I have imported the Patterdale Terriers from the UK and breeding with them. I am positive that they will be the right dog for what you want it to do.We are training one now for blood spoor and I will let you know how he doing.

Regards Douw

**ikor** · 21-07-2012, 20:32

A good Patterdale is a kick azz little dog for sure!

**Johan Nel** · 31-07-2012, 11:09

Originally Posted by Paul

Actually, St... uh 'Fred', dogs in general don't have much stamina.

In a previous life I was involved in a lot of tracking. We experimented with all sorts of funky stuff, including running teams of patrol dogs on the spoor. At the end of the day we found that humans will run the legs off dogs over any kind of distance, and can track better than dogs anyway.

Once the dogs start getting tired they start making mistakes.

Paul what you say needs some qualification. There are certain conditions where this is true. Daytime temperatures over 30 degrees with some humidity will kill a dog because of heat stress. Dogs don't sweat, they do not have sweat clands on their skins like humans. They cool off by panting (tongue) and through their feet. In higher heat situations where they are driving it hard on a spoor, they will stop at some point searching for shade and cooling off. If you continue to drive them you will kill them. If you manage the situation and let the dog rest and cool off and your dog is of the right temperament it will continue on the spoor when it is ready. That is the time that a visual tracker should be of good assistance. In cooler winter, early daytime ard late afternoon to dusk, best of Irish luck to youif you want to try and outpace a running dog on the spoor. And then when the light is too poor for a visual tracker to continue, a spoor dog really comes to light.

Regarding the basic requirements of a suitable dog for tracking in your previous post; I agree.

Regards,
JHN