Finding game which has been wounded or lost is the aim of all true sportsman, dogs have been applied over the centuries in the hunting field for exactly this reason due to their superior senses. A number of breeds have been developed for different roles, with some breeds, such as the hunt point retrieve types, being used as general purpose game finders, while other breeds are trained for a more specialised tracking role. Examples being the Hanoverian and Bavarian mountain hound.

For dogs trained to follow large wounded game, several methods have evolved on the continent. There, great pride is taken in owning a dog which is capable of finding wounded game. The need for efficient tracking dogs on the continent is due to a large extent to Battue/driven shoots. This method of shooting driven game places great demands on the accuracy of the shooter. A badly placed bullet often results in a long follow up, making great demands on the ability of the dogs. Three main methods exist on the continent for training dogs to follow wounded game. Below is a short description of each technique.

Bringselverweiser:

This is a very difficult method to teach, it takes an intelligent dog which is willing to please. Essentially the dog wears a collar which has a leather strap or other similar article attached to it. When the dog finds the deer it returns to the master carrying the strap in its mouth and then proceeds to lead the handler back to the deer.

Totverbeller:

This technique involves teaching the dog to stay next to the wounded animal it has found, barking until the master arrives. This is very hard to teach and care must be taken not to create an animal which barks for no reason and drives you mad!

Verweiser:

This is the use of a free running dog which returns to its handler and indicates that it has found the wounded/dead animal by its body language.

Alternatively the dog can be worked on a long tracking leash with a harness or wide collar, this method is used widely on the continent. The use of bells can be employed for following a dog working loose through woodland (useful after dark), good hawk bells can be heard up to a kilometre away in still conditions.

For the purpose of following blood trails, I now use a Bavarian Mountain hound. As I write this my Bavarian bitch, Miya, is 10 months old and has completed steadiness training. She is now being taken out stalking and has recovered two animals that I would have struggled to find, even the next day in good light. A good dog is an asset to the stalking team and will repay the initial cost many times over by finding wounded game, and being an excellent companion.

Austin Weldon is now taking expressions of interest from dedicated stalkers looking to acquire a mountain hound puppy in the future.