The best blood tracking dogs are an excellent partner to any hunter who likes to track their game and might need a little extra help. These breeds of dogs will follow a scent trail for up to two days. They can climb walls and trees, work hard, and never give up on the job. So what are the best blood tracking dogs?
The best blood tracking dogs you should consider are Bloodhound, Beagle, German Shepherd, Basset Hound, English Springer Spaniel, Belgian Malinois, Black and Tan Coonhound, Blackmouth Curs, Dachshund, Labrador, Bavarian Mountain Hound, and German Jagdterriers.
A good blood tracking dog is happy working in any terrain, even snow or water. It is intelligent and can learn basic commands quickly and easily.
Also, tracking dogs are typically used for hunting, search and rescue, and the military. Most tracking dogs use their keen sense of smell to track animals or humans; however, a few can track by sight as well.
Choosing the best blood-tracking dogs can be complex, and you want to make sure to keep a few key considerations and guidelines in mind before your next purchase. Our reviews of the Top Blood Tracking Dogs will give you great insight into which dog you should consider for your next hunting trip
Bloodhound
The Bloodhound is a sweet, affectionate family companion who is also driven to do police/K9 work or tracking. Bred specifically for scent work, this aptly named dog has helped law enforcement solve thousands of crimes thanks to his superior tracking abilities.
With their dense, hard coat and long ears, the Bloodhound has been a top choice for hunters and trackers for centuries. They are the only dogs officially recognized by the U.S. Federal Law Enforcement as bloodhounds. These dogs make a top-notch tracker thanks to an effective combination of intelligence, training, and excellent scenting ability.
Also, the breed has an outstanding sense of smell that can track human scents for miles, even days later. As a result, a Bloodhound is usually employed in two separate stages of a search and rescue effort: trailing the person who’s lost and then finding them.
In addition, Bloodhounds are the classic tracker dogs, with their acute sense of smell and distinctive loose, droopy skin. These lovable hounds make excellent tracking dogs because of how quickly they can pick up a scent, how far behind they’re willing to follow it, and how persistent they are.
Beagle
Beagles are one of the most popular choices for pet dogs in the US, and they’re quite happy living in a suburban home. While Beagles are pack dogs and do like company, they don’t, especially like other dogs. They love their people, though, and they’re friendly with nearly everyone else they meet.
While no dog is a truly perfect blood tracker, the Beagle is considered by many to be the best of a very good bunch. These dogs have an excellent sense of smell and forgiving nature. They are also small enough for children to handle
German Shepherd
The German Shepherd is one of the most popular breeds for blood tracking. This is because they’re quick learners and have an exceptional memory. In addition, their excellent senses, stamina, and strength make them highly suitable for tracking lost and wounded games.
They are considered one of the most intelligent breeds on earth and have a keen sense of smell and hearing, making them an excellent choice for tracking dogs. They are often used to track criminals, contraband, missing persons and animals, pieces of evidence, or even lost hikers.
Also, German Shepherds are excellent scent hounds and great trackers. In addition, their intelligence and athleticism allow them to perform general tracking duties well.
Basset Hound
Basset Hounds are superior blood trackers and hunters. This scent hound has a keen sense of smell and can pick up a scent and stay on it regardless of how old it is. Good for dragging in the thick brush for wounded deer, this basset hound won’t quit because he loves to hunt.
The Basset Hound can be trained for blood tracking. Its trailing ability is excellent with short, heavy legs and “cutting” ears to shed water. In addition, tracking dogs are bred to be very focused on their owner and the trail, not easily distracted or frightened by wildlife or other noises.
English Springer Spaniel
The English Springer Spaniel is the best breed for blood tracking. The English Springer Spaniel is a musical dog with the ability to get on a wounded animal’s trail and track it over land or through the water with great skill and speed.
While English Springer Spaniels are exceptionally proficient at tracking, following, and flushing game both on land and in water, above all else, they are highly valued for their affectionate demeanor.
A dual-purpose dog that can serve as both gun dog and companion, Springer’s tireless performance in the field and gentle character at home have made them one of the most beloved spaniel breeds.
Belgian Malinois
There is no better dog for blood tracking than a Belgian Malinois. With their incredible drive and instincts to track, retrieve, and protect, it’s no wonder they’re the top choice of law enforcement agencies and military units around the world.
These dogs were bred to perform an important task, and they do it better than any other breed. Belgian Malinois is the same dog that serves in the US military. They start their training as puppies with scenting to follow a human scent and find scented articles. Later they learn to track a “tender” or wounded deer and are rewarded with play when they find it.
Then, when the dog is about two years old, he begins to be taught not to mark or point the game and is then ready for the woods. Since Belgian Malinois has an exceptionally high prey drive, they thrive on this type of work.
Like all sporting dogs, they need to run every day — it’s a requirement, so they don’t get in trouble at home. They are sensitive dogs, so training should be positive with many food rewards.
Black and Tan Coonhound
The Black and Tan Coonhound is a breed of dog used principally for trailing and treeing raccoons. Believed to be descended from crosses between the Bloodhound and the Black & Tan Virginia Foxhound, it can track cougars, deer, bear, lynx, and other animals.
The Black and Tan Coonhound is in a class by itself when it comes to trailing and treeing raccoons. Its deep voice adds music to the nighttime woods, rolling out on the damp air like a bass solo in a concerto for hound and hunter.
In addition, the Black and Tan Coonhound was bred to hunt during daylight, which will make most coon hunters look for another breed. The Original Black and Tan was developed from crosses between the Talbot bloodline (eventually bred out of existence), Bloodhound, Foxhound, and black-and-tan fox Terriers
Blackmouth Curs
Blackmouth curs are great for tracking deer, boar, and other big game. This is because they have sharp, very sensitive noses. They can even track up to 3 days old blood trails. However, their powerful hunting instinct and high energy level are not always great with young children.
And when properly trained and socialized at a young age, blackmouth curs can make excellent family pets. Designed as a versatile big game hunting dog, the Blackmouth Cur is a type of hound that has been selectively bred to cycle through sight, scent, and hearing while on the hunt. They are one of America’s oldest purebred blood tracking dogs, with their lineage dating back more than 150 years to the Appalachian region in Alabama
Dachshund
You do not want a Dachshund for anything other than hunting. The reason for this is because Dachshunds have long bodies and short legs, making them perfect for getting under brush piles and finding a raccoon, badger, fox, or possum.
Sadly, they are not very good swimmers, so they will not be as useful for ducks, geese, or other waterfowl. However, the Dachshund is an excellent dog for hunting.
From their den, they have the tenacity to find and flush out the small game, such as pheasant, a fox, or a rabbit. A Dachshund’s scenting ability is great. This, combined with their low height, allows them to pick up on trails that other breeds miss.
Labrador
Labs were bred to be the supreme retrievers of North America. Their single-minded biddability, their desire to please, make them the world’s best family pets, and their nose and retrieving talents make them ideal gun dogs too.
Labrador Retrievers are perfect companions for sport side trips and hunting. They’re easy to train, hardworking, and fun to be around. They also have a very superior sense of smell that can help track wounded animals or games that you might have shot.
Bavarian Mountain Hound
It is best for large games and tracking blood trails at long distances. The Bavarian Mountain Hound is the best overall blood tracking dog. With a keen sense of smell and the speed and ability to track quietly, he is everyone’s choice of a blood-tracking dog.
Developed by German hunters, this large scent hound was used to track wounded red deer and wild boar. Also, the Bavarian mountain hound is a good dog for tracking wounds and blood. With long legs, a chunky body, and floppy ears, this dog will keep its prey in its sight when you need it most.
German Jagdterriers
The German Jagdterrier is a scent hound designed to hunt small game. We have bred a line of hunting dogs that have been trained to be the best blood trackers in the world for wounded game. All dogs are companions first, then hunters, and we love to be with people.
The German Jagdterrier will track raccoon and possum and track and tree squirrels, chase rabbits from their burrows, and bay on the bear, boar, and other large varmints.
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How much does a blood tracking dog cost?
The price for professionally trained blood tracking dogs can vary greatly and start at about $4,000 for a moderately trained dog. Depending on the breeder and bloodline, a blood tracking dog typically costs between $500 and $2,000.
While there isn’t necessarily a fixed cost associated with a blood-tracking dog, some important things to consider when budgeting for dog training
What dogs are the best trackers?
Hunting with dogs is a popular sport that dates back thousands of years, with many different breeds of dog used to hunt. But which breeds are the best trackers? The best tracking dogs will be those that are bred for the task. And the best ones are the dachshund, Jack Russell terrier, labrador retriever, and bloodhound.
The Bloodhound is the best tracker globally and may be used to track people, blood trails, and even animals. These dogs are typically bred for tracking large game such as bears, deer, or moose.
Will any dog follow a blood trail?
Yes, any dog can follow a blood trail as long as that dog has been trained to do so. I have seen small dogs track very old, cold trails, and large dogs lose within minutes. However, most dogs can follow a blood trail with a little training, provided no snow is covering it.
If snow covers the blood trail, you will have to wait for warmer weather for the ground to thaw out and remove at least part of the snow before the dog can be brought in.
Although some dogs have a strong instinct for tracking and trailing, it would take great effort to convince a dog to follow a blood trail, especially if it led him astray from his master. So what you’ll need for both of you is a great GPS unit, like this one.
Are beagles good blood tracking dogs?
Beagles are one of the most popular choices for pet dogs in the U.S. and Europe and are known for their long ears, playful personalities, and incredible sense of smell.
But some people mistakenly believe that because they’re bred to sniff out a rabbit and other small game, these nocturnal hounds are ideal for tracking blood in situations where it’s been spilled like suicides or murders or finding blood samples from forensic evidence left at crime scenes.
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Will a Beagle follow a blood trail?
Beagles are one of the best trailing dog breeds in the world. They can follow a blood trail on more difficult terrains by scent alone. It is also not uncommon for Beagles to hunt on their own as they will not stop chasing a small game until it’s caught or killed.
Are Labs good tracking dogs?
Yes, Labs are very good tracking dogs. There are plenty of good tracking dogs, but Labs are the best. I don’t know how any good dog handler could disagree with that. You can train a lab to track deer, coon, bears, or people.
Labrador Retrievers are great tracking dogs. Most of them are born with the desire to track and love. Labrador Retrievers are certainly not the only breeds that can be good tracking dogs, but they are best.
Summary
It’s important to make sure you have a dog that can track blood. Blood tracking dogs are one of the longest-running professions in history, dating back to the Neolithic era. Here are some of the best blood tracking dogs out there you can consider.
The most popular breeds for small game blood tracking are beagles and similar dogs. While large hounds cannot get through dense cover like a small breed, they cover more ground. In addition, their larger size and endurance make them a better choice for blood-tracking deer and other large animals that may run for long distances before dropping
Outdoorsman, hunter, writer, photographer, inventor and owner of Sage & Braker. Pics taken by yours truly unless otherwise noted.