K9 Tracking

Introducing EmmyLou, Our Bavarian Mountain Hound Tracker

Meet EmmyLou, our Bavarian Mountain Hound, pictured here at four months old. Her name was inspired by the George Strait song “Check Yes or No.” She’ll be only six months old when Illinois’ 2022 hunting season begins, yet her nose already beats anything you or I could do. She has already worked a few client tracking jobs this early season, putting her nose to the test and diving in without hesitation. Her training has progressed a great deal, and we’re excited for the work we’ll do together as a team.

EmmyLou the Bavarian Mountain Hound at four months old
EmmyLou at four months
Tracking dog following a scent trail in the field
On the scent trail

How to Request a Blood Tracking Dog

Looking for a tracker? You can find EmmyLou’s services, along with many other trackers in your area, by visiting United Blood Trackers.

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About the Bavarian Mountain Hound

What Is a Bavarian Mountain Hound?

Simply put, take the nose of a Blood Hound and the temperament of a Labrador, and you have a Bavarian Mountain Hound. Bred in the 19th century from the finest lines of German hunting dogs, these dogs are loyal, affectionate, intelligent, agile and muscular.

Tracking Ability

If a dog can’t find it, we hunters likely won’t either. Often this happens because the hunter made a poor shot and the animal isn’t dead, frequently pushed farther by tracking too soon. Dogs smell in layers, and every layer is a clue while tracking. In other words, they can separate each individual odor in their surroundings. Who doesn’t enjoy walking into the kitchen and smelling a big pot of chili? We smell “chili.” Dogs smell the meat, chili powder, onions, peppers, garlic, beans (if you use them) and more, each on its own. Dogs detect odors with olfactory receptor cells found in the moist lining of their nasal cavity. A dog’s nose holds more than 200 million of these cells with 100–200 cilia per cell, while humans have about 5 million olfactory cells with 6–8 cilia per cell. Tracking therefore comes naturally and easily to them; as handlers, we simply introduce them to the scents they’ll encounter. Deer have interdigital scent glands between their hooves and give off a different scent when wounded than when healthy. These are all pieces of the puzzle our K9 companions solve.

Common Questions

What is a Bavarian Mountain Hound used for?
Bavarian Mountain Hounds are tracking dogs. As described here, they combine the nose of a Blood Hound with the personality of a Labrador, and they follow the scent of wounded game so hunters can recover the animal.
How does a tracking dog follow a wounded deer?
Dogs smell in layers and can separate each individual odor in their environment. Deer have interdigital scent glands between their hooves and give off a different scent when wounded, and a tracking dog works through those layers as clues to solve the track.
How do I find a blood tracking dog near me?
If you need a tracker, you can find EmmyLou’s services as well as many other trackers in your region by visiting United Blood Trackers.
Why shouldn’t I track a wounded deer too early?
As noted here, a bad shot and tracking too early can push an animal farther. Waiting and letting a trained dog work the scent is often the better approach when a deer can’t be found.
What is Backwoods K9 Tracking?
Backwoods K9 Tracking is the tracking side of Backwoods Bowhunter, featuring EmmyLou the Bavarian Mountain Hound and her handler working tracking jobs for clients.

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EmmyLou’s early work on client tracks shows how a trained nose can turn a difficult recovery into a successful one. Whether you’re new to blood tracking or looking to connect with a tracker, the resources here can help you understand the process and find the right help when you need it.