Tracking Dogs
Requirements for approved tracking dogs, the Schweiss test, and the use of dogs in tracking work.
An approved tracking dog is a dog that has passed an official Schweiss test and is therefore documented as capable of following blood trails from wounded game. An approved tracking dog is required for big game hunting in most Scandinavian countries.
The Schweiss test evaluates the dog's ability to follow an artificial blood trail laid several hours earlier. The trail is typically 500 to 1,000 meters long and contains turns and distracting elements. The dog must follow the trail with focus and find the game part (a skinned section) at the end.
Several breeds are used as tracking dogs. The most specialized are the Bavarian Mountain Hound and the Hanoverian Scenthound, which are bred specifically for this work. But Vorsteh, Labrador, Drever, Bloodhound, and many other breeds can also pass the Schweiss test and be approved.
The requirement for an approved tracking dog varies between countries. In Norway, all big game hunting teams must have access to an approved tracking dog. In Sweden, the requirement is equally strict. Finland and Denmark have their own regulations.
Training of a tracking dog typically starts as a puppy. You lay short blood trails (with purchased blood from a slaughterhouse) and let the puppy follow the trail to a reward. Gradually, the length, age of the trail, and complexity are increased. Most dogs are ready for the Schweiss test at one to two years of age.
Tracking dog networks are organized groups of approved tracking dog teams (dog and handler) that maintain an on-call rotation in a geographic area. When a hunter needs help with tracking, they call the network and are assigned a team.
Cooperation between the hunter and dog handler is important. The hunter should give the handler all available information: time of the shot, estimated point of impact, findings at the shot site, and the animal's behavior after the shot. The better the information, the more effective the tracking will be.