Dachshund vs Lab for Blood Tracking

Pick One Dog, Don’t Overthink It

If you want a house dog that can also track a deer well, I would pick the Dachshund.

If you want a tougher all-around hunting dog that can track but also do birds, water, and rough stuff, I would pick the Lab.

I have hunted whitetails for 23 years, starting with my dad in southern Missouri when I was 12.

I grew up poor and learned public land before I could afford a lease, and I still split time between a 65-acre lease in Pike County, Illinois and the Missouri Ozarks.

Decide What You Actually Need the Dog to Do

The biggest mistake I see is guys buying a “blood tracking dog” when what they really need is a calm family dog that can handle a few tracks a year.

I hunt 30-plus days a year, and I will tell you straight that most deer I recover don’t need a dog if you do the basics right.

Here is what I do before I even think about calling a dog.

I mark last blood with orange tape, I back out, and I give it time even when my gut hates that idea.

I learned the hard way that pushing a deer too early turns a recoverable deer into a coin flip.

In 2007 I gut shot a doe, pushed her too early, never found her, and I still think about it.

If you want more on shot placement so you need a dog less, this ties to what I wrote about where to shoot a deer to drop it in its tracks.

Tradeoff: Nose and Persistence vs Size and Versatility

A Dachshund is a specialist, and the best ones act like the track is the only thing in the world.

A Lab is a generalist, and a good one can track, but it also wants to be a Lab and do Lab stuff.

If you are hunting the Missouri Ozarks in nasty brush and steep hollers, forget about “big dog equals better tracking” and focus on the dog that will stay on the line and not blow deer out of the next bedding pocket.

If you are hunting open ag edges in Southern Iowa and you want one dog to do it all, forget about “tiny dog equals easy” and focus on a dog you can control at 200 yards with commands.

Dachshund for Blood Tracking: My Opinion After Seeing a Few Work

I like Dachshunds for whitetail recovery because they tend to stay low, move slow, and lock in on scent without racing ahead.

That “slow” part is a feature, not a bug, especially on marginal hits where you are one jump away from losing the whole track.

Back in November 2019 in Pike County, Illinois, I shot my biggest buck, a 156-inch typical, on a cold-front morning sit.

That one died quick, but I remember thinking how easy it is to get lazy when things go right, because the next track might be a nightmare.

Here is what I do if I am using a small track dog like a Dachshund.

I keep it on a 20-foot lead, I walk behind the dog, and I shut my mouth so I don’t steer it with my feet.

I also put a small bell on the harness in thick cover so I can hear the dog without yelling.

A Dachshund also fits normal life better for a lot of hunters.

It eats less, rides easy, and you are not wrestling a 75-pound dog into a kennel after midnight.

Lab for Blood Tracking: The Upside and the Headaches

A Lab can be a solid tracking dog, but most Labs you see are not trained for blood work, they are trained for birds or they are pets.

If you start from scratch and do the work, a Lab can track a deer and also drag ducks out of a slough, which a Dachshund is not doing.

I have sat freezing in Buffalo County, Wisconsin snow, and cold changes things for dogs and humans.

A Lab handles cold and wet better, and that matters if you are tracking in 18 degrees with crusty snow and creek crossings.

If you are hunting the Upper Peninsula Michigan big woods, forget about a dog that hates water and focus on a dog that will punch through swamps without quitting.

That is where Labs make sense.

The downside is Labs can get too amped.

On a hot track with a deer still alive, an excited Lab can push too fast if the handler is not disciplined.

That is not the dog’s fault, but you need to be honest about your own patience.

Decision: Do You Need a “Track-Only” Dog or a “Do-It-All” Dog?

If all you want is deer recovery, a Dachshund is hard to beat for the average guy.

If you want a family dog that also hunts birds, does shed work, swims, and travels, a Lab makes more sense.

I have two kids I take hunting now, so I care a lot about day-to-day behavior.

Here is what I do with any dog around kids during season.

I keep routines tight, I don’t let the dog “free run” around a blood trail kit, and I make the kennel a calm place, not a punishment.

Mistake to Avoid: Thinking Breed Replaces Training

Breed helps, but training is the whole deal.

My buddy swears by Labs because he can train one dog to do birds and blood, but I have found most guys get distracted and never finish the tracking training.

I would rather see a well-trained Dachshund than a half-trained Lab every time.

Here is what I do to start a dog on blood work.

I lay 60-yard drags with deer blood, I wait 2 hours, and I run the dog on a harness every single time so it learns “harness means work.”

I also keep it boring on purpose, because real tracks are not a party.

Gear Tradeoff: Harness and Lead Matter More Than Fancy Scent Stuff

I wasted money on $400 ozone scent control that made zero difference on deer, and it sure didn’t help on tracking.

What actually matters is a good tracking harness, a long lead, and your own discipline.

I like the Ruffwear Front Range Harness for small to medium dogs because it fits clean and doesn’t twist much.

I have also used a Mendota Products check cord, and it holds up better than the cheap rope leads that burn your hand.

Here is what I do in thick Ozark brush where leads snag every 6 seconds.

I use a 15-foot lead, I keep it coiled in my off hand, and I feed it out only when the dog is sure.

My Quick Rule of Thumb

If your hit is questionable and the deer could be alive, do a slow track on a short lead with a calm dog.

If you see dark blood with green stink or gut bits, expect the deer to bed within 100 to 300 yards and get up if pushed.

If conditions change to hard rain or heavy wind, switch to calling a dog sooner and mark every speck of sign with tape.

Decision: Where You Hunt Should Pick the Dog

Pike County, Illinois is crop edges, ditches, and tight woodlots, and recoveries can cross fence lines fast.

A Dachshund on a lead is clean and controlled for that, and it keeps you from blowing through the neighbor’s bedding.

In the Missouri Ozarks, the cover is thick and the terrain is steep, and I care more about a dog staying locked in than moving fast.

In Buffalo County, Wisconsin, you add pressure and snow, and a Lab’s size and cold tolerance starts to matter.

This connects to what I wrote about do deer move in the wind, because wind and swirling thermals can mess with both deer movement and trailing scent.

Mistake to Avoid: Tracking Like You’re Still Hunting

Tracking is not hunting, and the goal is not “quiet and sneaky,” the goal is “controlled and accurate.”

Here is what I do on every track no matter the dog.

I start at the shot site, I confirm hair and blood type, and I don’t let the dog free cast until I know the direction of travel.

If you need a refresher on basics before the dog ever hits the ground, I point guys to how to field dress a deer because recovery and clean processing are part of the same job.

Tradeoff: Small Dog in the Truck vs Big Dog That Needs Real Space

A Dachshund is easy to haul, and I like that for public land guys who bounce spots.

A Lab needs room, and it needs exercise, or it turns into a handful right when you need focus.

I burned money on gear that didn’t work before I learned what matters, and dog stuff is the same story.

Don’t buy a $300 kennel and ignore the $25 water bucket that keeps the dog safe and calm on long drives.

FAQ

Can a Dachshund really track a deer as well as a Lab?

Yes, if it is trained, and I have seen Dachshunds stay on a line better than a lot of Labs that get distracted.

The Lab has the edge in cold, deep snow, and water, but the Dachshund can flat out trail.

How long should I wait before using a tracking dog?

On a hard lung hit, I will give it 30 to 60 minutes and then go, because the deer is usually done.

On a gut hit, I wait 8 to 12 hours if temps are under 45 degrees, because pushing it early is how you lose it.

What blood sign tells you to back out and call a dog?

Dark blood that is thick, a sour gut smell, or little bits of green are my “leave now” sign.

This connects to how smart deer are, because wounded deer will use terrain and cover, and I talk more about that here, are deer smart.

Do I need to train with real deer blood?

Yes, because it smells different than beef blood and the dog needs the real thing.

Here is what I do, I freeze small bottles from my own deer and thaw them for practice drags.

Will a Lab ruin a track by running too far ahead?

It can if you let it, especially if the dog is excited and the deer is still alive.

A harness and lead fix most of that, and the handler’s patience fixes the rest.

What else should I learn so I need a dog less often?

Work on shot placement, recovery timing, and reading weather, because those three save more deer than any gadget.

When I am trying to time deer movement after a hit, I check feeding times and I also watch changes like rain, which I cover here, where deer go when it rains.

Where People Get This Wrong on Public Land

On public land, the dog is not your only problem, other hunters are.

I have a best public land spot in Mark Twain National Forest, and it takes work, but the deer are there and the pressure is real.

Here is what I do when I am tracking on public ground.

I start late morning if I can, I park where I won’t pull attention, and I carry extra tape so I can backtrack clean if someone walks in.

If you are hunting shotgun or straight-wall zones like parts of Ohio, forget about leaving a gun in the truck and focus on safety, because you can bump into other hunters fast.

This ties to how deer react to pressure and speed, and if you want numbers on how quick they can blow out, I wrote about it here, how fast can deer run.

The Real Question: Which Dog Fits Your Life After Season Ends?

I am not a professional guide or outfitter, just a guy who has done this a long time and wants you to skip the dumb stuff I did.

So I look at the other 330 days, not just the track.

A Dachshund is easier in a small house, cheaper to feed, and easier to keep contained.

A Lab is easier if you want one dog to do ten jobs and you can give it room and daily work.

When you are trying to figure out your buck and doe goals for the year, it helps to keep the basics straight, so I link guys to what a male deer is called and what a female deer is called because new hunters mix that up more than you would think.

The Call I Would Make If You Put Me on the Spot

If you only want a blood tracking dog and you want clean, controlled recoveries, I would buy the Dachshund.

If you want a dog that lives for work year-round and also does birds, water, and rough weather, I would buy the Lab and commit to training it on blood.

Here is what I do when I get tempted to overthink breeds and bloodlines.

I ask myself how many tracks I actually expect per season, and how much time I will really train in July.

Mistake to Avoid: Buying the Dog Before You Build Your System

I learned the hard way that a dog does not fix sloppy recovery habits.

A dog just finds the holes in your process faster.

Back in November 1998 in Iron County, Missouri, I killed my first deer, an 8-point buck, with a borrowed rifle.

That deer died easy, and it made me think every recovery would be easy, and that mindset cost me later.

Here is what I do now before the dog ever comes out of the truck.

I lock down the last known sign, I mark it, and I decide right then if I am in “wait” mode or “go” mode.

If you need a reminder on how much meat is at stake when a track goes bad, this connects to what I wrote about how much meat you get from a deer.

Tradeoff: Fast Recovery vs Not Pushing a Wounded Deer

A dog can save a deer, but it can also help you push one if you use it like a racehorse.

This is where Dachshund style and Lab style feel different in the real world.

A lot of Dachshunds naturally work like a plow.

Some Labs work like a freight train unless you slow them down.

Here is what I do if I suspect the deer is still alive and bedded.

I keep the lead short, I move at the dog’s pace, and I stop the second the dog’s body language changes.

If you are hunting the Missouri Ozarks in thick cover, forget about “making time” and focus on not blowing that deer out of the next laurel patch.

If you are hunting Pike County, Illinois where a track can cross two fence lines in 140 yards, forget about wandering and focus on keeping that dog locked on a line so you do not create a neighbor problem.

Decision: Are You Training for One Track a Year or Ten?

If you only expect one real track a season, I think a Dachshund fits better for most families.

It is easier to keep sharp with short practice sessions, and the dog is easy to handle.

If you expect ten tracks a year because you help buddies or you hunt long seasons, a Lab starts to make more sense.

You can work it more, and it can handle long miles without getting worn down.

Here is what I do to keep a dog “tracking ready” in the offseason.

I run one short blood drag every two weeks from May to September, even if it is only 80 yards.

Gear Decision: Don’t Skimp on the Light and the GPS

I have found deer I thought were gone, and I have lost deer I should have found, and both usually happened at night.

Your dog can only work as good as you can handle and read the track.

I like a solid headlamp with a tight beam, and I carry a backup light because batteries die at the worst time.

I also like a simple GPS collar if you are in big woods or tall CRP where you cannot see the dog.

My buddy swears by the Garmin Alpha system because he runs dogs for multiple things, but I have found it is expensive unless you truly need range and mapping.

For most deer recovery work on a lead, I would rather spend the money on training time and fuel.

Product I Actually Trust: PetSafe Deluxe Easy Walk Harness for Small Dogs

If you go Dachshund, I have had good luck with the PetSafe Deluxe Easy Walk Harness for keeping a little dog from pulling me into a briar patch.

It is usually around $25 to $35, and it fits better than a lot of cheap no-name harnesses that twist under tension.

Tradeoff: Family Dog Temperament vs Hardcore Working Drive

I have two kids, and the dog has to live in my house without being a problem.

That matters more than people admit.

Most Dachshunds I have been around want to be near you all the time.

That is a good thing if you want a house dog that also tracks.

Labs are friendly, but a young Lab can be a wrecking ball until it gets enough work.

If you cannot give a Lab 45 minutes a day of real exercise, forget about the Lab and focus on a calmer dog you will actually keep trained.

Decision: Pick the Dog That Matches Your Weather

Cold and wet change everything, for scent and for dogs.

A Lab has an advantage in nasty weather and cold water, and I saw that up in Buffalo County, Wisconsin on snowy sits where my hands went numb.

A Dachshund can still track in cold, but I do not like asking a little dog to grind through slush and ice for an hour.

If you hunt places like the Missouri Ozarks where it can be 62 degrees and humid in November, the small dog heat load is less of a problem than you think.

If you hunt the Upper Peninsula Michigan and you love snow tracking, I would lean Lab for pure comfort and durability.

Decision: How Close Do You Need the Dog to Stay?

Most deer recovery is better with a dog that stays close.

That is one reason Dachshunds keep winning in my head for the average guy.

Here is what I do to keep any dog from ranging too far.

I never track off leash, and I never let people crowd the dog from behind.

If you are hunting public land in the Missouri Ozarks, forget about a “wide searching dog” and focus on a tight, led track so you do not run into another hunter’s setup.

One More Thing People Ignore: The Deer Still Has to Be Handled Right

A tracking dog helps you find the deer, but you still have to finish the job clean and safe.

I process my own deer in the garage, and I learned from my uncle who was a butcher, and recovery is part of meat care.

When you recover late, the clock is already running, especially at 52 degrees.

That is why I am strict about getting the deer cooled and cleaned fast once it is found.

If you want the step-by-step after the track ends, this ties into how to field dress a deer so you do not wreck meat right at the finish line.

Reality Check: A Dog Will Not Make Up for Bad Shots

I am a bow hunter first, and I have shot enough deer to know the difference between “dead soon” and “this is about to be a long night.”

A dog helps most on marginal hits, but you still need to stack the odds with shot choice.

This connects to what I wrote about where to shoot a deer to drop it in its tracks, because fewer bad hits means fewer nightmares.

When I am trying to predict where a wounded deer heads, I also think about bedding and cover, and that lines up with what I wrote about deer habitat.

Where I Land After All These Seasons

I do not care what social media says, because I have watched recoveries go sideways in real brush and real dark.

If you want a simple answer you can live with, buy the Dachshund for tracking and the Lab for all-around hunting work.

I wasted money on gear that did not work before I learned what matters, and the same is true here.

The dog you train and handle right will beat the “perfect breed” you never put time into.

When you are trying to keep deer basics straight for your own goals, it helps to know what you are talking about, so I point new hunters to what a male deer is called and what a female deer is called so camp conversations stop being a mess.

Pick the dog that fits your home, your weather, and your patience, and then run that dog like you mean it.