Always alert and ready to track!

An excited Greta with a find (what a big prize!)

A burr-filled Greta after a deer search (and find)

Melodie von Moosbach-Zuzelek, affectionately known as "Greta", is a tremendous member of our outfitting business.  She was born in March of '07 in Berne, New York.  We went to get her 4 months later from John and Jolanta Jeanneney, who are well-known for their wounded deer tracking dogs. 

Greta has personality.  She has the breeding.  And she has an incredible nose! When we first brought her home, we laid blood trails for her and she conquered every one with a vengenance.  Her favorite part was the prize she received at the end.  Then just a few months old in her first season with us, she helped us to recover several deer.  We had determined early on that even if we knew where the deer was lying, if there was any track to it at all, we would give Greta the experience.  She did not disappoint us.  She literally ran down the trail on several of the finds.  In two instances, we really didn't know where the deer was lying but Greta earned her keep: finding the deer when we couldn't.

Needless to say we are quite happy with Greta.  She is a fine German Wirehaired Dachshund (GWD) and an incredible example of what the breed was developed for.  By European standards, she is a Teckle - originally bred as badger dogs.  If you would like more information on tracking wounded deer, then we suggest you visit the Jeanneney's site.  It is listed on the Links page.  Also, we highly recommend John's book, Tracking Dogs For Finding Wounded Deer, which is available from their site.  The Jeanneney's have been instrumental in several states to getting laws passed to permit tracking dogs.  It is only ethical that every reasonable effort be made to recover wounded game.  We also recommend the link to the Deer Search organization based in New York.  Their efforts have helped many hunters in recovery of wounded deer and bear.  

In the State of Ohio, it is legal to use a dog to track a wounded deer, but the dog must be leashed.

In 2008, Greta trecked back towards New York State to participate in a United Blood Trackers event.  She earned her UBT1 certificate, qualifying her to track wounded deer on public ground in Illinois.  She also earned several certificates showcasing her broad skill level.  These included a gun steadiness certificate, one recognizing her as a vocal hunter; and one as a Small Game hunter (on rabbits).  Greta then returned to Ohio to participate in her favorite activity.  In the fall of '08, she accompanied us on several deer recoveries, during daylight and evening hours.  There is nothing that she enjoys more than seeing the tracking leash emerge from the bag, getting placed on the scent of a wounded deer, and aiding in the recovery of a prized whitetail.