Tracking Dog (Eftersökshund)

General information

A tracking dog, or eftersökshund, is used after a game animal has been shot at (wounded or suspected wounded) to locate and, if necessary, dispatch the animal.
The dog’s purpose is to ensure that wounded game is found and humanely killed as quickly as possible, minimizing suffering and ensuring that hunting is carried out ethically and in accordance with Swedish law.

During all hunting with rifles, there must be access to a specially trained tracking dog within no more than two hours after the wounding of game,.

The dog does not need to be present at the hunting site from the start but must be available within two hours.
The hunter has a legal responsibility to ensure that a tracking dog can be deployed if an animal is wounded or suspected to be.
This requirement is a cornerstone of ethical hunting practices and demonstrates respect for the game.

A specially trained tracking dog must have an excellent sense of smell, strong concentration, and be able to work calmly and methodically, even under difficult conditions such as rain, snow, hard ground, or dense vegetation.