Ready to hunt, I would first sudjest to do a little reading. Go to www.thetroutbum.com and www.unitedbloodtrackers.org Both of these are good web sites to learn about getting started with your dog. Also if you have not looked into purchasing the book Tracking dogs for finding wounded game, I would highly recomend it. There is a lot of very good information in the book.

I would not go so far as to say what daleh said, but a English Springer Spaniel would not be my first choice to blood track with. That is not to say it can not be done. I know of several birds dog that have turned out to be blood trackers.

You asked how long it would take to train a dog. Most hunting breeds of dogs will pick it up in about 6 months of work. But it takes about 2 years to develope a reliable tracking dog. 1 or 2 tracks a week for the first couple of years while getting as many real tracks during hunting season as possible. Once the dog understand the basics and what you want I would talk with your hunting buddies. Every deer that runs a little ways off put the dog on it. Each trackis different and each time the dog works it learns.
Best of luck. If you have any further questions let me know.

Ken