Cold nosed

[dwalton]

I read once that all dogs can smell the same. What do you think? I think this is a true statement. Let's get some input then I will say where I read it and why I think it is true. Dewey

[larry]

It's not true, but to what extent does it matter is the question I have. some smell more than others, but do they all smell good enough to pick up anything you would want them too?

[culverz]

I think that they can probably all smell the same but how they use there nose is the key. Do they rub there nose in the dirt or do they carry there head up. I think how the brain communicates with the sense of smell is the key. Also the drive inside the dog to catch whatever it is after might also be a key factor. I also think in snow most of the time they don't do either they run by sight often.

[George Streepy]

I believe certain dogs can smell better than others. Just as the level of a persons senses can be better from one person to the other. I read a story about Neil Armstrong and what we all know is called pilot vision. Armstrongs ability to see better than his enemy is what kept him alive through nearly 80 combat missions(and perhaps a little luck). In the story the author wrote of his ability to process or transmit the picture from his eyes to his brain. Many people have what is called better than perfect or pilots vision. But a few special individuals have both the gift of perfect eye sight, and the ability to transmit the image to their brain in better detail. I hope you all get what I was trying to say there.

So even if dogs can smell equally, I would be apt to believe that certain individuals are capable of doing more with the information. I have wondered about this and I am curious to see what others think about it. One thing I am sure of, certain dogs act like they can smell better than others and some dogs can move an old track a whole lot faster than others.

[larry]

http://mindbender.discoverymembership.c ... usanswers/

[grouse]

good information larry

[dwalton]

Great information Larry, thanks for posting. Good thoughts on dogs nose from you guys. If you have watched many dogs trail so do work a track far better than others. So whats the difference? Dewey

[dwalton]

If blood hound have the ability to smell more scent, so why don't we use them more? I have owned part blood hound and when I first started hunting 45 years ago you saw a lot of blood hound crosses in the southwest, not so much any more. Dewey

[George Streepy]

I own a blood hound, well the wife does. I wouldn't think that thing can move fast enough to catch anything. A search and rescue guy up here claims that red bones can smell better. He claims that red bones do a little better job staying on the track of the person they are supposed to be finding. I don't know about all blood hounds but ours is dumb as a dog can get, she is a real nice dog, but stupid. I would try a cross with a real hound but I don't see the point in making a perfectly good hound slower and dumber LOL. I am sure it has worked for some but I know the one I got would be a joke to breed.

[dwalton]

Where I read that the the ability to smell did not make a difference with dogs was by people that train drug and explosive dogs. they use all kinds. I have seen and know what these dogs can do it is amazing. What made a difference was the ability to be trained. I look for brains, heart, desire and conformation. Brains for the ability of the dog to learn. With heart a dog will go way above and beyond what we expect and other dogs do. Desire to hunt and catch game, that's not grit to me. When people breed for grit they lose brains, they react instead of thinking. Conformation so the dogs are able to long and fast. they will also hold up physically longer. Some dogs will cold trail better than others I think it is a combination of these traits. With the proper training I think a dog will learn to cold trail better or will learn to cold trail less. If you want to discuss this more with me give me a call. I feel hound men are way behind the rest of world in our ability to train a dog. We do not ask or expect enough out of or dogs. In many cases we hunt with the dog, it needs to hunt with us. Dewey 541-942-4376

[Trueblue]

http://knol.google.com/k/canine-senses-how-dogs-smell#

I once read a scientific study where they tested the sense of smell of many different breeds including the bloodhound and there test results showed that the dog with the best sense of smell in their study was a toy poodle.Not to say that all toy poodles have a great nose but the one in the test did.So,I guess I would agree with you for the most part.All dogs don't have exactly the same capabilities but I think almost any breed can have an outstanding nose.

[dwalton]

So if it is no the ability to smell, then what makes a cold noise dog. Dewey

[Dads dogboy]

OK Mr. Dewey, I will fall into your trap!

the answer is "BRAINS"!

CJC

[Trueblue]

I'm not sure but I look forward to hearing whatever theories you have.

[cobalt]

I think it is the correlation between the rational part of the brain and the nose. Like track savvy dogs don't necessarily need a cold nose for this, they have a propensity to maximize their nose and brain to put pressure on a running cat. A cold nose dog has a propensity to maybe "understand" a colder track that other dogs can't, this doesn't make them good jump dogs. Some kids are great at math, some are great at english. Neither are dumb, they are just different in the way their brains process information. I think subjecting them to consistantly cold tracks ALONE will make a dog better at it cognitively and hopefully they reach their genetic potential. Never show a child a book and they probably won't learn to read.