[Steve Shaver]

I think wind, to one degree or another, is the most important factor. Depending on wind strength a dog can pick up scent from further away. It has always amazed me when a dog can be well off a mark running at full speed can slam on the brakes and make a 90 degree turn to a bird at 50 yards or more away. I have also read that a dog not only smells his food but can smell the individual ingredients in it. Had a book one time called Dog Physiology about dogs in general dating back to the wolf but alot of it was about bloodhounds. It stated a bloodhound can smell a teaspoon of salt in 13 gallons of water.

 

[Steve Shaver]

QUOTE="EdA, post: 2288412, member: 22902"]
It is stated that dogs sense of smell is forty (40) times more sensitive than that of humans. Oh to be a dog for a time and smell all those things that they can smell.😳 I read that dogs can differentiate more than 250 different scents.

Imagine all the scents a dog picks up on the way out to a mark! So not just having a good nose, but also the ability to discriminate scent at lightning speed that is an important trait seldom on the list when describing important qualities in a good marking dog. Can be enhanced through training, but suspect there is a genetic component baked in.
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But when it comes to training that nose can cause problems as well. They gotta have the brains to go along with it.

 

[Steve Shaver]

I too am amazed at how dogs can discriminate between where flyers were and where the flyer is! They don't all mark the fall well, but they seem to tune in and when the hit the scent cone and turn on a dime it is a thing of beauty.

I spend a good deal of time hunting pheasants. Over the years I've theorized that once you get to the area of the fall let the dog do its job and don't go tromping around in AOF. You have a miniscule chance of finding a bird in most cover. The dog on the other hand has the nose and the advantage. I wish I were a better shot.

JB

I agree that is amazing. Quite often the flyer can be the toughest bird in a set of marks. To me a good retriever in that situation has his nose in the air not on the ground. I know some retrievers are good at tracking and trailing but that is not really their forte. That's what hounds do best. Yes they can discriminate between fresher scent over older scent but generally arent required to follow a scent trail on the ground. On a flyer I prefer my dog to have his nose in the air not on the ground. Nose to the ground can be troublesome. I have seen many retrievers follow a trail only to loose interest and back track to the area of the fall. Just saying that marking is what they do best not trailing, normally. I know, trailing can be a great asset when hunting but I think being a better shot is more important.