Houndacres
Owned by a bloodhound!
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2008
- Messages
- 261
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Hi Indigo,
I have a lot of thoughts and questions about that one. I have no doubt that a dog could/would track an old scent. Perhaps it was the path she took to catch the bus (to the end of the park or by the RR tracks). There have been dogs that have tracked scents accurately that were several days old. I have read of experiences where the dog tracked a scent that was up to a month old or longer. I don't think this is the norm, nor have I ever seen this happen. A lot would depend on the reliablity of the dog and training of the dog/handler. In my opinion, which by no means is a professional opinion, it would not be unusual for a dog to track her to the dock, had she recently visited in that area (a previous scent trail). What I don't know is if a dog will choose to follow a fresher scent, as compared to a previous trail that was in the same area.
What concerns me the most is that I read somewhere on this thread (but don't know to be true?? just not sure of the info) that the dog followed the path thru the backdoor. I was under the impresison that she didn't use the backdoor, so a fresh scent there would be unusual. If the dog and handler were reliable (and I have no reason to think they weren't) and the dog followed her scent thru the backdoor and to the dock, in my opinion, this was the direction she was taken.
ETA. . . I will check with my good trailing buddy to see if a dog can determine an old vs. fresh scent.
I have a lot of thoughts and questions about that one. I have no doubt that a dog could/would track an old scent. Perhaps it was the path she took to catch the bus (to the end of the park or by the RR tracks). There have been dogs that have tracked scents accurately that were several days old. I have read of experiences where the dog tracked a scent that was up to a month old or longer. I don't think this is the norm, nor have I ever seen this happen. A lot would depend on the reliablity of the dog and training of the dog/handler. In my opinion, which by no means is a professional opinion, it would not be unusual for a dog to track her to the dock, had she recently visited in that area (a previous scent trail). What I don't know is if a dog will choose to follow a fresher scent, as compared to a previous trail that was in the same area.
What concerns me the most is that I read somewhere on this thread (but don't know to be true?? just not sure of the info) that the dog followed the path thru the backdoor. I was under the impresison that she didn't use the backdoor, so a fresh scent there would be unusual. If the dog and handler were reliable (and I have no reason to think they weren't) and the dog followed her scent thru the backdoor and to the dock, in my opinion, this was the direction she was taken.
ETA. . . I will check with my good trailing buddy to see if a dog can determine an old vs. fresh scent.