Good Nose or Bad nose?

[singleshot12]

I was wondering what some of your thoughts were on this.
Most people I talk with say their dog either had a good nose or a bad nose. I've never been too sure about this  ..

Thoughts please

[boneaddict]

Same as you.  You walk out into the woods and can smell, now do you "listen to your nose" or are you thinking about the Mariners kicking butt.  Or can you tell that a mosse has walked by withing the last 24 hours, or a bull elk was there versus a cow.

[tlbradford]

I judge a nose by the ability to follow a cold trail on a bird, and the ability to find downed birds.  Does your dog pick-up a scent that another dog has run by that results in a flush or point, or vice-versa.  How good are they in dry and windy conditions?  Did you flush a bird on foot in an area that the dog had gone through?  Over time, and especially when hunting with other dogs, you will form an opinion.

[bucklucky]

I think every dog has a good nose, its just how they use there nose is where the differance is IMO.

[boneaddict]

Yep, that was my point.

[Intruder]

When it comes to bird hunting some dogs seem to have a distinct advantage in finding birds.  I'd classify them as having a good nose.  There's no doubt in my mind that there is a difference.    

What I don't really know is.... are the dogs that don't find birds as often not smelling them, or do they just not care as much?  I tend to think they don't identify or distinguish the smell as well  

[dirty.dan4]

I think every dog has a good nose, its just how they use there nose is where the differance is IMO.

I have one dog that puts his nose to the ground and damn near sprints until he hits a smell.  My other dog takes his time and smells everything and picks up smells that the other one missed.  I dont think ones nose is better than the other, I think its more of how well the smell gets there attention.

[boneaddict]

I have a Basset Hound.   I am fully aware of her capabilities of her nose.  If I wanted her to hunt a rabbit that just walked by upwind and may even still be in site, or there was some left over cookey crumbs downwind 100 yards from something the kids left a week ago, I know what she'd smell first.

[RPM]

I think every dog has a good nose, its just how they use there nose is where the differance is IMO.

i agree, experience and work ethic are the deciding factor

[stumprat]

Hot and cold nosed dogs that I have owned over the years were based on the dogs exciteability level.   ie. some dogs need a recent or hot trail to get them excited and get them to trail. While other dogs seem to hit the trail with little scent. Imho there are no bad noses, just what your expectations are for your hunting style.

[Houndhunter]

Hot and cold nosed dogs that I have owned over the years were based on the dogs exciteability level.   ie. some dogs need a recent or hot trail to get them excited and get them to trail. While other dogs seem to hit the trail with little scent. Imho there are no bad noses, just what your expectations are for your hunting style.

yup i agree, just some dogs make others look like they have bad noses....... like mine

[singleshot12]

I think every dog has a good nose, its just how they use there nose is where the difference is IMO.

Interesting points of few and I pretty much agree with all of them.
One thing I've noticed with Labs is - - the high strung or hyper ones tend to be in such a hurry trying to find the bird that they often go past or miss the scent completely.
Also IF a dog is considered to have a BAD nose then it could be environmental factors - like cigarette smoke or spending too much time in indoors.

[KDume]

Does being indoors hurt a dog for hunting? Never heard that before.

[Ossahatchee]

Concentration is the difference.  A dog may recognize a scent but prefer to continue on to something more enticing while another may completely focus on the first scent it encounters. Whether it is blood tracking or working a wounded bird or duck, concentration/mental stabability puts the game in the bag. Dogs that can't concentrate/focus are generally labeled as hyperactive/add. Sometimes it may be genetic but oftentimes it is lack of exposure to game and proper training.

[Wacenturion]

When I did have hunting dogs and purchased a pup, there were certain things I was looking for.    You know, the things you can't train....like nose.  Most dogs have good noses, but there is always one of two in a litter that have great noses.  I can train everything else.
One trick I always used was to take something like raw hamburger or have part of a McDonald's cheapie burger or a piece of KFC whatever with me.  Play with all the pups for awhile(obviously without the scent of what you brought on your hands) and when your newness wears off with them then go to the car and get whatever you brought.  Have someone with you to continue to distract and play with the pups.  Get upwind at a distance sufficient enough that they won't smell what you have, then slowly move in at say 10 ft intervals.  You will reach a point where one or two will lift their heads out of the pack and indicate that they have smelled what you have and head toward you while the others play....pick one of these, unless it's the sex you didn't want.  Believe me over the life of the dog, it will pay added dividends, finding and retrieving birds.  Like I said before....you can't train a choke bore nose.

[Intruder]

Does being indoors hurt a dog for hunting? Never heard that before.

I personally do not think so.  Over the years my dogs have been both in and outdoors and I've had good and bad in both batches.  In fact, I would say the vast majority of "good" dogs I've hunted over (mine and other guy's) have been indoor dogs. 

Environmental factors such as dry conditions vs. moist are can be a big factor on dog's ability to get a good sent.   

[Houndhunter]

Environmental factors such as dry conditions vs. moist are can be a big factor on dog's ability to get a good sent.  

, i dont see how having a dog inside could be bad, builds a better relationship between you and your dog when they get to come inside some