Scent Dogs in Heatwaves and Hot Days

Heatwaves and High Temperatures affect the Scents !

Daisy and Willie photo by A.Higgins

Here's some advice from many years of working search dogs and Bloodhounds in very hot weather.

As heat increases in the environment where a dog is working; the scent particles change with the rising temperature. The easiest way to explain the process is to think of the scent particle your dog is looking for as shirking up the hotter the day gets and possibly before the nose gets to it.

The dog is always right but the scent may be harder to locate for the dog so giving the dog more time to look and work the scent makes sense!

Due to evaporation just like other organic or living things in the environment, the scent particle pool or trail the dog is following can dehydrate until moisture reawakens the particles, often at night or before dawn. Non-organic items or objects collect moisture during darkness as condensation that will make the scent easier to locate.

When night comes and darkness, the environment becomes wetter naturally, think of dew in the mornings. The earth absorbs the heat and the evaporating moisture during the day with the air we all breath, some of the scent too which is released at night with the exhaling of the Earth in its daily cycle.

This makes night and dawn the best time of day to search for people, pets or evidence with a dog.

If your dog is having a hard time working scent either in training or a real incident then try the same plan of action later in the day when dusk falls. Rest in the heat of the day from 10 am to 4 pm.

I always train and work at night or the coolest part of the day to get the best scents for the dog to follow.

Go out in the early morning dawn and smell, then think of how fresh the air smells and all the wonderful scents we humans can smell then multiple that to what a dog would smell and you can really tell the difference.

Try the same smell test in the afternoon and you will know the difference.

Think of the dry dust kicking up under your feet as you walk, and how that would affect a nose so close to the ground.

Give plenty of water to any dog working in the heat because the nose will dry out also making working scents more difficult..

I'll write more on how watering your dog affects the scenting abilities in another post. Until then be careful in the heat! and Good Luck!

Bloodhound Daisy photo by A.Higgins

Here's a big thumbs up and pat on the back for all the working dogs and handlers enduring the heatwaves in many parts of the world to aid in the recovery of harmful items, drugs and missing persons or pets. 

photos by A.Higgins- all rights reserved

Family Disaster Dogs invites you to learn how your own dog can rescue you ! Visit the home page for more dog training lessons and advice on tracking and trailing with dogs!

The Hidden Rewards Of Getting A Dog

Everyone can appreciate the main incentives for getting a pooch. Dogs truly are our best friends, and their unconditional love is sure to make your home a happier environment for all the family. Likewise, your furry friend will encourage the household to become more active, which can bring a host of rewards too.

The benefits don’t stop there, though. There are many additional benefits to be gained from bringing a dog into your life. Here are just five that you may have overlooked. 

Image credit

 

A dog makes you healthier

 

Not only does having a pup encourage you to be more active, but it can boost your immune system too. In fact, studies have shown that this can begin as early as the gestation period. So, expectant parents may even find that the positive influences are passed onto the kids. As long as you avoid the breeds that are likely to leave lots of hair around the home, you should find that the property becomes cleaner too. After all, you’ll pay closer attention to these issues.

 

A dog can make the home safer

 

Make no mistake; adding Swann home security features is never a bad idea. Nonetheless, a dog can provide an extra sense of security for the home. The pooch will detect movement and alert you to intruders. In truth, the barking alone is likely to deter most prospective burglars. Aside from the direct benefits, this can be an excellent feature for your peace of mind. In truth, being able to fully relax in your home is one of the greatest rewards of all.

 

A dog can brighten up the home

 

The unconditional love is sure to brighten up the atmosphere for all the family, but the benefits don’t end there. Learn to take stunning photos of your pooch. The results can be used as wall art and canvases, screensavers, and other items to improve the mood on a daily basis. 

Meanwhile, as strange as it sounds, some of the dog toys and bedding items can actively make the living spaces feel more homely. 

Image credit:

 

A dog can help your child learn

 

Most children are fascinated by dogs, and their desire to aid the pup will lead to a deeper understanding of exercise, nutrition, and hygiene. However, your child will also develop communication skills by merely talking to the pup. Writing stories about the dog can lead to increased creativity and written language skills. Writing Samurai can provide your child with the education needed to express themselves openly. That’s a win in any parent’s books.

 

A dog can aid mental health

 

Stroking a dog is scientifically shown to fight stress and put your body at ease. Meanwhile, the love and companionship can go a long way to battling depression. The dog will always be there to listen to your problems, even when you aren’t ready to speak to another human. This is supported by the simple fact that a dog’s natural personality will encourage you to smile. So, there’s no doubt that having a pet pup in your life could be one of the best moves you’ll ever make.

Starting a Bloodhound and any Dog on Scent-Trailing

Starting a Bloodhound on a Scent-Trailing Overview

Search and Rescue Dogs are trained to search for people three different ways; air scenting, tracking or trailing.

There is a big difference in the way the dogs work the scent which is why Bloodhounds are called "Mantrailers" and other breeds are not.

Read more about Scent Articles- How a Dog Follows Its Nose

In this article, we are going to begin with basic trailing, the easiest way  to learn with your family dog.

Trailing is what Bloodhounds do because they follow the scent as the scent moves around and with the person. Other breeds "track" not "trail" a person by following the footstep scent or direct path of the person.

When a dog is using a "Scent Article" to search for a missing person or item then the handler must give the scent to the dog or let the dog have a smell of it. There is more about scent articles on the scent article page.

Here are photos showing the steps of giving scent to a five month old Bloodhound puppy named Sambo.

First I put him in his tracking harness and leash, notice how good he sits there...(click for lessons page)

Then I ask him to take a smell of the inside of the bag that is holding the scent article.

I hold the bag with the article under his nose and saying "Smell" He investigates, of course.

I then say " go Find" and off we go! Only 5 months old and look at him go!
 I follow him.

Notice the long leash is thrown out behind the handler so the handler( me) does not get caught in the leash. This is very  Important ! Otherwise you and your dog can be injured.

The handler only holds the leash lightly and held high so the dog can be allowed to work without any pulling or directions or tension from the handler.

As the dog moves forward the handler lets the leash slip through the right hand and uses the left hand to move the leash forward or throw the leash behind and pull the leash in... if the dog comes backwards.

When the handler goes to the dog, the handler will throw the leash behind her with the left hand which pulls the leash through her right hand to avoid getting tangled in the long tracking lead.

Once a handler gets the idea then the dog is reeled in or out almost like fishing.

It helps to hook the long leash onto a child or person and have them pretend to be a dog while you learn to work the leash. This type of leash work can be tricky at first with a dog so it is best for you to get the hang of how to handle the leash before your dog learns how.

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Scent Articles for Dog to Find Missing Family Members

Prepare to find loved ones with your dog ahead of time 

by gathering scent articles.

Blue Boy Homer
by A.Higgins

One of the easiest ways to find a lost person is to give a dog the person's scent and watch him find the scent. 

The dog is only looking for the smell and not for the actual person. 

The dog dose not necessarily associate the scent with the person unless the person is somebody they know with that scent. 

To a dog, a scent is a scent.

Therefore, the fastest and surest way to teach or ask a dog to find a person is to use the person's scent to show them who we seek and no two people smell alike. Everybody smells different and we smell different at various times during the day or if we are sick.

To teach your dog to search for a lost or missing family member or friend you have to prepare first by gathering a "scent article".  Click to Read more about Scent and how a dog follows its nose.

It is wise to gather one sock from each person you love or do not want to lose before you start training your family pet and to store these as instructed below for later use in training sessions or if a loved one is lost.

Also you can collect a item from each family pet as well, a old collar or brush would do. Store this item as outlined below use it as a scent article for a dog to find the missing pet

  For now and for training;

       Place one dirty sock from each family member in a one freezer bag each sock. Do Not Mix or touch the sock to anything, only the bag, use a hanger or stick to pick it up.

Warning:

DO NOT touch the sock yourself, have the person drop the sock from their foot to a new brown paper bag (lunch bag size) or a plastic freezer bag ( zip lock natural non chemical bag is best).

You will learn more about scent article collection at a scene in other articles.

This is the most important part of using a search dog. 

Do Not Contaminate that sock.

Reminder, Do Not Put 2 socks from different people together, each sock gets its own bag.

Store sock in the freezer until a few minutes before use.

This is called the "Scent Article"

The “scent article” tells your dog who they are looking for.

Handle with Care.

Keep one for each family member for use if a disaster ever strikes.

Amber and Bo getting ready to train to find a Lost Person.

Bo was 5 months old at the time of this picture in 2001. 

He later went to volunteer in California and then Georgia with his half sister Sambo. 

Side note: 

As a parent I use to remind my teenagers if they stayed out to late or ran away from home, the dogs could find them...smile and ya know,,,it worked too,,, wink to other parents, mine are all grown now.

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