I just wrote an article about Bloodhound handlers once again spinning the deep blue web about the scenting abilities of their dogs. You can read it on the web site:

http://leerburg.com/bloodhounds.htm

I would really like to see a comparison between bloodhounds and about five other scenting dogs. (GSD,Mal,Rott,Lab,Golden??) I think it is BS that the dogs have a greater, measurable, scenting ability. Temperament and training is more important in my opinion. Any relatively sized dog should be able to scent just as well as a bloodhound. I don't understand where the super-scenting myth comes from.

Can anyone explain it to me?

It is absolutely 100% bull. Ask people like the Dutch or the RCMP in Canada. They have no emotional attachment to the breed - they also do not use them as tracking dogs.

I read somewhere that the longer the nose, the more olfactory receptors there are. I haven't been able to find any information on the canine olfactory bulb, however.

Anyway, my thinking is that naturally, scenting ability will vary among breeds, depending upon the number of olfactory receptors, and the size of the part of the brain that is dedicated to olfactory processing. One of the interesting things about the Bloodhound is the way the loose skin about the face falls down around the eyes, basically blinding the dog, when he puts his head down to track. This is supposed to make a Bloodhound a very focused tracker.

I would tend to think that when it comes to Bloodhounds, the tendency is for the human to be the weak link; i.e. having an overinflated sense of themselves, and of what their dog can do. I think it does a disservice to all Bloodhound handlers when a few of them make these outrageous claims. However, I do not doubt that the average Bloodhound has a better nose than the average Labrador.

Here's a cool picture I found, of the canine olfactory receptors:

http://www.vetmed.auburn.edu/ibds/neuroscience.htm

DON'T WANT TO GET INTO ISSUE OF BLOODHOUNDS VS. OTHER DOG BREEDS , BUT I TRACK WITH A LEERBURG SHEPHERD AND HE IS GOOD AT IT. LIKE THE REFERENCE YOU GAVE,AND WITH FOOTBALL SEASON IN THE NEAR FUTURE I DO HAVE TO SAY "WAR EAGLE".

Jab,

Welcome aboard. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Try not to type in all caps as it is hard to read. Just some constructive critisism....don't take it too hard.lol <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Could this also possibly be a political thing? I know sometimes people are in with certain people and that's who they go with maybe?

Could this be a money issue somehow as well? I don't see how exactly but it does seem to make lots of decisions. OR is this just plain old fashioned ignorance on whose in charge on the decision making?

I read somewhere that the longer the nose, the more olfactory receptors there are. Length certainly can contribute to there being more surface area on which olfactory receptors can reside. Intuitivly, however, I'd say the number of receptors per square inch isn't a malleable factor

If one looks inside the nasal cavity of a clean skull, you'll notice swirls of thin convoluted bone. Kinda like if you take a piece of paper and loosely roll it up, then insert it lengthwise into the nostril. It is these structures which the olfactory organs call home. Right now, I'm looking in the nose of a pig skull. It looks like a friggin hedge maze.

Surface area is the name of the game.

Well the reason for them using bloodhounds is that bloodhounds are the only dogs whos sent work can be admitted in a court of law.

Robert

I just finished reading Ed's article on Bloodhounds. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> He is right on target with this article.

I have worked with Bloodhoud handlers searching for escapes prisnors, my coonhounds at the time could have worked a better trail. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
Problems encountered on one search.
1.working trail backwards
2.unable to work trail over very shallow water
3.inability to continue the hunt due to fatigue

In Ed's article he makes comments about Billy Bob the Bloodhound Trainer/handler. It appears that Bily Bob is a hell of a lot smarter then the FBI for he had his BULLSHIT tracking dogs working. Through the FBI more then likely. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

In my opinion the Bloodhound is a fantastic K-9 just all others are. Sometimes tradition overpowers good common sense. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Ed's article should be read by all for it is well written and right on target. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />