The American Beagler Forum

What would you consider to be the most difficult scenting conditions for a dog? And why?

When they cant smell it. Not trying to be a sa, but a lot of times there seems to be no reason for the tough scenting . It just is.

Crusty old snow, our snow that has been rained on and becomes a sheet of ice. Spring and fall is usually the best scenting....dh

dry leafy woods can be tuff to.but ill 2nd the crusty snow.my favorite time to run is during a light rain.

well here in PA i would have to say black coal dirt fields and roads, if your dogs can run one over that they can run one over anything. When you train dogs on that for a couple weeks they will pound em in any other type of terrain here. Not much of a runner on crusted snow myself tho.

Gravel RR TRACKs!!



Freckles

Likemfast: haven't seen or ran on coal dirt fields. Would they be similar to a paved road? I could see that being pretty tough.

Deerhost: Andre your right those gravel tracks can be tough. But from the videos ive seen of your dogs they have no problems with them..you have some good dogs

When tracking in any of these tough conditions. Is it the dog with more nose power or the dog with brains that knows how to use their nose that will run better?

houndboy13 wrote:Likemfast: haven't seen or ran on coal dirt fields. Would they be similar to a paved road? I could see that being pretty tough.

Deerhost: Andre your right those gravel tracks can be tough. But from the videos ive seen of your dogs they have no problems with them..you have some good dogs

When tracking in any of these tough conditions. Is it the dog with more nose power or the dog with brains that knows how to use their nose that will run better?

I would say a little bit of both!!

I honestly don't know whats more important, Not enough nose and the dog dosn't know the rabbit is there but on the other hand not enough brains and the dog can't gear down to use it's nose. I think I'd choose a little dumber dog with a bigger nose...DH

gravel on rr tracks is very tuff

Clear watery slush, and below zero temps in a foot of dry powder.

The clear watery slush on top of 4 feet of old snow that is melting fast. This is the only thing i have seen keep the dogs from running. May not get get good runs in deep powder, but the slush shuts it down.

ill take good nose and great brains over great nose and not very bright. we dont have alot of super tough scenting conditions in w ky.

I agree slush is the pits.!!

I would say grazed grass fields and horse paths they have been killing my running after the bunnies figured out how to use them to there advantage lol. Been jumping a few every morning but they have gotten wise and just run straight up the paths hard for one to just pound the ground like that.