The Mystery of Scenting
Pointing Dog Pointer
by Bob and Jody Iler
One of the reasons you chose a pointing dog is the thrill of seeing your dog on point. His show of staunch intensity— with tail erect, body immobile and nostrils flaring as he breathes almost imperceptibly—no other sight stirs the soul quite like this.
This innate ability to point is based on your dog’s scenting capacity. We’ve all seen young pups stalk around the yard and sight point robins or a wing tied to a fish pole and dangled in front of them. We know that prey animals stalk and sight point their “victim” momentarily before moving in.
But the pointing dog, as he develops, points with style and intensity because his “good” nose tells him to. As always, these traits are found most often in dogs from parents that have lots of point and superb noses. And the combination of pointing ability and a good nose comes together in the mystery of scenting.
We like a pointing dog to work air scent, but he will also use ground scent as he trails a running bird or finds older scent to track. Your dog’s tail is often a good indicator of his scenting abilities. As you watch him cover a field, his tail (if it’s long) will start to “crack” like a whip when he gets bird scent. With shorter-tailed dogs, there’s no mistaking the furious, back and forth motion that tells you your dog is working a bird or has hit some scent. And of course, once he locates the place where the scent is strongest, he will stop, immobile—and his tail will go rigid, even bristle, often at a high angle to his back.
How does the dog learn this? Time and experience teaches him when to recognize the type of scent that means “Point!” Young dogs may have to rush in and bust a few birds before they learn this lesson, but that’s what it’s all about. As your dog develops, the lessons of variability in scenting will be learned, a little at a time, until they become part of him. If you are willing to watch and trust your dog, he will let you know where the birds are.
The most important thing to know about scenting is that it is always changing, due to the many variables that affect it.
What’s the weather like? Is it dry and hot? Cold and snowy? Warm and humid? Lots of wind? Different weather conditions can affect your dog’s scenting ability. Generally speaking, hot, dry and dusty conditions aren’t as conducive to good scenting and can also make it harder for your dog to breathe effectively; on the flip side, damp or wet weather can sometimes aid in “trapping” bird scent and make it easier for your dog to pinpoint a bird. Very windy conditions can often spell trouble for the dog trying to locate birds, for the scent is often lifted and carried off on the wind currents, or blowing in different directions, which will confuse the dog. Snow cover can sometimes make scenting difficult, especially if the birds burrow down under the snow.
The type of terrain that you hunt can also make a difference in your dog’s scent work. Grasslands, thick or sparse woods, dry dusty areas with little cover, higher ground, valleys, ravines, fence rows and ditches are all commonly hunted types of terrain. Again, generally speaking, fields where the cover isn’t too tall usually offer better scenting conditions than low grounds like ravines and valleys. Higher ground, fence rows and ditches can all offer good scenting conditions, but terrain is closely linked with weather variables. For example, scenting in the woods on a damp day may be conducive to some good grouse hunting.
The types of birds that you hunt can also affect your dog’s scenting. Quail and chukars tend to hold tighter and work well for the young dog to help him locate the bird scent without too much confusion. Grouse, on the other hand, can be challenging for inexperienced dogs. They are often in the trees and may leave scent on the ground in the timber and can confuse a young dog. Running pheasants will also pose challenges for inexperienced dogs. Again, as your dog develops, he will learn to handle different conditions with different birds.
How you plant birds in training your pointing dog will affect your dog’s scenting ability. In your training program, it’s best to keep things natural and as close as possible to the real hunting experience. Don’t use traps and launchers initially—just birds. Plant your birds in higher areas of the field and sprinkle a few soft feathers around the area of the bird to help a young pup find it easily. Quail are wonderful birds to start dogs out on; pigeons usually work well but don’t have the scent of game birds and some dogs will not work pigeons. Try to train in ideal conditions to help your dog be successful; early morning or evening is better to work in than midday. Remember also to use a light breeze or wind to your advantage by working your dog into the wind in the direction of the bird.
How can you determine your own pointing dog’s scenting ability? Genetics play a key role in your pointing dog’s nose. He’s either got a good nose, or he doesn’t. During your training program, you know where you’ve planted the birds and if your pup misses the birds often, this may tell you something about his scenting ability. But do be aware that first your pup has to learn what bird scent is. He must be introduced to the birds so he can connect the scent with the bird.
If your dog points birds generally at a consistent distance from the bird, you can determine quite a bit about his scenting ability. The dog that reliably hits bird scent from a great distance away has a superb nose. The dog that is almost on top of the bird before he makes scent and points does not have as good of a nose. Remember now that we are talking about consistent points at a similar distance away from the bird. Bad weather conditions, terrain and types of birds are variables that can affect the distance that your dog points at, or even whether he’s able to pinpoint a bird. But in general, the dog with a good nose finds birds.
All of these things should be considered in developing your dog and observing his scenting ability—weather conditions, types of terrain, the kinds of birds you’re hunting, and your dog’s nose. Linked together, they play integral roles in the mystery of scenting.
Pointing Dog Pointers features monthly training tips by Bob and Jody Iler, who own Green Valley Kennels in Dubuque, Iowa. Bob and Jody have trained pointing dogs for over 35 years and have written many articles for The Pointing Dog Journal.
