Pet Talk: Working dogs – part 1

DEAR PET TALK: How do tracking dogs work?

— Dog Lover

DEAR DOG LOVER: You know that dogs have a superior sense of smell to humans — well, their sense of smell is also superior to that of most other mammals.

The top three tracking dogs are bloodhounds, basset hounds and beagles, but other breeds can learn how to detect a wide variety of odors. Animals developed their ability to track for the purpose of finding prey, attracting and finding a mate, or avoiding danger.

Dogs that are skilled in tracking can be found in a wide variety of professions, including search and rescue, drug and weapon detection, perception of fire accelerants and locating cadavers.

The best time for a dog to track is in the early evening, when ground temperature is higher than surrounding air. However, weather can play a factor — and you might be surprised to learn that bad weather can be a boon.

Dogs bred for hunting birds such as grouse or pheasant will find a rainy day helpful as birds will move during the rain, which makes them easier to track. And when a game bird sits still, an experienced hunting dog can detect its location and flush it out.

Of course the most famous tracking dogs can be found in law enforcement. Fitchburg Police Department’s K9 handler Officer Mark Kaddy works with K9 Atlas, who was certified by the New England State Police Administrators Conference Patrol and Narcotic Detection School. There, he completed “rigorous training in narcotics detection in addition to tracking and building searches, evidence recovery searches, apprehension and tactical obedience.”

Some time ago, I happened to be on the third floor of the Fitchburg Historical Society, and looked out the back window. I saw two officers moving across the parking lot, and then Officer Kaddy and Atlas arrived to help search for an individual. Atlas’s nose was virtually pinned to the ground as he led Officer Kaddy at a brisk pace through the parking lot. When you think of how many people come and go in so public a space, Atlas’s sensitivity to tiny scent molecules was that much more impressive!

Sally Cragin is the director of Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education. Text questions to 978-320-1335.