The sniff of success

Join Ryan Kay as he navigates the fascinating dynamic between a handler and their canine companion

- Ryan Kay

The phrase "he's got a good nose!" regularly punctuates conversations at shoots, often uttered with a degree of pride by dog owners recounting tales of exceptional retrieves. Stories might involve their dogs scaling trees or swimming great distances to claim the day's most robust running cock bird. In fact, some enjoy voicing this phrase almost as much as those in the beating line relish shouting "woodcock", irrespective of the bird's flight direction.

All dogs, without a doubt, possess a good nose. Certain breeds, particularly the hound breeds, are regarded as having superior scenting abilities, with gundogs particularly the labrador - also high on the list. Scientific estimates suggest a dog's nose is anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 times more potent than a human's. However, in the context of a gundog operating in the field, its effectiveness lies in how it uses its nose in tandem with its handler, rather than using it independently.

The handler-dog partnership