Scent and sensibility

Jon Snowdon marvels at the capabilities of his canine partners and welcomes the latest one into the fold

- Jon Snowdon

Something is missing. I have been used to having a trained dog by my side throughout my stalking career. Now, temporarily, I there isn’t one. Without my past companions’ assistance, it has brought home just how much I relied on their help to do my job.

Let’s take a look at the skills a dog can bring to the aid of a deer manager. Obviously they are far better equipped than their stalking leader. Leader is probably the wrong title, even if we like to think we are in charge. Look closely at what is going on during a stalking outing and it is the dog that is leading. I have often discussed the hunting attitude the stalker must adopt to be successful, incorporating all of his or her senses and skills. Compare those skills to our hairy companions’ level of competence and we are not really in the hunt at all. We are hardly on the same planet.

In with a sniff

A blood-scenting dog is so much better equipped in the sniffer department than we are. A dog’s scenting capability is probably its most important sense. It would seem they do not forget some of those scenting memories. Their owner, for a start. After being separated for long periods they will probably recognise their human partner via that individual’s scent rather than sight. Alfie’s scenting prowess was way above his sight capability.