this is from trackers that use blood hounds,but what the hell do they know
Can bloodhounds successfully follow the scent trail of a particular person, even though many other human and animal scents cross and overlap the person’s trail?
Harris: Yes.
Kilby: Yes. The most scent contaminated trail my bloodhound has handled was in a shopping plaza.
Schettler: Yes. We work in the city for the most part. Generally speaking, every trail is badly contaminated with other scents. Our worst was in downtown San Francisco. We also have worked quite a few shopping malls and ‘projects.’ These areas need to be trained for.
Shuler: Yes.
Tweedie: Yes. We have trailed through crowds in schools, malls, both indoors and outdoors, in a variety of conditions.
Woody: Yes. Bloodhounds trained to scent discriminate, per N.P.B.A. or similar methods, have no problem focusing on individual scent.
Are there ways to reduce scent contaminants which dull the bloodhound’s sense of smell?
Harris: Exhaust fumes can affect the dog’s nose. The solution is to take the bloodhound out of the area so the dog can clear its olfactory system and remove the vehicle giving off the exhaust fumes.
Schettler: If the contaminants are already present, there is little a handler can do. Carbon monoxide from vehicles can be a scent killer. Responders should turn off their engines.
