Nose

[Dunwaters]

I have had that kind of thing searching for dummies - picking up on it long, long distance and zeroing in on it in a straight line one time, walking right over it another time. The mystery makes it interesting, but what are possible explanations? Does it happen less often with experienced dogs?

The more experienced your dog is, and the better trained it is, the less likely you both are to get into a situation you can’t
handle .

 

[Bowland blades]

Have you noticed differences in ability between dogs you have worked with? Given identical levels of experience and drive?

within the class of Labs i get and work ? very , very little ! Other breeds and studying other handlers ? yes lots ! Breeding matters a lot
However you have to train a lot if we are talking retrieving birds and dummies to a high std . Deer ? No they really do stink and they cannot fly a bit run a bit and there aint a lot they can do about that ! The reason deer will sometimes make for water to evade predatory wolves and dogs after them