Basic Dog Scents – Odor Production and Management

Basic Dog Scents – Odor Production and Management
The scenting factors include 1) scent production, 2) scent maintenance, 3) scent reception and 4) physiological abilities (Figure 1). There must have been something present that could produce a scent. The environment must be able to maintain the scent at a level that the dog can pick it up. Air movement, humidity and temperature are just some of the factors that affect how the environment maintains the scent. The dog’s olfaction system must function at a level to detect the scent. The dog’s body must be physically able to get it to the scent and after the dog has detected the scent it may need the energy to pursue the scent’s source.