artificial bird scents

[Trekmoor]

I noticed a mention of artificial bird scents to be used on dummies on another thread .Rather than steal that thread I thought I'd ask the questions here. Do these scents actually work ? I train pointing breeds and spaniels and an occasional retriever. I haven't tried using a scent bottle for about 30 years. I noticed back then that the scent , it was supposed to be pheasant, actually seemed to put some pretty keen labs right OFF retrieving those dummies !

I assume these scents have greatly improved since then - are they worth using for retrieve dummies ?

Bill T.

[snips]

I would not use it for any pointing dog.

[ezzy333]

I think training scents smell like training scents. If a dog can tell the difference between two pheasants or two people they surely can't smell the difference between a bird and a training scent out of a bottle.

JMO

Ezzy

[bhairhoger]

I have used them when training my GSP. Any time I work on blind retrieves I put some send on the dummy. I think it helps the dog use his nose to find the bird. I have also used it on retrieve by drags. It probably does not smell like a real bird but it teaches them that if they follow a sent they will find something. I am sure that people do not think that it is a good idea to train this way but a bottle of sent costs a lot less than birds. If I was not on a tight budget I would use the real thing.

That being said I do not think that using the sent for point training is a good idea but it does have its place.

[Rick Hall]

If a dog can't smell a training bumper, he ain't gonna smell whatever's in that bottle.

[snips]

If a dog can't smell a training bumper, he ain't gonna smell whatever's in that bottle.

Yep, totally agree. I have seen dogs bring back the exact stick thrown or rock.

[Trekmoor]

Thanks, you have given me pretty much the answer I expected. I will just have to do as I've done for donkeys years now and manage with "bare" dummies ! Ta !!!

Bill T.

[ezzy333]

If a dog can't smell a training bumper, he ain't gonna smell whatever's in that bottle.

Yep, totally agree. I have seen dogs bring back the exact stick thrown or rock.

For a matter of fact, it is required they bring the bumper you have handled back from the pile in obedience trials.

Rick is exactly right.

Ezzy

[h20fwlkillr]

I messed around with scents for a while, a short while. Don't know if it was how it smelled or if it tasted bad, but the dogs started refusing retrieves. Stopped using the scent and they went back to retrieving. Worked the same way with the 3 scents I tried (duck, pheasant and chukar)