I think Trammell (my GSP) is smelling a rooster right now!
I read a CBS news story this morning reporting on a scientific research study performed in Germany determining dogs (2 German shepherds, 1 Lab, and 1 Australian shepherd) have the ability to sniff out lung cancer in people. According to the study, these cancer sniffing dogs diagnosed lung cancer with 71 percent accuracy simply by sniffing the breath of 500 participants.
It seems dogs have the ability to identify abnormalities in the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of the exhaled breaths of people with cancer and other diseases that create changes in a person’s respired VOCs. The report indicated dogs have also been effectively used to identify other forms of cancer, as well as diabetes. From therapy dogs to seeing-eye dogs to cancer detectors, dogs continue to earn the title of “man’s best friend.”
As a bird hunter, I’ve witnessed the unbelievable power of a bird dog’s nose in spite of wind, snow or exertion. I’ve always wondered what a pheasant, quail or grouse smells like to my pup and the different sizes of scent cones each bird leaves behind. I’ve also marveled at the connection between a bird dog’s nose and their tail; there must be a nerve in bird dogs directly linking the nose to the tail’s wag!
So my question for you today relates back to your bird dog’s sniffer. Has your pup ever displayed extraordinary nose-abilities?
The Pointer is written by Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever’s Vice President of Marketing. Follow Bob on Twitter @BobStPierre.
