How do dogs know which direction to track?

Question

Everyone knows dogs have super-sensitive noses and can track scents for miles. But how to they know which direction to travel? If a bloodhound is searching for someone, why doesn't it start travelling in the opposite direction 50% of the time, still following the trail,but moving towards the person's starting point? Does scent have some sort of directional indicators that say "person approached from this direction and travelled in this direction"? Does it have to do with the strength of the scent (weaker = older)? You wouldn't think the strength of a scent would be much different from one spot to a point a few feet away, but dogs do have exceptional noses. If anyone out there has a scientific answer, I'd love to hear it.

Answer 1

A dog's nose is sensitive enough to detect the minute differences between the scent of one step and the next. It does have to do with the strength of the scent just as you suspected. It is incredible, but very true!

Answer 2

it probably has to do with the strength of the scent. the starting point is going to be a weaker scent whereas the direction the person went is going to be stronger because it is a newer scent

Answer 3

The scent is stronger going in the direction the person is. People lay tracks I know for practice and stuff. There are dogs who can track bodies underwater as they sit in a boat! Tracking is really neat and it's cool watching dogs at work.

Answer 4

it does have to do with the strength of the scent , one way it is less strong, and the way the scent is going it gets stronger and stronger

Answer 5

Im not sure ... but i know that when my dog gets lost.. i kno he's ok because he can find his way home... when ive chased after him tho ive notice everyfew block he'll pee on the corner sniff it then run along then later whe he goesa for a round & tunrs around he sniffs the pee spots again. He;s basically using his pee to mark the places he'd pass through already kind of like a trail.