Air scenting dogs typically work off-lead primarily use airborne human scent to find subjects. They locate scent from any human as opposed to a specific person and cover large areas of terrain. These dogs are trained to follow diffused or wind-borne scent back to its source, then to indicate their find to their handler.
Tracking dogs will typically work on lead and will mostly have their nose to the track following ground disturbance. They work through a variety of terrain and through maneuver turns and “double backs” that a subject might take.
Trailing dogs rely on the scent of a specific subject. Trailing dogs will work on and off lead. Trailing dogs follow a specific scent and work through all other human scents to get to the source. This means that they will venture off the actual path that a subject took if they discover a scent pool.
Toller’s work in many Search & Rescue teams as avalanche dogs, disaster dogs, and cadaver dogs. They are intelligent, love to work, lightweight, agile, and they have a keen nose. Notably, Tollers are the dog of choice for the Alaska Avalanche Dog Program.
