dry conditions tough for bird dogs

[NWIowaBDG]

My dad was just hunting Pheasant in SW Kansas. He said his party had three good bird dogs, but they went over birds in grass without pointing them multiple times. He said it was very dry and very dusty, and that made it tougher for the dogs to pick up the birds scent.

Do you agree that it's tougher for dogs to point birds when the conditions are drier than in normal conditions? What is the best pointing weather, dew or wet ground with high humidity? Finally, does anyone have any advice on how to improve a dog's ability to point birds in dry conditions?

Thanks much.

[Paulpskp]

Dry conditions make it tough for dogs to locate scent, not sure exactly why but years of hunting has me convinced. As for how to help solve this problem I carry plenty of water to keep the dog hydrated. Sometimes I even pour water over their nose and face not sure if it helps but it makes them feel good.

[Mite]

Moisture in the air makes for better scenting conditions. Like Paulskp says, I don't know why but everyone seems to know it. Concerning the dog, when a dog is panting, its breathing through its mouth and not using its nose. That can also be a cause for missing birds.

[Super G Force]

You can think of it this way. Your dog itself doesn't really stink like a dog when it is dry. Get your dog wet and it smells like awet dog.
I think of the dog smelling birds in the same way. If it is drythe dogdoesn'tsmell the birds as well. When there is moisture on the ground andthebirds arenesting init, it leaves a sent much easier.
You also have to be careful of dust pnemonia that the dogs can get from being in too much dust. On really dry days we usually only run our dogs in the morning when there is dew in the grass.