Do dogs lose nose power with age?

[live to hunt]

I have noticed that at times my old dog has trouble moving a track and a younger one will be able line it out. Is she losing nose power with age. Has anyone noticed this happing in their pack?

[pegleg]

This probably falls into the same area as the longevity thread. I'm interested in the responses. I've not ever seen a otherwise healthy hound loose scenting power they once had , due to age alone. In some instances it seems they're more likely relying on it then sight just as a matter of ease or habit. And while hunting they seem to have to experience and ability to rarely be misled.
I'd be more inclined to think the younger hounds are improving rather then the old dog declining in this ability.

[Redwood Coonhounds]

I have noticed as an old dog ages they tend to get jealous. Sounds ridiculous, but its true. They'd rather just fool around and take their time doing what they are doing themself than pack up and go be a useful part of the race. Really strong independent lead dog types tend to be the worst than pack dog types. Once a pack dog, always a pack dog. Once a lead dog, always a lead dog, in their mind anyways, even if they just got the track moving as the young dogs got it jumped.

[dhostetler]

I always thought my dogs noses seemed to get better with age. Old dogs will also start going senile once they get real old. I also agree with Cassandra on the lead dog thing that happens a lot in my opinion.

[justahunter]

Nose gets better for sure with age. jealousy can become an issue usually leads to a split race though.

[1bludawg]

From what i've seen in my old,old dogs their nose got weaker and i judge this by comparing them to other dogs they hunted with.They're pretty much at the end of their hunting career when it happens.Their other senses also weaken as they start going downhill.Some of mine also go deaf .I think it varies in each dog and some of the loss in olfactory power might be attributed to them not being as mentally sharp as they were in their prime.

[pegleg]

Guys I'm not so sure he really means the last few months of their lives. I took it as a older but still able hound loosing scenting ability. And I don't know that a dog at the end of its life is going to really be trailing anything like it would if the other physical ailments hadn't caught up to it. Thinking back even the healthiest hounds took a hit right before passing.

[1bludawg]

The old dogs i'm refering to lived another 2-3 years after their last good year of hunting .It was in that last year of hunting when they could still tree a few cat on their own that i noticed the loss of nose power.Another thing to think about is when you've hunted a dog for several years you're keenly aware of how that dog acts under any conditions.You can tell when he is off his game when someone else wouldn't notice anything.

[kordog]

that is a darn good question.older dogs eyesight and hearing take a hit just like us that is easy to observe.at 43 my hearing and eyesight are not as sharp ,but my sense of smell ,and taste have not diminished a bit.im gonna have to go with alot of what people have already mentioned for the biggest reasons that older hounds may look like they are losing tracking ability,and not the fact they cant smell as good,but do i think it is possible a hound could lose nosepower the answer is yes.it is a sense ,and a body has the ability to lose it whether it is human or animal.it wouldnt be my first diagnosis though.another good thread.

[scrubrunner]

My experience is the older the dog gets the colder its nose gets. They just slow down like I have. When they can't keep up with the younger dogs anymore they start getting a lot more independent, refusing to pull-up to a dog that hits it ahead of them. ( if they can hear them, not sure they can, or it could be an aging brain thing, a hound on a scent is a very single minded animal) A lot of them if they can't keep up in a jumped race will quit it and go find their own game. Some seem to lose their prey instinct or desire to advance the track, would rather cold trail and piddle around than run.

[macedonia mule man]

Dogs are probably like people,a few old people still have a lot of desire but most don't. I think it's all about want to not losing nose power.