The Best Tracking Dogs 

Tracking dogs are known for they unparalleled sense of smell.  A lot of people do not realize that a dog’s olfactory system (the part of the brain which produces smell) is much higher than humans.  Though all dogs have advanced olfactory systems, the dogs that appear in our list are also judged on aptitude, training ability, and historic tracking ability.

Bloodhound – This is normally the first dog breed that people think of when tracking is mentioned.  Fun fact: the average large dog has about 200 million olfactory membranes.  The bloodhound has roughly 300 million!  This breed is incredibly focused at tracking distinct smells, even in crowded areas.

German Shepherd – The loyal German shepherd is the most favored breed by military and police forces.  What separates this breed from the bloodhound is their aggression, trainability, and ability to follow commands.  They have a strong sense of detecting drugs and bombs, on top of humans.

Malinois – This is a true working dog!  They are also sought out for jobs in the military or police force.  Where the heavy gunfire and rampant movements may scare other dogs, the Malinois remains focused, at its owner’s side to no end.

Beagle – If you take a close look, the beagle is always sniffing around.  Their exceptional smell makes them one of the best tracking dogs.  Not only that, but they are friendly!

Labrador Retriever – This is a medium sized dog characterized by friendliness, an outgoing personality, and enthusiasm! Very similar to the beagle and bloodhound, the Lab is not an aggressive breed, so they are able to use their tracking ability in a peaceful way.

Did your dog not make the list?  No worries!  As we mentioned before, all dogs are great at tracking.  It’s just that the dogs on our list have advanced olfactory systems.  It is clear that a dog’s strong sense of smell is used to their advantage!