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How do rescue dogs use ground scents differently from scents in the air?

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A Labradoodle dog runs energetically through grass with a stick in its mouth, ears flopping and tail raised. — dog A Labradoodle is a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle, a mix intended to incorporate the Poodle's intelligence and low-shedding coat with a Lab's energy and determination.

Rescue dogs are trained to utilize their highly developed olfactory system to track scents either on the ground or in the air, depending on their specific training and the requirements of the search.1

When dogs search for scents on the ground, they often employ rapid sniffing. This technique creates turbulence within the nasal cavity, which increases the volume of air sampled and enhances the likelihood that odor molecules will reach the olfactory epithelium for processing.2

Conversely, when dogs are trained to scent the air, they often hold their heads high while moving into the wind. This posture maintains a continuous flow of air through the nostrils and over the olfactory epithelium, allowing them to detect airborne particles from a distance. Regardless of the method, both ground-tracking and air-scenting dogs are capable of distinguishing between individual human scents, even after a significant amount of time has passed.21