I don't set any store whatsoever in the dog alerts. I'm just continually bemused by the almost religious fervour that the dogs have inspired and continue to inspire amongst the "sceptic" community. You can't suggest the dogs are fallible without it seemingly causing great offence. Personally, I'd be delighted if I never saw another reference to the dogs ever again but all the while they are revered (and let's face it their alerts are the single most important piece of schmevidence the "sceptics" have) the dogs will continue to be discussed. Pathfinder for instance is always barking quite literally in his /her posts. Woof!
Why are they fallble, they do after all, alert to blood, (on plasters as well as period pads and shaving cut droplets or showers) dead bodies, (god forbid) semen, sweat, toenails, hairbursh hair, bad breath, saliva, urine, abortions!, nappy poo, bacon, sausages, and some say pizza and cake, pretty amazing hounds wouldn't you say? A whole (but incomplete) repertoire of possibilities to explain any alert that happens in the last place a child was seenbefore disappearing.