What could have gone wrong with the sniffer dog searches in the first 15 days?

[G-Unit]

So is everyone happy that these were tracking dogs that were following Madeleine's scent?

According to the files they were tracking dogs. It's not 100% clear what scent they were following though. That would, in my opinion, depend on whether they sniffed a towel or Madeleine's blanket.

[Robittybob1]

So is everyone happy that these were tracking dogs that were following Madeleine's scent?

No, I'm not happy about that for it is quite impossible to tell.  The track they took doesn't seem to be a logical abductor's path.  Had the tracker dog assistants used Madeleine's clothes or her shoes I would be a bit more sure they were following Madeleine's scent, but a towel could have been used by someone else, and the blanket IMO has the potential of having been handled by someone else too.

[G-Unit]

No, I'm not happy about that for it is quite impossible to tell.  The track they took doesn't seem to be a logical abductor's path.  Had the tracker dog assistants used Madeleine's clothes or her shoes I would be a bit more sure they were following Madeleine's sent, but a towel could have been used by someone else, and the blanket IMO has the potential of having been handled by someone else too.

We don't know if there was an abductor, but if there was why wouldn't he go that way? It actually makes more sense than going the way Tannerman went as there was less chance of being seen by returning checkers. If there were two people, one could hang back in the dark on the path, the other could peep out to see if the coast was clear, then a quick scamper to a car in that car park.

If it was Smithman he would go that way and then down R d Malo. The problem then is why the dogs turned down between the blocks.

[Robittybob1]

We don't know if there was an abductor, but if there was why wouldn't he go that way? It actually makes more sense than going the way Tannerman went as there was less chance of being seen by returning checkers. If there were two people, one could hang back in the dark on the path, the other could peep out to see if the coast was clear, then a quick scamper to a car in that car park.

If it was Smithman he would go that way and then down R d Malo. The problem then is why the dogs turned down between the blocks.

Does the path start at the wooden door (front door)?  That door could not be opened by Madeleine could it?  So does that mean she was carried? 
Then why would an abductor basically walk around the apartment block?  If there is a car involved you would think the car would be closer to the exit point?
R d Malo?  Have you found that on Google Earth?  I couldn't find it just now.

Did you mean "R. Primeiro de Maio"  or "Rua Primeiro de Maio"?

We don't know where Smithman starts his travels from.

[G-Unit]

Does the path start at the wooden door (front door)?  That door could not be opened by Madeleine could it?  So does that mean she was carried? 
Then why would an abductor basically walk around the apartment block?  If there is a car involved you would think the car would be closer to the exit point?
R d Malo?  Have you found that on Google Earth?  I couldn't find it just now.

Did you mean "R. Primeiro de Maio"  or "Rua Primeiro de Maio"?

We don't know where Smithman starts his travels from.

I'm not sure exactly how these doors worked or how 'locked' that door was.

My description of the behaviour of the abductor(s) was just a hypothesis to explain the route taken by the dogs. I wouldn't have parked there, but maybe a third person was sitting in the car watching the Tapas entrance for 'checkers'? I'm just guessing, obviously.

Yes, that road, the other side of the Tapas area from the entrance. Sorry for the abbreviation.

If Smithman was carrying Madeleine he could have started from the apartment, where else?

[Robittybob1]

I'm not sure exactly how these doors worked or how 'locked' that door was.

My description of the behaviour of the abductor(s) was just a hypothesis to explain the route taken by the dogs. I wouldn't have parked there, but maybe a third person was sitting in the car watching the Tapas entrance for 'checkers'? I'm just guessing, obviously.

Yes, that road, the other side of the Tapas area from the entrance. Sorry for the abbreviation.

If Smithman was carrying Madeleine he could have started from the apartment, where else?

I have developed an alternative theory where Smithman is taking Madeleine for medical help.  So he picks her up when she is the most vulnerable.....

[Robittybob1]

I have developed an alternative theory where Smithman is taking Madeleine for medical help.  So he picks her up when she is the most vulnerable.....

Even if you think abduction is highly unlikely and you have to go with the statistics in this case. You are then thrown into "the probability that family and/or family friends are involved. Who, what, where, when and how?"
 
That was the bit I was developing in my theory.  On the forum here posters seem to be given immunity to imply the McCanns did it/didn't do it, but we don't seem to be allowed to talk about family friends in detail.

[Robittybob1]

In Russell O'Brien's rog statement http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/RUSSELL-OBRIEN_ROGATORY.htm

We searched a cul-de-sac area which I would describe as being a passage way at the front of the block on the car park side.  We went on to search the gardens and patios.  Then we went downhill towards the centre.

Since he talks about "the block on the car park side" could that be block 6?  If it is, it ties in with the end point of the tracker dog searches IMO, but I'm willing to be corrected on this.

[sadie]

Madeleine didn't walk that route regularly in my opinion. I can't see why she would. Also Gerry wouldn't have mentioned the one occasion when she ran away in that direction if she was running ahead on a normal route.

Beginning to follow the track using Rex, from the door of apartment 5 A (the place where the girl had been sleeping) he would always head in the direction of Block 4, leaving block 5 the dog would turn to the left, pass by a metal access door to a path existing between the apartments blocks to the leisure area (restaurant, pool and playground).
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GNR_SNIFFER.htm

It would depend on the wind direction and strength, because all the paths had walls and the one between the blocks was reasonably narrow. I can't see any pronounced curve on Block 5.

Like flowing water, air will take the easiest route that immediately comes available.

There is a curve on block 5.  It is not great, but it definitely is there and can be seen on numerous photos and videos, so the wind will either pass over the top of the building or via the gaps at either end causing a wind tunnel effect in the passageway between block 5 and block 4.

Any air scents would tend to be quickly blown away at these places.

[Robittybob1]

Like flowing water, air will take the easiest route that immediately comes available.

There is a curve on block 5.  It is not great, but it definitely is there and can be seen on numerous photos and videos, so the wind will either pass over the top of the building or via the gaps at either end causing a wind tunnel effect in the passageway between block 5 and block 4.

Any air scents would tend to be quickly blown away at these places.

That is certainly on topic Sadie.  The wind seems to be one of the biggest hindrances to a good tracker dog search.