Under advanced tracking, how many miles must the dog track human scent that is 1-2 hours old?

The correct answer is that a dog must track human scent for a distance of 1 mile when the scent is 1-2 hours old. This requirement is based on standard tracking protocols for advanced scent work. When the scent is fresh, dogs are capable of tracking effectively over longer distances. However, as time passes, the scent dissipates and becomes more challenging to follow. A 1-mile track is a reasonable expectation for a scent that has aged 1-2 hours, demonstrating the dog's ability to pick up and follow a trail over a significant distance while accounting for the degradation of the scent.

Other distances, such as 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile, or 2 miles, do not align with the expectations for this time frame. A shorter distance would be too simplistic for the trained capabilities of a tracking dog in advanced scenarios, while a longer distance would not be realistic considering the scent's age. This understanding helps handlers gauge the dog’s proficiency in tracking, ensuring they can effectively utilize the K9’s capabilities in real-world scenarios.