Freestate Pet Tracking

The Barkside Teaser: Something Unusual Is Coming…

Goose is confused.

There’s a guest on the next Barkside who:
• flies
• doesn’t have a scent
• can’t enjoy beef
• can’t throw tennis balls
• has zero belly
• and yet… is one of the most important search partners out there.

Meet Recon from Arkcan tomorrow.

Ground nose meets sky eyes.

Goose set up his station in the kitchen and demanded to give his official Thanksgiving safety briefing. Here’s what he wants every dog and cat owner to know before the holiday starts.

Goose says: “While you’re enjoying your Thanksgiving feast, don’t forget that some of the dishes on the table can cause big problems for dogs and cats. I want everyone safe, so here’s the list you need to get through the day without any emergencies.”

Thanksgiving Foods That Are Dangerous for Dogs and Cats

Cooked turkey bones
Cooked bones splinter and can cause choking, internal tears, or intestinal blockages.

Turkey skin and fatty scraps
Rich, fatty pieces can trigger pancreatitis and severe stomach upset in both dogs and cats.

Stuffing
Stuffing and dressing often contain onion, garlic, shallots, leeks, scallions, or chives. All of these are toxic to pets and can damage red blood cells.

Gravy and drippings
Usually high in fat and often seasoned with onion or garlic powder plus extra salt.

Onions, garlic, leeks, scallions, shallots, chives
Any form is unsafe, including cooked, raw, powdered, or mixed into dishes. These can cause life threatening anemia.

Grapes and raisins
Even small amounts can cause kidney injury in dogs. Cats are also at risk.

Chocolate and desserts, especially sugar free
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, and sugar free items can contain xylitol, which is extremely dangerous.

Raw yeast dough
Dough expands in the stomach and produces alcohol as it ferments. This can cause bloat, pain, and alcohol poisoning.

Ham, deli meats, and other cured meats
Very high in fat and salt, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis.

Dairy and whipped cream
Most adult cats and many dogs are lactose intolerant. These can cause stomach upset, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Seasoned broths and turkey brine
Turkey brine is extremely salty and can cause salt poisoning. Broths may contain hidden onion or garlic powder.

Anything heavily seasoned
Many spice blends and mixed dishes hide unsafe ingredients or are too rich for pets.

⸻

Safer Treat Options
If you want to share a small Thanksgiving treat, keep it plain, unseasoned, and in small amounts:

• Cooked turkey meat (no skin, no bones, no seasoning, no brine)
• Green beans (plain, no butter or casserole ingredients)
• Sweet potato (plain, cooked)
• Pumpkin (plain 100 percent pumpkin, not pie mix)

Happy Holidays!
Love, Goose ❤️

Goose approaches every case with total focus. He takes on the climbs, the scent work, the terrain, and still pauses mid-track to extort dried chicken from us like it is written into his union contract.

People keep asking what he enjoys at home, so we put together a comfort wish list.

Just the fun items, nothing work-related.

If you were one of the people who asked, here it is.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/O86YJ3DMD8UA?ref_=wl_share

Secrets of the Sniff: How Your Dog’s Nose Is a Supercomputer

Ever wonder what your dog is really doing when their nose is glued to the ground? They’re not just sniffing grass; they’re decoding a scent-based story written molecule by molecule.

A dog’s nose isn’t just strong; it’s engineered for precision. With up to 300 million scent receptors (humans have about 6 million), they can detect a single drop of liquid in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools. When your dog stops to sniff, they are instantly gathering data.

Their nose is so specialized that they can actually separate breathing from smelling. A fold of tissue directs air to two different chambers: one for respiration and another for olfaction. This allows them to continually process scent data without interruption. They also read scent in three dimensions, often wiggling their nostrils independently to triangulate the source.

They recall scents with absolute clarity, and more importantly, they can discriminate between them. Our Freestate Tracking dogs can isolate and follow the unique scent fingerprint of your specific pet, even in a busy park filled with the trails of dozens of other animals.

At Freestate Tracking, we see this superpower in action every day. Our team doesn’t rely on luck; we rely on the undeniable, specialized power of the canine nose. When your pet goes missing, we harness this unparalleled biological technology to follow that unique, faint trail, maximizing the chances of a fast and successful reunion. The science is fascinating, but the results, getting a loved one home, are everything.