A bird dog, or a property scout, works online, in a car or on foot to look for investment properties for real estate investors. They may search for homes for experienced real estate investors to flip or for those who seek housing units, for example. Bird dogs generally seek distressed properties, foreclosures and other "deals." Investors and bird dogs alike often seek these properties out because of the opportunity to buy a home at a discount.
If an investor decides to buy the property and the sale goes through, the bird dog gets a commission.