Why do dogs bark up the wrong tree?

Question

I've heard this phrase a few times before but I was wondering what the origin is? I have a dog and he rarely barks up a trees or anything.

Answer 1

When dogs used to chase animals, the animal would run up the tree. the dog, on the scent trail, bark at the tree the animal ran up, not knowing that the animal has fled trhough the treetops.

So, whereas Fido is boarking up the elm tree, Mr. Fox, has engineered his escape, leaping from tree to tree, and is now far from the barking crowd

Answer 2

It's back when there were fox hunts. Dogs used to chase the foxes (possibly wounded) and normally corner them up a tree. However not all dogs are smart and would get confused by all the scents in the forest and bark up a tree that contained no fox. Thereby, barking up the wrong tree!  It means you have missed the point completely!!!.