According to legend, a dog’s nose is 10,000 times more sensitive to smells than a human nose. A dog’s dominant senses are its sense of smell, hearing, and sight.
Although there are references to dogs being used as attack and sentry dogs in the Roman army, it has only been in the last century that they have become a necessary component of police and military operations all over the world.
Despite the fact that dogs are used for tracking, the recognition and use of the canine sense of smell for a variety of disciplines is still relatively new, and there is a shortage of detection dogs of recognized breeds.
In disaster zones, sniffer dogs are used to find live and dead people in open fields, find survivors trapped in buildings after earthquakes, detect cancer melanomas, look for termites, bedbug infestations, and other invasive pests, as well as look for drugs, explosives, and minuscule amounts of accelerants during arson investigations. They have been trained to find bodies, both alive and dead, in lake and coastal areas, and they can even detect burst underground water mains.
Though there is widespread use of detection dogs in many fields, the prevention of terrorism places explosive detection dogs at the top of the list globally, closely followed by drug detection dogs.
On June 21st 2019 Philadelphia police discovered nearly 16. On a ship sailing from Chile to Europe, drug detection dogs helped find 5 tons of cocaine. The drugs that were seized had a street value of more than $1 billion and were made up of 15,000 bricks, which if laid end to end would span 2.5 miles. It was the biggest discovery ever made in the USA.
English Springer Spaniels, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd dogs, and Border Collies are among the canines in demand for drug detection work.
The U. S. imports 80 to 90% of its working dogs from Europe, which has a long history of dog competitions and trials for raising and training canines for police and military work.
Some dogs are geared to dual-purpose work i. The Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd dogs, also known as Alsatians, are easily recognized because they are used for drug detection, patrol, protection, and attack duties.
English springer spaniels, which are popular as great family pets, make excellent drug detection canines.
They are accepted favorably and without the suspicion or apprehension that may be connected with the “he looks fierce, does he bite?” German Shepherd or guard dog stereotypes in civilian settings.
The full spectrum of illegal Class A and Class B drugs can be found in traces thanks to the training of a K9 Deployment drug detection dog.
The various drugs are sold under a dizzying variety of names on the street around the world, some of which, if you were asked to identify them, you might mistake for a breakfast cereal, a domestic animal, something to chill your drink with, or something to do in a paddock.
ILLEGAL DRUG CLASSES A AND B Commonly used drugs for experimentation, recreation, and dependence (as well as their street names)
Heroin is also known as Brown Sugar, China White, Dope, Horse, Junk, Skag, Skunk, Smack, and White Horse. Amphetamine is also known as Amphetamine Sulphate, Base, Billy, Paste, Sulph, and Whizz. Cannabis Resin is also known as Boom, Gangster, Hash, Hashish, and Hemp. Cocaine is also known as Blow, Bump, C, Candy, Charlie, Coke, Crack, F Ketamine is also known by the names Cat, Valium, K, Special K, and Vitamin K. Marijuana is also known by the names Blunt, Bud, Dope, Ganja, Grass, Green, Herb, Joint, Mary Jane, Pot, Reefer, Sinsemilla, Skunk, Smoke, Trees, and Weed. MDMA (Ecstasy) is also known by the names Adam, Clarity, Eve, Lovers Speed, Peace,
Dogs have a remarkable set of qualities, including a keen sense of smell and, in some breeds more so than others, a strong desire to hunt, which makes them ideal for drug detection. If properly trained and managed, they can work in extremely stressful environments and are incredibly obedient, building strong bonds with their handlers.
A sniffer dog can cover a lot of ground quickly while conducting a drug search. If human officers searched the same area, it would take them ten times longer, and they would still not be able to find everything a dog can sniff out.
A woman’s attempt to smuggle marijuana into a prison in Brisbane, Australia, in 2002 was stopped by a drug detection dog. She had stuffed a balloon with marijuana into her bra after coating it with petroleum jelly, coffee, and pepper.
Inside the nasal cavity, there is a specialized tissue called the olfactory epithelium that contains olfactory receptor cells with cilia extensions. As odor molecules move across the epithelial surface, the cilia catch them.
This tissue, which is about 10 cm2 in size and located 7 cm above and behind the nostrils on the roof of the nasal cavity in humans, is the component of the olfactory system directly in charge of detecting odors.
In contrast, it is 170 square centimeters in size in dogs. The olfactory lobe in the brain processes all scent-related information, but the dog’s lobe is about 40 times larger than that of humans.
Dogs have a natural ability to detect drugs, bombs, banknotes, bedbugs, cancer, and track missing people by their individual scents, but more-so to negate other intrusive odors occurring naturally or placed with purpose that are significantly stronger. This is due in part to the size and complexity of this structure in the brain.
When a dog inhales, the air separates into two distinct paths, one flowing into the olfactory area and the other passing through to the respiratory system and the lungs. DOGS BREATHE A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THAN HUMANS
We breathe through our noses, using the same pathway for both inhalation and exhalation. As a result, when we exhale, we stop smelling and start again when we inhale.
Dogs can also distinguish between different smells coming from each nostril, as if their noses were in stereo.
When a dog exhales, air enters through its nostrils and exits through slits in its nose at the same time. As a result, the continuous passage of incoming air through the dog’s nose ensures the continuity of odors, which helps the dog perceive odors and maintains traction of a specific scent.
In a study done at the University of Oslo in Norway, a hunting dog searching for game held its head high into the wind for up to 40 seconds, encompassing at least 30 respiratory cycles.
The breathing pattern of dogs changes depending on their level of activity, exertion, and stress.
When we run, we quickly transition from only breathing through our noses to forcing a lot of air through both of our mouths.
Since dogs lack sweat glands, panting is their primary means of cooling their bodies.
Sniffer dogs have a reduced olfactory efficiency if they become overheated because they pay less attention to sniffing in an effort to stay cool. Dogs can either pant or sniff, but they cannot do both at the same time.
PREFERRED SEX OF DETECTION DOGS It is a known fact that female dogs have a better sense of smell than male dogs. However, the majority of police dogs are male, which presents a contradiction.
1. When compared to a male dog, a female dog’s sense of smell is unreliable every six months for a period of 16 to 24 days and possibly some weeks before and after because it is negatively affected by being in heat.
By neutering the females, who no longer distract male dogs or have inconsistent senses of smell, these two issues can and are overcome.
Drug detection dogs may require extensive initial training, as well as additional training. The K9s undergo extensive training and preparation to ensure they are ready for the wide variety of situations they will face while on “active” duty.
To fine-tune a sniffer dog’s abilities in detecting and identifying odors, the level of difficulty is raised as the dog receives daily training in accordance with its successes and benchmarked progress. The purpose of teaching a dog to detect smells is to enable him to utilize his natural abilities and hunting characteristics to the fullest extent possible in order to fulfill human needs and objectives.
The dog is trained appropriately and in accordance with the working environment depending on the discipline it is used for: guarding, patrolling, tracking, or search. Studies have demonstrated that detection canines working in risky, high-intensity environments can adjust and concentrate on their goals. Drug-detection dogs aren’t interested in the drugs themselves, and it’s difficult to imagine a dog enjoying explosives or looking for bodies in earthquake situations.
PASSIVE AND PRO-ACTIVE The two main areas of the drug detection dog discipline are passive and proactive.
Pro-Active The pro-active dog is allowed to serve as a natural sign of a successful find because it does not blend in with the general public.
They may respond by barking loudly and acting obviously hostile, pawing the ground, or pulling on the leash.
When it comes to dogs that have been trained to find explosives, the emphasis is on finding them and alerting the handler; there are no attempts made to unearth the “prize” and retrieve it for the reward.
Similar passive “alert” signals are given to the handler by dogs trained to detect drugs, especially in public settings like airports, schools, college and university campuses, events held at racetracks and festival venues, and licensed premises. If drugs are found, the signal may be for the dog to sit quietly next to the person of interest.
It is considered to be working passively when an English Springer Spaniel or even a taller gun breed dog (used to detect drugs on the upper body) simply sits down next to a suitcase or a person.
In addition to teaching a dog to obey and detect drugs or explosives, sniffer dog training focuses on enhancing and maintaining a dog’s physical condition, health, and stamina. A good training regimen and diet also have an impact on a dog’s olfactory performance.
Improved cardiovascular conditioning and well-trained sniffer dogs show lower heart rates during exercise. This improves thermoregulatory function and lessens the need for panting as a result.
Studies comparing detection dogs with and without conditioning revealed a 63 6% decrease in olfactory sensitivity in the latter. Regardless of whether they are working in the field or not, even dogs with a natural aptitude for sniffing things out require training and regular refresher courses.
MOTIVATION It is difficult to imagine that a dog that enjoys the smell of explosives or dead bodies in earthquake situations would be trained to detect drugs because they have no interest in the drugs themselves.
Success is rewarded by their favourite toy
Under the guidance of skilled handlers, dogs have the capacity to perform better. The importance of the handlers in the interaction with the public at public events, airports and busy transportation hubs, schools, colleges, and universities, as well as late-night licensed establishments, cannot be understated.
The scent can be detected on a person even if they are not using drugs. If someone has been in close proximity to drug users, such as at a party where marijuana was smoked, the dog can detect this. The drug sniffer dog is trained to show no response when approached by someone who smells like drugs.
All K9 Deployment sniffer dogs and handlers are trained and accredited by either NASDU (National Association of Security Dog Users) or a Regional Police Dog Training Center in accordance with ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) standards.
This includes initial, refresher and continuation training with accreditation annually. All our dog handlers are SIA (Security Industry Authority) licensed.
The eyesight of wild dogs is typically superior to that of domestic dogs.
When they complete the task given by their handler, who is also their best friend, they are actually searching for their “reward.”
At a customs crossing point, a drug sniffer dog was once seen patrolling cars. It was able to escape its leash and scurried among the parked cars. She trotted back into view, a large brick of marijuana in her jaws, before her handler could locate her.
The dog still received her reward, and the drugs were seized even though the police were unable to determine which car the drugs originated from.
The basis of an effective partnership is that trained detection dogs typically remain assigned to the handler with whom they have developed a bond.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DETECTION DOG AND HANDLER Dog handlers relate to and interpret the actions of their dog. Just as much emphasis is placed on teaching the dog to detect and respond as there is on teaching the dog and handler to cooperate. The dog notices and understands the handler’s body language, commands, and cues.
Similar to this, the dog handler interprets the dog’s behavior, which has frequently shown to have saved the handler’s life due to the dog’s keen sense of danger in its environment.
Search and rescue dogs almost imperceptibly detect the dangers of collapsing buildings and warn their handlers of the threat.
Dogs’ behavior before, during, and after earthquakes has been well documented throughout history. For example, dogs have been observed to become agitated and leave buildings before earthquakes.
When measuring earth tremors that could only be detected by their equipment and not personally felt, geologists at the University of California discovered that every occurrence of a tremor was always preceded by the constant barking of dogs.
CANINE SENSE OF HEARING Dogs have much better hearing than humans do. The seemingly silent whistles used in murder mysteries and displayed at sheepdog competitions serve as a siren for dogs.
Humans have an audible range of 20Hz to 20,000 kHz, but dogs typically have a range of 67Hz to 45 kHz depending on their breed and age.
As a result, a dog can hear and recognize his owner’s distinct walking style and even the distinctive engine murmur of his car, easily differentiating and alerting to the approach of the postman or a neighborhood burglar.
CANINE SENSE OF SIGHT Dogs are excellent night watchdogs because they have better night vision than humans and are more sensitive to motion than to static objects. The eyes of predatory animals like dogs and humans are positioned closely together.
Depending on the breed, dogs are typically positioned at an angle of 20 degrees to increase their field of vision and peripheral vision.
The definition of 20/20 vision in humans is the ability to recognize letters or objects at a distance of 20 feet.
Dogs typically have 20/75 vision, which means that at a distance of 20 feet from an object, they can see what a person can see at a distance of 75 feet. Another breed that frequently makes an exception and is bred because they have much better eyesight and may have vision that is closer to 20/20 is the labrador, which is known for being a good drug detection dog.
Conclusions reached in 1960 by Doctors R. and R. Menzel came to the conclusion that while domestic dogs may have dull eyesight due to being house pets, wild dogs have excellent eyesight. This study supported earlier findings made in 1954 in a study by Professor H. Stephan.
A dog trained to detect various substances, including drugs, using only its sense of smell is known as a drug sniffer dog or drug detection dog. A sniffer dog is used in many security operations because their sense of smell is 2,000 times stronger and 50 times more sensitive than a human’s.
Airports, Marine applications, Media solutions, Hospitals and mental health facilities, along with schools, colleges and universities, events, prisons, businesses, and homes, can all benefit from using sniffer dogs for tighter security measures. Sniffer dogs can also be used for a variety of other operations and assignments. They can be used to find drugs on people, inside of buildings, in the open, and in vehicles.
Sniffer dogs have totally no interest in the drugs themselves. What theyre actually searching for is their favourite toy. They now associate that toy with the smell of drugs thanks to their training program. The strong desire to hunt that drives sniffer dogs to seek out what they have been trained to find prevents them from signaling inadvertently in order to receive a reward; in their minds, discovering drug traces is the reward.
To become certified, Canine Sniffer dogs and their handlers must complete months of rigorous training; their success is a result of their ability to function as a team. Throughout their entire careers, they will be tested and retrained to make sure their abilities are dependable and up to par. (Dogs typically continue to be trained with the same handler, and the team is retested together.)
Drug detection dogs are taught two types of alerting: the passive and the aggressive, so they don’t cause a scene. Drug dogs use an aggressive alert technique in which they dig and paw at the area where they smell the drugs without endangering people or property. When they detect the drugs without harming people or property (personal or commercial), They will take a passive approach when sniffing for explosives because it might be dangerous to scratch the service.
Wild canines tend to have a better eyesight than domesticated dogs
The full spectrum of illegal Class A and Class B drugs can be found in traces thanks to the training of a K9 Deployment drug detection dog.
In addition to teaching a dog to obey and detect drugs or explosives, sniffer dog training focuses on enhancing and maintaining a dog’s physical condition, health, and stamina. A good training regimen and diet also have an impact on a dog’s olfactory performance.
When it comes to dogs that have been trained to find explosives, the emphasis is on finding them and alerting the handler; there are no attempts made to unearth the “prize” and retrieve it for the reward.
Sniffer dogs have a reduced olfactory efficiency if they become overheated because they pay less attention to sniffing in an effort to stay cool. Dogs can either pant or sniff, but they cannot do both at the same time.
A story recounted in “Dogs On the Case,” by Patricia Curtis, tells of a drug dog that was a little too eager for a game of tug-of-war. While walking along a line of cars waiting to enter the United States from Mexico, one of the dogs alerted to the smell of drugs, slipped her leash, and ran down the line of cars. Before her handler could find her, she trotted back into view, holding a large brick of marijuana in her jaws. Although the border patrol had no way to tell which car the drugs came from, the dog still got her tug-of-war. She did her job, and the drugs were off the street. Passive vs. Aggressive Alerting
People often wonder if dogs sniff out hidden drugs because they want to eat them, or because theyre addicted to drugs themselves. In fact, the dogs have absolutely no interest in drugs. What theyre actually looking for is their favorite toy. Their training has led them to associate that toy with the smell of drugs.
The toy used most often is a white towel. Police dogs love to play a vigorous game of tug-of-war with their favorite towel. To begin the training, the handler simply plays with the dog and the towel, which has been carefully washed so that it has no scent of its own. Later, a bag of marijuana is rolled up inside the towel. After playing for a while, the dog starts to recognize the smell of marijuana as the smell of his favorite toy. The handler then hides the towel, with the drugs, in various places. Whenever the dog sniffs out the drugs, he digs and scratches, trying to get at his toy. He soon comes to learn that if he sniffs out the smell of drugs, as soon as he finds them hell be rewarded with a game of tug-of-war.
Police dogs give the alert signal to their handlers when they locate the object they are searching for. Drug-sniffing dogs give off an aggressive alert by digging and pawing at the area in an attempt to get at the toy they believe is there waiting for them.
However, in some fields, an aggressive alert would be unfavorable. When a dog finds a bomb, the outcomes could be disastrous if the dog digs and scratches at it. In these cases, a passive alert is used. The U.S. military’s use of beagles as passive alert dogs is a good example. S. To detect produce that is not permitted to enter the country, the Department of Agriculture While people wait in customs lines at airports and border crossings, the lovably known “Beagle Brigade” sniffs their bags. The USDA beagles have been trained to simply sit down when they smell fruits or vegetables because no one wants a dog digging at their possessions.
FAQ
How does a drug dog get trained?
The smell of vanilla is first introduced to the dog before the smell of drugs. This method of instruction is used repeatedly until the dog links the scent to their reward. The clicker and reward remain in the training but the hand signal is removed.
Are drug dogs trained to smell all drugs?
The nose of a sniffer dog has been trained to be extremely sensitive to specific substances. The full spectrum of illegal Class A and Class B drugs can be found in traces thanks to the training of a K9 Deployment drug detection dog.
How long does it take to train a drug dog?
Drug specific training can take between two and six months. However, the dog you are training ought to have received thorough training in all other areas first. The handler and the dog must both pass a certification process after completing drug-sniffing training. The handler must have a good relationship with their dog.
What does a drug dog do when it finds drugs?
When a dog detects drugs and reacts vocally or in another overt way, that is when the alert becomes active or aggressive. Barking, stooping, pawing, or straining toward the location of the drugs could be considered an active alert.