This article delves into the intriguing lives of sniffer dogs, exploring their abilities and talents as canine detectives. Through our comprehensive guide, you will gain insight into this wonderful world and discover everything there is to know about these impressive animals. Perhaps even your own furry companion could have the potential to become a canine super sleuth!
What are sniffer dogs?
Although the Oxford English Dictionary describes a sniffer dog as “a canine trained to detect drugs or explosives through scent,” this definition constrains their abilities as sniffer dogs are capable of much more.
What do sniffer dogs do?
Sniffer dogs are highly skilled in multiple roles in society. Nevertheless, each dog is extensively trained to detect a particular item. Despite their proficiency, they aren’t capable of handling multiple tasks and detecting numerous things simultaneously. In essence, these dogs are specialists. Now, let’s take a detailed look at the various tasks that sniffer dogs perform.
Sniffer dogs in law enforcement
Law enforcement agencies utilize sniffer dogs to detect various items such as caches of narcotics, firearms, and explosives, as suggested by their definition. These dogs can also aid in finding hidden fugitives or missing individuals. Oftentimes, narcotics and firearms dealers may conceal large sums of cash within their residences, making sniffer dogs with the ability to locate cash especially valuable. Furthermore, in addition to drug and bomb detection, certain sniffer dogs are trained to locate human remains as cadaver dogs.
Sniffer dogs trained to detect accelerants are also employed by the fire department to aid in arson investigations. As cybercrime continues to rise, these dogs are now being trained to locate USB sticks, hard drives, and SD cards. This has proven to be of significant value to law enforcement in apprehending online criminals such as pedophiles, terrorists, and fraudsters.
What makes sniffer dogs so good at their job?
You might be curious as to why authorities like law enforcement rely on canines for detection purposes. One significant reason is that a dog’s sense of smell surpasses ours by approximately 2,000 times. Impressive feats include dogs detecting concealed marijuana wrapped in sealed plastic bags and hidden within locked buildings.
A sniffer dog that has undergone training has the capacity to pick up scents that are more than a decade old. This expertise becomes particularly valuable when trying to locate possible homicide victims who have gone missing for a significant period. A sniffer dog has an exceptional olfactory ability and, when combined with its skill in running and scaling, it can effectively and promptly search a vast area, surpassing a human’s speed and efficiency.
How are police sniffer dogs trained?
Detection duty is considered as a grand game by sniffer dogs that have been trained to do so. Canines utilized for detecting explosives and narcotics are often trained with a towel. The trainer first plays tug-of-war with the dog and his toy, which is the towel. In the latter part of the training, a small bag of marijuana is concealed inside the towel. This helps the dog in associating the scent of marijuana with that of his preferred toy.
After concealing the marijuana-laced toy in diverse locations, the handler teaches the canine to use its sense of smell to locate the toy and is rewarded with a friendly game of tug-of-war. When the trained canine has become proficient in detecting the marijuana inside the cloth, other types of illicit substances are introduced to the training. As time progresses, the sniffer dog becomes skilled at locating a plethora of illegal drugs.
The technique employed to train dogs to detect bombs involves concealing different chemicals frequently utilized in creating explosives within a towel, instead of narcotics.
Sniffer dog breeds
Which dog breeds are best suited for training as sniffer dogs?
Bloodhound
Law enforcement commonly employs bloodhounds as tracking canines. Originally, the bloodhound is believed to have originated in Belgium during the 14th century, specifically for hunting purposes such as wild boar and deer. Presently, police and other law enforcement agencies utilize the “sleuth hound” to trail missing persons and suspects on the run.
Wildlife protection rangers in some regions of Africa utilize the bloodhound as a means of tracking poachers. Thanks to a staggering 300 million olfactory sensors, this breed is a persistent tracker with a calm and gentle disposition. Nevertheless, the bloodhound is not easily amenable to obedience training, which is why it is constantly kept on a leash.
Labrador retriever
The Labrador retriever was originally from Newfoundland, where it assisted in the fishing industry by retrieving nets and pulling carts loaded with fish. In the 18th century, the breed migrated to England and became famous for being a gun dog. As a search and rescue dog, the Labrador retriever is a prevalent choice. Border control agencies and law enforcement also use the breed as sniffer dogs to detect illegal substances at airports and border crossings.
The armed forces commonly select Labradors as dogs trained to detect bombs due to their exceptional sense of smell. Labradors possess a friendly and calm temperament, in addition to being highly trainable, characteristics that also make them well-suited for usage as medical detection dogs.
Beagle
Bred for hunting hares, beagles are a type of small pack hound that possess an exceptional sense of smell. Due to this ability, they are frequently employed as sniffer dogs to detect illicit substances at airports, ports, and border crossings.
German shepherd
The German shepherd was initially developed as a breed for herding, but it has become largely associated with police duties. Specifically, the GSD is utilized as a police dog that is trained to detect human scent. Their main function is to pursue and detain escaping criminals until authorities can apprehend them. In addition, German shepherds are employed to locate individuals who may be trapped beneath rubble, or in situations such as avalanches or earthquakes.
Springer spaniel
Springers are enthusiastic dogs that enjoy being active. They were initially bred as gundogs, retrieving birds that were shot in thick bushes and water. Due to their exceptional sense of smell and inclination to easily learn, springers are frequently utilized as detection dogs. They can discover various things, such as illicit substances and stolen money, as well as human remains and individuals who have gone missing.
Border collie
Originating from the border regions of England, Scotland, and Wales, the Border collie was selectively bred and trained to manage herding of cattle and sheep, displaying exceptional sensory skills and a remarkably powerful herding instinct, characteristics that are ideal for search and rescue missions. Additionally, with an endless reserve of energy, this breed can work tirelessly for hours in even the most challenging landscapes.
BONUS: Dog training 101 — How to set realistic goals and where to get started
Kayla Fratt, the owner of Journey Dog Training and a certified dog behavior consultant, believes that making every dog feel at ease in its own skin and in the lifestyle shared with its owner is a fundamental objective that should be striven for.
Regardless of the situation – whether you’ve recently adopted a puppy from a breeder or been the owner of your dog for an extended period of time – training can be advantageous to all dogs at any point in their lives.
Wondering where to start the process? Perhaps you’ve searched for “dog trainers near me” on the internet and found yourself inundated with a plethora of options, certifications, and complicated language. The available information can be overwhelming! To help navigate this, we sought advice from experts who provided some guidance. Here’s what they had to say:
Identify your training goals
Essentially, there are two tiers of dog training. The first involves skills training, which mainly deals with manners such as sitting, laying down and staying, and requires a dog trainer. Alternatively, if your dog experiences any behavioral issues such as aggression, anxiety or fear, a dog behavioral consultant such as Brianna Dick from Pack Leader Help is needed.
“The way that I approach dog training is behavioral psychology based,” says Dick, who is a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals. “We’re not looking at just the physical behaviors of dogs. We’re looking at their emotions and the relationship they have with their humans.”
To receive both skills and behavior training, it is best to begin with the more difficult one, which is behavior training. While a dog trainer may have knowledge on teaching a dog to sit, a dog behavior consultant is better equipped in aiding your dog to cope with separation anxiety.
Be realistic.
Fratt suggests that not all dogs will enjoy going to the dog park, just as not all humans will enjoy going to raves.
Kim Brophey, the proprietor of The Dog Door Behavior Center, is an expert in applied ethology and a mediator for family dogs. She authored “Meet Your Dog: The Game Changing Guide To Understanding Your Dog’s Behavior.” Brophey uses the L.E.G.S approach (learning, environment, genetics, self) to clarify dog conduct. Suppose your dog is barking at visitors.
Brophey suggests that the particular dog breed was chosen over centuries for safeguarding against intruders at the front door. As a German shepherd’s predisposition to protect its territory cannot be trained out of it, adjusting your expectations may be necessary.
Decide how you’d like to train your dog.
Regarding methods of training, there are various options available: group sessions, individual instruction, board and train, day-long training, and self-directed learning, among others. Although group classes are more budget-friendly, they are less individualized. Meanwhile, Fratt suggests that board and train centers are more costly and pose greater risks.
“If the trainer spends all this time training the dog in this really specific context and then basically just hands you the leash, takes your check and walks away, there’s a very good chance you’re not actually going to be able to implement those new strategies and skills … successfully in your home.”
Your budget and training objectives will determine your decision. In the instance where your dog is displaying aggression towards another dog at home, it would not be beneficial to pursue training sessions that are held outside of the home.
Be aware that participating in your dog’s training is necessary, however, it doesn’t have to consume a significant portion of your schedule. Fratt recommends dedicating only five minutes per day for training. Furthermore, many trainers provide enjoyable and convenient homework that can be incorporated into your daily routine.
Our experts recommend free or affordable online resources for dog training, if you prefer not to spend a significant amount of money.
- Kikopup on Youtube and Instagram
- Fenzi Dog Sports Academy
- K9 of Mine
Understand the methodologies.
There is no regulation in the field of dog training, allowing individuals with websites, Instagram pages or storefronts to assert themselves as dog trainers. Consequently, there is no universally accepted guidebook outlining the techniques to employ when training a dog, resulting in conflicting opinions amongst trainers. Nevertheless, most trainers can be classified into two comprehensive groups.
Fratt belongs to the group of positive reinforcement trainers. This approach involves rewarding your dog with treats or other desirable things when it demonstrates good behavior, prompting them to continue this conduct. It could also involve offering your dog something favorable in order to help them see a previously scary situation in a positive light.
Another type of trainer is Brianna Dick and those who follow a balanced approach. Balanced trainers employ positive reinforcement techniques, but are also open to integrating corrective measures such as e-collars in their training.
According to Dick, E-collar training uses a collar that your dog wears and can be controlled via remote. The collar emits a correctional stimulus, such as a shock, sound, or citronella spray, to the dog’s neck as needed. The use of E-collars is a topic of debate in the dog training community, particularly those that emit a shock.
Warning against trainers who use e-collars on all dogs, Dick advises that such an approach is uniform and unlikely to yield desirable outcomes. Instead, she recommends seeking a trainer who takes the time to understand your individual circumstances, including your relationship with your dog and lifestyle.
Find a good trainer.
A helpful starting point for finding positive reinforcement trainers or balanced trainers in your locality is to refer to lists created by multiple professional associations.
