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Detection dog training in U.S. Navy military for drug detection

An English Springer Spaniel on duty as a detection dog with the British Transport Police at Waterloo Station

A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.^[1] The sense most used by detection dogs is smell. Hunting dogs that search for game, and search dogs that work to find missing humans are generally not considered detection dogs. There is some overlap, as in the case of cadaver dogs, trained to search for human remains. A police dog is essentially a detection dog that is used as a resource for police in specific scenarios such as conducting drug raids, finding missing criminals, and locating stashed currency.

Frequently, detection dogs are thought to be used for law enforcement purposes; however, they are also used as a valuable research tool for wildlife biologists. In California, detection dogs are trained to discover quagga mussels on boats at public boat ramps because they are a harmful invasive species for the environment. Detection dogs also tend to be employed for the purposes of finding and collecting the feces of a diverse array of species, including caribou,^[2]black-footed ferret, killer whale,^[3] and Oregon spotted frog. This process is known as wildlife scat detection.

Detection dogs are also seeing use in the medical industry, as studies have revealed that canines are able to detect specific odours associated with numerous medical conditions, such as cancer.

Functions

Detection dogs have been trained to search for many things, both animate and inanimate, including:

• Human remains


• Cancer detection


• 
  Drugs^[4]
  


• 
  Endangered animal species (e.g., black-footed ferret)^[5][6]
  


• Explosives


• 
  Fire accelerants (e.g., arson investigation)


• Firearms


• 
  Hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) emergencies in humans


• 
  Invasive species (e.g., quagga mussel)^[7]
  


• 
  Currency (e.g. large amounts of money carried by passengers in airports that should be declared to customs before travel)


• 
  Mobile phones (e.g. as contraband in prisons)^[8]
  


• USB drives^[9]
  


• SIM cards^[10]
  


• 
  Mold^[11]
  


• Plants, animals, produce, and agricultural items that have to go through customs


• Termites


• 
  Wildlife scat
  


• Gourmet Fungi, such as Truffles (e.g. French Black Truffles (Tuber melanosporum), Italian White Truffles (Tuber magnatum pico), Chanterelles (Cantharellus cibarius), "Porcini" (Boletus edulis), Morels (Morchella esculenta), and other varieties of mushroom that, when parasitized by Hypomyces Lactifluorum, are known as a "Lobster mushroom")

One notable quality of detection dogs is that they're able to discern individual scents even when they're combined or masked by other odors. A lot of the items listed above can be disguised when covered by multiple smells. Detection dogs help uncover these items. In 2002, a detection dog foiled a woman's attempt to smuggle marijuana into an Australian prison in Brisbane. The marijuana had been inserted into a balloon, which was smeared with coffee, pepper and petroleum jelly and then placed in her bra.^[12]

Bed bug detection dogs

Detection dogs are often specially trained by handlers to identify the scent of bed bugs. With the increased focus on green pest management and integrated pest management, as well as the increase in global travel and shared living accommodations, bed bugs have become more prevalent. Detecting bed bugs is a complicated process because insects have the ability to hide almost anywhere. Detection dogs help solve this problem because of their size, speed, and sense of smell. From eggs to adults, detection dogs use their unique ability to smell in parts per trillion in order to track bed bugs in every phase of their life cycle. They can find bugs in places humans cannot such as wall voids, crevices, and furniture gaps. Dogs are also a safer alternative to pesticide use. If detection dogs can find out exactly where bed bugs are located, they can minimize the area that needs to be sprayed.

The National Pest Management Association released their "Bed Bug Best Management Practices" ^[13] in 2011 which outlines the minimum recommendations regarding not only treatment, but the certification and use of bed bug detection canines. The NPMA's Best Management Practices emphasizes the importance of having bed bug detection dog teams certified by third party organizations who are not affiliated to the trainer or company that sold the canine.

Scientists at the University of Kentucky reviewed studies on bed bug detection dogs and concluded that although expensive for operators, they're a reliable source as long as they undergo the proper training.^[14] In another study, detection dogs had a 97.5% correct positive indication rate on identifying bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) and their eggs – with zero false positives – all while accurately distinguishing them from carpenter ants, cockroaches, and termites. They also successfully differentiated live bed bugs and viable bed bug eggs from dead bed bugs, cast skins, and feces with a 95% correct positive indication rate.^[15]

Wildlife scat detection

Scat is abundant in the wild and contains valuable data.^[16][17] Wildlife scat detection represents a fairly non-invasive method of study for many species where previous live-capture once predominated. Compared with other methods of scat collection, dogs are able to survey larger areas in less time at decreased costs.^[18] Research shows that detection dogs can find laboratory rats and mice in a large rodent-free area of 32 hectares which is extremely large in size.^[19] Some specific types of feces that detection dogs have had success in identifying include killer whale feces,^[3]northern spotted owl pellets,^[20] and salamanders.^[21]

Criticism

A detection dog searches a car for explosives at a checkpoint in Washington, D.C.

Accuracy

Australia

In 2001, the Australian state of New South Wales introduced legislation that granted police with the power to use drug detection dogs without a warrant in public places such as licensed venues, music festivals, and public transport.^[22] The laws were repealed in 2005, and then reviewed in 2006 by the New South Wales Ombudsman, who handed down a critical report regarding the use of dogs for drug detection. The report stated that prohibited drugs were found in only 26% of searches following an indication by a drug sniffer dog. Of these, 84% were for small amounts of cannabis deemed for personal use. The report also found that the legislation was ineffective at detecting persons in supply of prohibited drugs, with only 0.19% of indications ultimately leading to a successful prosecution for supply.^[23][24]

United States

In 2011, the Chicago Tribune claimed that detection dogs responses are influenced by the biases and behaviors of their handlers, which can hinder accuracy.^[25] Another factor that affects accuracy is residual odors. Residual odors can linger even after illegal materials have been removed from a particular area, and can lead to negative detection alerts. Additionally, very few states have mandatory training, testing, or certification standards for detection dogs.^[25] This leaves people to question whether they're truly equipped to carry out searches.

Civil rights

Detection dogs give police the potential to conduct searches without cause, a manner that is unregulated.^[26][27] They're often accused of being motivated more by the state's desire to be seen doing something, than any serious attempt to respond to the dangers of drugs use.^[28] In June 2012, three Nevada Highway Patrol officers filed suit against Nevada's Director of Public Safety, alleging that he violated the police dog program by intentionally training canines to be "trick ponies" – to falsely alert based on cues from their handlers – so as to enable officers to conduct illegal searches of vehicles. The lawsuit claims that in doing so, he and other top Highway Patrol officers had violated the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.^[29]

In Norway, students were subjected to a drug search in their classroom by a detection dog. The students didn't have to be present in the room while the dogs searched; however, they were forced to answer questions by the police instead.^[30] An article in Tidsskrift for strafferett, Norway's journal of criminal law, claims that such searches breach Norwegian law.^[30]

See also

References

Further reading

• NPR's All Things Considered: Using Dogs to Sniff Out Bed Bugs
  


• Fox Philadelphia: "Bed Bug Dog and Bed Bug Control Experts discussing use of Bed Bug Dogs"

External links

• 
  Media related to Detection dogs at Wikimedia Commons