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Search Training

The forensic search dog is one that is specifically trained to indicate a scent source as being from decomposed human tissue and also trained to exclude any other scent source. The forensic search dog is also trained to alert on residual scent along with other faint scent sources like dried blood.

How our K9's are selected:

We look for puppies/dogs that have a good drive, i.e., retrieve and bring back, enjoy working, etc. We want our dogs to be confident and not dog or people aggressive. We look for a willing and good attitude and no aversion to the human remains scent. From that point we begin our training. While a good search dog is not necessarily breed specific, we find that dogs with a working line such as German Shepherds, Labradors, etc. seem to excel in this area.

All dogs that meet the initial criteria then go on to more formal training. They are evaluated by our team trainer to see if they would be a good candidate at that time. If the trainer feels they initially have what is needed, they must all complete basic and avanced obedience, have off leash and hand signal control. After they complete these requirements they are then given the Canine Good Citizen test which shows whether they have a stable temperament in a variety of situations. All dogs must complete these steps before they are even considered for placement on the team.

Scent work is then introduced starting with simple scenarios and increasing to more difficult ones. If the dogs shows drive and a willingness in these phases it will be continued with it's training for approximately six months before an adequate evaluation can be made. Those dogs that lack the iniative or incentive to work on a consistent basis are then dropped from the team. The dogs that continue to do well go on in their training to their Human Remains Detection certification. Training is then continued weekly for the lifetime of the dog while on the team. All dogs are privately owned by their handlers and a strong commitment by both is required.


Our canines have been trained to:

  • Detect residual human remains (e.g., can place remains at an original location while the actual remains are not present.
  • Detect hanging cadaver scent.
  • Detect Residual blood (e.g., carpet or walls being cleaned and not detectable to the human eye).
  • Detect buried human remains (entire body, or partial remains).

The canine is worked on human remains scent under controlled conditions:

1. Scent Imprinting: Scent is introduced to the dog and the dog is rewarded for recognizing and differentiating this scent from others. This stage is worked through repetition until there is a definite commitment to the scent. This could take anywhere from 1-2 months


2. Scent Commitment: This exercise is the same for scent imprinting with the exception that when the dog shows interest at the “source”, the handler will remain quiet until the dog lifts its head. The handler will ask the dog to “show me” and the dog will put its nose down again at the source.

 


 3. Command Introduction: The dog will be taught a “cue” word to start an exercise.







4. Introduction to trained alert: Once the dog is going to scent and committing to the source with a “show me” command, the dog is then given a trained alert command (sit, down, speak, etc.).








When the dog is consistent and trustworthy with it's alerts, training situations are continually made more difficult to simulate actual forensics/recovery circumstances, i.e., open fields, heavily wooded areas, waterfront, etc. are incorporated into the search scenarios. Buried sources are made deeper and deeper, hanging cadaver scent is used, decoy "grave sites", vehicles and objects, including garbage, are put in the dogs path to teach them to ignore anything that does not contain the scent they are trained to look for.