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Law Enforcement Canine

SCENT K9’s Reason for Being

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INTRODUCTION

It is common knowledge dogs can follow a scent trail undetectable to humans. However, a problem arises when we try to bring this information before a court of law. Courts should not accept evidence that may be based upon unreliable information. We must be able to describe the dog’s ability in specific factual terms to be acceptable. At a minimum, every handler must qualify as an expert witness in the use of his or her dog, otherwise tracking evidence testimony will inadmissible. Beyond courtroom purposes it is helpful to understand what the dog does when managing scent or odor. The dog is unable to tell us what he or she perceives so we are left to examine whatever evidence we find. The goal of this class is to help you understand and apply the evidence. Thoughtful application of this material will improve your training and handling. Understanding the dog’s ability, and what scent is,...

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Scent as Forensic Evidence and its Relationship to the Law Enforcement Canine

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Law enforcement agencies around the country use specially trained dogs for a variety of purposes. The primary reason is that they are cost-effective means for crime control (O’block, Doeren, & True, 1979; Lilly & Puckett, 1997). At this time, dogs still possess abilities that far exceed that of existing technology. Unfortunately, empirical evidence documenting how the canine utilizes his amazing olfactory skills is far from complete and little scientific testing of law enforcement canines has been conducted (Department of the Treasury, 1993). Only through a review of the literature in a range of law enforcement functions can even a fuzzy picture of the nature of scent, as a form of forensic evidence be perceived. This review of the literature attempts to link the commonalities found in research of different disciplines and form a better understanding scent that will drive future research. ORIGIN OF SCENT
Man has utilized the scenting power of dogs for thousands of years (Chapman, 1990). The ability of dogs (Canis familiaris) to detect human...

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Theory Of Scent – The K9 Olfactory System

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Under ideal conditions, a track footprints) across a nice grassy field with a sufficient delay in time to allow bacteria reaction on the soil causing a good odor is probably the best type of track to have. The problem, however, is how to keep this track from being contaminated by another human beings track—particularly in the city with its large population. Don’t misunderstand, it is important that your canine understand and be able to discern “vegetative scent” along with the more important human (raft) scent, but only as a back up or affirmation of the sometimes elusive raft scent you wish him to follow. As mentioned before, a true trailing canine will use both types of scent, depending upon the conditions in existence at the time. He may be following a raft scent until he comes to a roadway where he suddenly loses it. Tn searching for the rafts he...

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