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ORLANDO, Fla. Under the watchful eye of their trainer, two diminutive beagles are working their way past suitcases randomly laced with beef, pork, apples, citrus and mangoes.
Trainers look for a physically healthy dog with a strong desire to hunt and retrieve objects and then seek to channel that desire. Many programs prefer traditional police dogs or retrievers and sporting breeds, although mutts and Jack Russell terriers, as well as beagles, are also used.
Despite the growth in number and applications of dogs for detection work, little research has been conducted into their capabilities and olfactory processes. Even less is understood about the complex dance of dog and handler, although that dynamic can have a profound affect on success rates, Dr. Myers said. Continue reading Govt. scent detection dogs