Dog Sniffers- How They are Trained

Sniffer dogs, also known as detection dogs, play a key role in society. They are the weapon that sniffs out everything from drugs to food and even illnesses. There is a long list of things these trained dogs can detect which include explosives, human remains, mold, invasive species, and wildlife scat. Prisons have jumped on board and use sniffer dogs to detect contraband to search visitors and inmates. These hard-working animals use their most powerful tool, their nose. Dogs sense of smell is strong and because of this, and their ability to be trained, dogs make the perfect animal to have. Dogs have been used as hunting guides and retrievers for hundreds of years, so why not expand their talent to other aspects of life.

Let the Training Begin

As fabulous as this is, I’ve always wondered how they train these dogs. My main thought was how they train police drug dogs. When most people hear the words ‘dog sniffer’ they think of law enforcement or drug dogs, that is pretty common. But how does it work? Some people think the dogs want the drugs because they're addicted to the drugs. But that’s not it, that would be horrible. It works in the way of the dog looking for their “favorite toy.” Police dogs are trained with a towel. It’s a popular item used by handlers. The handler plays tug-of-war with the dog using the towel. The important thing is the towel is carefully washed so that it has absolutely no scent the dog can pick up. Later, after playing with the towel for a while, a bag of drugs is rolled up inside it. Over time, the dog recognizes the smell of the drug, like marijuana, as their favorite toy. The dog in no way consumes the drugs or form a drug habit. The handler will hide the drug-filled towel in various places for the dog to sniff out, the dog will soon associate the finding of the towel to a reward of a game of tug-of-war. Over time, different drugs will be placed in the towel until the dog is able to sniff out a wide range of illegal substances.

But before any of this training can begin, you need to find the right dog. Any dog can be trained to be sniffer dog, whether it’s for drugs, cancer, or bed bugs, but some breeds have a better sense of smell than others. Some popular dogs are the beagle, Belgian Malinois, border collie, and bloodhound. After a suitable dog is chosen, the training begins.

Dog Grooming in Abilene

These handlers and canines work very hard and put their life on the line to serve the people of America. Dog sniffers work in a range of operations and assignments, and after all that hard work, they deserve to be pampered by a professional groomer. Our staff at Diamonds in the Ruff is here to give your partner a day of relaxation and a professional cut that is matched to their breed. Contact us at 325-695-2931 or visit us at www.diamondsintheruffpetboarding.com to schedule your appointment with a dog groomer in Abilene.