FAQ |
What kind of dog makes the best scent dog?
Most of FSI's termite, mold and bed bug dogs and some of our narcotics, bomb, cadaver, tracking and arson dogs come from shelters or rescue organizations. It is amazing and sad to see the number of dogs that wind up in shelters. These dogs appreciate a second chance and most of them will work hard for a little heart felt appreciation as part of their reward. There is a minority of dogs that simply aren't cut out for this kind of work, however - this is not easy work for a dog. It's not due to the lack of registration papers or lineage; there are a lot of pedigreed dogs that aren't cut out for this, either. Through experience, we've learned what characteristics are desirable for a scent dog and what others should be avoided. Due to the ease of maneuvering them through a house, we try to stick with the smaller breeds, such as Terriers, Beagles, etc. for termite dogs, mold dogs and bed bug dogs. Some Border Collies, Labs and others work well also. We train Border Collies, Malinois, Shepards, Labs and others for drug dogs, bomb dogs, cadaver dogs, tracking dogs and arson dogs. You may have heard that Shepards or Malinois are the best choice for narcotics detection or only Bloodhounds are good at man trailing and other such unfounded statements. We have not found that a certain breed has a monopoly on scent work; being a good scent dog has more to do with a dog’s drive and the quality of training than its lineage. Most any physically normal dog has an olfactory sense capable of performing scent detection and discrimination. However, just as with people, some dogs have drive and some don't. Back to Top How long does it take to train a dog? The dogs spend 3 to 6 months in training before being matched with a handler. The length of time a dog spends in training depends on its personality, trainability and how quickly it advances through the various training stages. We work to produce solid, well trained scent dogs not beat the clock. The handler and dog then go through what we call the “finish class” as a team. In the finish class handlers learns how to handle a scent detection dog to achieve and maintain the highest possible proficiency level at locating target odors. Handlers learn what to do and what not to do to maintain the canine’s performance at peak proficiency. The class also includes a primer in basic first aid and how to properly care for a working dog. Most of all however, we teach people how to speak a little “dog”. Back to Top How are the dogs trained? It would require a book and accompanying videos to accurately explain the whole process (something we are working on, by the way). In short, we use a unique and revolutionary method of dog training called Basic Instinct Training or B.I.T. for short. B.I.T. is a proprietary method of dog training that employs the dog’s natural instincts and drives, channeling the dog’s genetic programming to hunt, track and stalk prey. Every detector dog trained at FSI, whether it’s for termites, bed bugs, explosives, arson, tracking, narcotics, cadaver or mold detection is trained with this exclusive and revolutionary method of dog training. B.I.T. was developed through years of experimentation, observation and experience and through consultation with leading canine behavioral experts like Dr. Larry Myers at Auburn University . B.I.T. is based on positive reinforcement and operant conditioning in an extraordinary mix. Because of its emphasis on positive reinforcement, B.I.T. produces top quality work dogs that are highly motivated, excited and enthusiastic about scent work. One of FSI’s secrets to success is that we consider a proper relationship between the dog and handler crucial. That relationship must include effective two way communication, in other words the handler must be able to “read” the dog. In order to have a great scent detection K9 team, you must have teamwork; therefore, the dog and handler must be trained. We know how to train handlers and how to teach you to get the best from a scent dog. Back to Top How do you know when the dog finds something? We teach the passive alert which means that the dog sitting when it recognizes a target odor and identifies its source. The dog then points directly at the source of the odor with their nose. The passive alert helps reduce the possibility of scratched or damaged home furnishings or vehicle finishes from a dog digging, scratching or biting at a piece of furniture or wall as a part of its alert. We use this type of alert for all our scent dogs. Back to Top How accurate are they? In accelerant detection, a well trained dog will increase the percentage of "hot" fire debris samples collected by as much as twice or more. An investigator who uses a dog to locate the best place for a sample in a burned vehicle or structure does so without guesswork. Dogs also reduce the number of samples required by quickly identifying the area most likely to produce a hot sample. In addition, dogs can be very effective as a deterrent to would be arsonists. Narcotics dogs can make the difference between being able to establish probable cause to search a vehicle and having to let illegal narcotics and drug money get by. These dogs find trace amounts of narcotics and paraphernalia that would be missed by many humans and they can identify money used in the drug trade. They save time and money in searching vehicles or structures because they quickly identify the areas where the odor of narcotics is present and eliminate areas that are clear. This helps officers focus resources on the right vehicles or areas, rather than searching places that will not be productive. In the post 9/11 world explosives dogs are proving themselves invaluable in the fight against smuggled weapons and explosives. They can alert to trace amounts of explosive substances in or on vehicles, luggage, structures, on persons and in most any other circumstance where explosives may be hidden. The dog's ability to find such small and invisible amounts of explosives can help the humans charged with public safety to safely identify packages, vehicles, persons or areas of structures that represent a threat. In termite detection, properly trained canines teams are two to three times better than human inspectors according to published research. Even the best termite inspector can't see through walls. But a dog doesn't need to, he can smell through the wall and detect termites before they have time to do so much damage to a structure that it can be visually detected by a human. Dogs don’t need to see termites; they can smell them, through drywall, concrete, paneling and most any other common building material. FSI trains its termite dogs to discriminate between live, active termite infestations and old, abandoned termite damage. Some trainers say that dogs can’t be taught to recognize the difference between abandoned damage and live termites. Well, maybe the trainers who say this can’t teach dogs to differentiate, but FSI can and does. FSI has termite dogs working in the field from to Puerto Rico and from California to North Carolina . These guys prove daily that a termite dog is the best termite finding and business building tool on the market today. Mold dogs, like their peers in explosives, narcotics and termite detection can find their target odor in situations and quantities that would be missed by a human inspector. In many cases mold infestations begin to form behind walls or other barriers, causing them to be hidden from a visual inspection for extended periods of time, all the while the occupants of a house or building are breathing the potentially harmful mold spores and off gases. Dogs have such a keen sense of smell however that they can smell mold behind walls before it develops into a health threatening infestation. How ‘bout them bed bug dogs? FSI’s bed bug dogs are taking the pest detection industry by storm. A few years ago, bed bugs were considered an urban myth. Today, litigation related to bed bug bites is almost as common as slip and fall cases. Huge sums of money changes hands because some unsuspecting person suffered numerous bed bug bites in a hotel or resort while they slept. FSI’s bed bug dogs are helping to detect live bed bugs before the infestations reach such numbers that they present a legal problem. As with our termite dogs, we teach our bed bug dogs to search for the odor of live bed bugs. Some trainers are using shed exoskeletons as a target odor; we think this is a mistake (of course these guys charge a lot more than we do for a dog too, so that’s not the only difference). Using exoskeletons for training limits a dog’s ability to help evaluate the effectiveness of treatments for bed bugs since bed bugs shed several exoskeletons during their life span and these sheds remain in cracks and crevices for many months after shedding. Before undertaking a bed bug dog training program, FSI consulted with several leading entomology experts. All agreed that bed bug dogs should be trained to key on live bed bugs – not sheds. We realize the risks associated with handling live bed bugs, but if you want first rate quality, you have to do what it takes. FSI also trains dogs for cadaver, tracking, search and rescue, suspect discrimination and other endeavors. If you need to find something, we can probably train a dog to help you. Back to Top Can the dog stay at my house and be a pet when it isn't working? The dog can live with your family and certainly can be a pet when not working. While it is not necessary for success, we encourage this type of living arrangement for the dogs. As long as you maintain a proper relationship as we teach in the finish class, the dog can live at your house and be a part of your family. Back to Top Can my dog be trained? We may be able to train your dog - however we encourage you to choose from the dogs we have available or let us find you a dog if you have a preference as to breed, size, etc. Over the years, we’ve learned what characteristics to look for in a scent dog (and what to avoid) and we may save you and us a lot of time and trouble by getting the right dog to start with. Back to Top Is the trainer certified? Yes - David holds Detector Dog Trainer Certification from IFRI (International Forensic Research Inst.) and NFSTC ( National Forensic Science Technology Center ). This program is a joint project of IFRI, NFSTC, the Florida Highway Patrol Contraband Interdiction Program, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and other partners. David also holds a Master Canine trainer certification from WDDO (World Detector Dog Organization). Back to Top Are the dogs certified? The term “certified dog” is somewhat misleading – there really is no such thing. Only teams consisting of a person and a properly trained canine are “certified”. A dog, even a well trained and experienced one, is only part of an effective scent detection team. The human handler is just as important as a member of that team. A poorly trained and/or poorly motivated handler will cause even a great dog to work at a level somewhere below its potential. FSI only certifies dogs and handlers as a team and why we will not sell a scent dog (of any discipline) unless the new handler participates in one of our finish classes. During the finish class, the dog and the handler will be tested in accordance with WDDO and FSI K9 Academy approved standards. Successful candidates will be issued a certificate of achievement upon successful completion of this test. There are many canine teams in the field that never perform to the level required to attain WDDO certification. Depending on the target substance participation in the testing program may not be required; however we encourage you to set yourself apart from the crowd by showing that you and your dog, as a team, have the right stuff. David is the founding president of WDDO and serves as its current president. WDDO was founded to help scent detection canine trainers and handlers improve in their chosen profession. WDDO membership includes several professional trainers who aside from the competitive atmosphere of the scent dog business, work together to formulate testing and proofing procedures that help the experienced handler as well as those new to canine scent detection improve their skills and reliability. You can visit the WDDO web site at www.wddo.org for more information. Back to Top How do I get started and how much does this cost? You will need to travel to our facility near Birmingham, Alabama for the finish class. During this class you will work with many different dogs, including your new canine. You will, using trained dogs, search for explosives, narcotics, accelerants, weapons and other substances while you learn how to properly handle a scent detection canine. For pricing information on your specific needs, give us a call at (205) 966-8739 Back to Top |
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