Post by Paul on Dec 18, 2004 11:04:28 GMT 9.5
DETECTOR DOGS
I am constantly amazed at the dogs scenting ability. Even your own pet dog has extensive capabilities which for the most part are untrained.
Little Boot and his tennis balls are a classic example. It doesn't matter where I hide his favorite ball he can find it within seconds. Separating the smell of his ball from all the other odours which could include cooking, cigarette smoke, body perspiration, fruit, freshly brewed coffee and many others, he is able to home-in on his target with 100 percent accuracy. The area of search doesn't just include the house, but the whole of a very large back garden as well. On the request, "Where's your ball?", his little nose twitching, he commences a rapid sweeping search which comes to the ultimate conclusion moments later. Boot's success at finding tennis balls is play to him but until those balls become a prohibited item or substance, he is not providing a service to mankind.
Australia has a large coastline which encompasses some of the most unique flora and fauna in the world. Even in these days of rapid transport it remains relatively free of pests and disease that affect other parts of the planet. The large coastline and the remoteness of a vast interior appears to make Australia an easy target for those wishing to smuggle contraband in and illicit cargo out of the country.
The Australian Customs Service is the first line of defense and they are most ably assisted by the handlers and dogs of the Detector Dog Unit. From small beginnings in Sydney with just two dogs in 1969 the Unit has grown to encompass all entry points into Australia.
The Dogs.
There is no specifically preferred breed of dog all though the Customs Service does have leaning toward medium to large sized animals of the sporting or working breeds. This is especially so when the dogs are involved in the searches of cargo ships, to expect a small lazy breed of dog to have sufficient energy to engage in a search that could last as long as eight hours would be unrealistic.
However, do not rule out the small cute dog. When at an airport or an ocean terminal, if you find one of these dogs sitting passively by your bags or person, consider yourself to be in trouble.
Most of the Customs Officer's work is away from public view, the larger boisterous cargo, postal, luggage searching dogs are rarely seen, but the lovable pooches who amble amiably through the public areas of terminals have noses as equally effective as their larger counter- parts. Their small size and friendly looks pose no apparent threat to the public, unless of course, they are concealing illegal substances.
Training.
It's amazing how many people believe that Detector Dogs are actually administered drugs or are rewarded with drugs for their finds. Nothing could be further from the truth. The dogs are trained with a great deal of kindness and the training is in actual fact a game, a game that will continue for the whole of their working life.
The average family dog would only get to actually play for half an hour to an hour a day. Detector dogs play for the whole of their working day seeking only praise and reward from their handlers.
The training tool is a rolled length of towelling which is secured by tape. The towelling is kept overnight in a safe together with a drug which impregnates the towelling with its odour. The handler standing up-wind from their dog throws the towel toward the dog encouraging them to retrieve it. When the dog retrieves the towel the handler rewards it with a game of tug-of war and much praise. The dog soon learns to associate the smell of a drug with a happy game and lots of praise.
Within 12 weeks of the commencement of training, the dog will be able to detect the odour of heroin, cocaine, marijuana, cannabis resin, hashish and amphetamines.
Training completed, dog and handlers prepare to do battle against the devious criminals who would flood our society with illegal drugs.
continued......
I am constantly amazed at the dogs scenting ability. Even your own pet dog has extensive capabilities which for the most part are untrained.
Little Boot and his tennis balls are a classic example. It doesn't matter where I hide his favorite ball he can find it within seconds. Separating the smell of his ball from all the other odours which could include cooking, cigarette smoke, body perspiration, fruit, freshly brewed coffee and many others, he is able to home-in on his target with 100 percent accuracy. The area of search doesn't just include the house, but the whole of a very large back garden as well. On the request, "Where's your ball?", his little nose twitching, he commences a rapid sweeping search which comes to the ultimate conclusion moments later. Boot's success at finding tennis balls is play to him but until those balls become a prohibited item or substance, he is not providing a service to mankind.
Australia has a large coastline which encompasses some of the most unique flora and fauna in the world. Even in these days of rapid transport it remains relatively free of pests and disease that affect other parts of the planet. The large coastline and the remoteness of a vast interior appears to make Australia an easy target for those wishing to smuggle contraband in and illicit cargo out of the country.
The Australian Customs Service is the first line of defense and they are most ably assisted by the handlers and dogs of the Detector Dog Unit. From small beginnings in Sydney with just two dogs in 1969 the Unit has grown to encompass all entry points into Australia.
The Dogs.
There is no specifically preferred breed of dog all though the Customs Service does have leaning toward medium to large sized animals of the sporting or working breeds. This is especially so when the dogs are involved in the searches of cargo ships, to expect a small lazy breed of dog to have sufficient energy to engage in a search that could last as long as eight hours would be unrealistic.
However, do not rule out the small cute dog. When at an airport or an ocean terminal, if you find one of these dogs sitting passively by your bags or person, consider yourself to be in trouble.
Most of the Customs Officer's work is away from public view, the larger boisterous cargo, postal, luggage searching dogs are rarely seen, but the lovable pooches who amble amiably through the public areas of terminals have noses as equally effective as their larger counter- parts. Their small size and friendly looks pose no apparent threat to the public, unless of course, they are concealing illegal substances.
Training.
It's amazing how many people believe that Detector Dogs are actually administered drugs or are rewarded with drugs for their finds. Nothing could be further from the truth. The dogs are trained with a great deal of kindness and the training is in actual fact a game, a game that will continue for the whole of their working life.
The average family dog would only get to actually play for half an hour to an hour a day. Detector dogs play for the whole of their working day seeking only praise and reward from their handlers.
The training tool is a rolled length of towelling which is secured by tape. The towelling is kept overnight in a safe together with a drug which impregnates the towelling with its odour. The handler standing up-wind from their dog throws the towel toward the dog encouraging them to retrieve it. When the dog retrieves the towel the handler rewards it with a game of tug-of war and much praise. The dog soon learns to associate the smell of a drug with a happy game and lots of praise.
Within 12 weeks of the commencement of training, the dog will be able to detect the odour of heroin, cocaine, marijuana, cannabis resin, hashish and amphetamines.
Training completed, dog and handlers prepare to do battle against the devious criminals who would flood our society with illegal drugs.
continued......
