Selecting Dogs for Explosives Detection: Behavioral Characteristics

Abstract

Detection dogs are widely considered the most effective and adaptive method for explosives detection. Increases in emerging sophisticated threats are accelerating the demand for highly capable explosives detection, causing a strain on available supplies of quality canines worldwide. These strains are further compounded by rigorous behavioral standards required to meet mission-specific capabilities, leading to high rates of dogs disqualified from training or deployment. Ample research has explored the behavioral characteristics important for assistance, guide, and other traditional working roles, while those corresponding to more specialized tasks such as detection of explosives are not as well-understood. In this review we aim to identify the behavioral characteristics important for operational tasks of explosives detection dogs, contrasting with that of other working roles and highlighting key differences between explosives and other types of detection dogs. Further, we review the available research on methods for assessing and selecting candidate detection dogs and make recommendations for future directions and applications to the industry. Improvements and standardization in assessment technology allowing for the identification and enhancement of behavioral characteristics will be key to advancing canine detection technology in general.

Validation of a Behavior Test for Predicting Puppies’ Suitability as Detection Dogs

“…While questionnaire assessments can be a cost-effective and efficient way of evaluating canine behavior, accurate scoring depends on familiarity with the dog in a variety of situations. Thus, questionnaires may not be feasible during procurements performed by unfamiliar individuals, and if reported by the dog’s owner/trainer, requires the reporting to be honest and accurate [ 3 , 10 ].…”

“…While independence is generally considered to be important to a detection dog’s ability to work autonomously without influence from or dependence on the handler [ 34 , 48 ], this measure was added to the evaluation to capture dogs’ cooperativeness. For example, dogs need to be responsive to handler commands, and a willingness to cooperate is considered to reflect trainability [ 3 ]. We recently reported that dogs that make eye contact with the handler during an unsolvable task, interpreted as a communicative signal, are more likely to be selected for a future detection role [ 49 ].…”

“…Widespread recognition of detection dogs’ efficacy, along with rising threats to global and homeland security, have led to an increase in their demand and a strain on the availability of dogs capable of performing such tasks [ 2 ]. The challenge in meeting this demand is further compounded by the rigorous behavioral standards required of an operational detection dog, resulting in high rates of attrition from training programs or early discharge from deployment [ 3 , 4 , 5 ].…”

“…While there is some overlap in desirable behavioral characteristics across different types of working dogs, the constellation of critical behavioral traits of a successful single-purpose detection dog is likely unique [ 11 ]. For example, while lack of fearfulness and high trainability are important traits for most working dogs, detection dogs are also required to exhibit a strong intrinsic desire to hunt and work independently in a variety of dynamic environments [ 3 ].…”

Training with Multiple Structurally Related Odorants Fails to Improve Generalization of Ammonium Nitrate Detection in Domesticated Dogs (Canis familiaris)

“…However, this observation supports previous research suggesting a complex interaction between temperament and problem-solving ability [ 29 ]. These and other behavioral factors should be considered when selecting dogs for olfactory learning research as well as selecting breeds for scent detection roles [ 30 , 31 ].…”