The analysis of textiles associated with decomposing remains as a natural training aid for cadaver-detection dogs

Nizio, Katie D.; Ueland, Maiken; Stuart, Barbara H.; Forbes, Shari L.

doi:10.1016/j.forc.2017.06.002

Cited by 29 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…As far as the authors know, no publication comparing the efficiency of various training aids on dogs’ performances is available. So far, scientists seem to agree that the biological aids are the most efficient and reliable ones that can be used to train HRDDs [ 4 , 89 ]. However, biological materials are difficult to obtain due to ethics, legislation, and biohazard risk for both human and dogs [ 5 , 27 , 71 ].…”

Section: Training Of Human Remains Detection Dogsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dogs must be able to recognize a wide range of chemical compounds associated to cadavers that may be fresh or putrefied, entire or torn into pieces, buried or placed under open sky [ 71 ]. Gravesoil and cadavers’ clothes seem to be among the most representative sources of the smell of a decaying corpse, because they accumulate fluids and are imbued by cadaveric odors [ 4 , 90 ]. When they use cadaver clothes, handlers must pay attention to choose cotton clothes, because cotton better adsorbs cadaveric VOCs than composite tissues.…”

Section: Training Of Human Remains Detection Dogsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When they use cadaver clothes, handlers must pay attention to choose cotton clothes, because cotton better adsorbs cadaveric VOCs than composite tissues. Moreover, even if the clothes accumulate the odor released during the decomposition process, it is hardly recommended that the handler uses textiles associated with a different post-mortem interval to present to the dogs an overview of the different situation that can be met [ 4 ]. Regarding gravesoil as training aids, one should pay attention to use a control soil to avoid the dog to be trained on non-targeted chemical substances (related to soil, and not to a cadaver) [ 90 ].…”

Section: Training Of Human Remains Detection Dogsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to be called cadaver dogs, HRDDs are most likely less known than other categories of working scent-detection dogs such as explosive or drug detection dogs. However, they are used by law enforcements in many contexts including homicides, as well as natural and manmade disasters to search for human cadavers, body parts, or fluids [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. These activities are usually gathered under the term necrosearch [ 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, a decaying corpse typically goes through five stages of decomposition respectively named fresh, bloated, active decay, advanced decay and dry remains, all characterized by different blends of volatile compounds [ 28 , 34 , 41 ]. As a result, the volatile chemical cues released during the decomposition process differ greatly from one case to another [ 4 , 28 , 34 , 36 , 38 , 42 ], making it difficult to provide HRDDs’ handlers with training aids mimicking human decomposition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cadaver Dogs and the Deathly Hallows—A Survey and Literature Review on Selection and Training Procedure

Martin

Diederich

Verheggen

2020

Animals

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Human remains detection dogs (HRDDs) are powerful police assets to locate a corpse. However, the methods used to select and train them are as diverse as the number of countries with such a canine brigade. First, a survey sent to human remains searching brigades (Ncountries = 10; NBrigades = 16; NHandlers = 50; Nquestions = 9), to collect their working habits confirmed the lack of optimized selection and training procedures. Second, a literature review was performed in order to outline the strengths and shortcomings of HRDDs training. A comparison between the scientific knowledge and the common practices used by HRDDs brigade was then conducted focusing on HRDDs selection and training procedures. We highlighted that HRDD handlers select their dogs by focusing on behavioral traits while neglecting anatomical features, which have been shown to be important. Most HRDD handlers reported to use a reward-based training, which is in accordance with training literature for dogs. Training aids should be representative of the odor target to allow a dog to reach optimal performances. The survey highlighted the wide diversity of homemade training aids, and the need to optimize their composition. In the present document, key research topics to improve HRDD works are also provided.

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Section: Training Of Human Remains Detection Dogsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Training Of Human Remains Detection Dogsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Training Of Human Remains Detection Dogsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cadaver Dogs and the Deathly Hallows—A Survey and Literature Review on Selection and Training Procedure

Martin

Diederich

Verheggen

2020

Animals

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Cadaver‐detection dogs: A review of their capabilities and the volatile organic compound profile of their associated training aids

Dargan

Forbes

2020

WIREs Forensic Science

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Cadaver‐detection dogs (CDDs) are an essential tool for the search and detection of human remains. In order to enhance their search capability, CDDs are regularly trained on natural and synthetic training aids. The odor profile of these training aids comprises a range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which is intended to resemble those produced by a decomposing body. It is currently unknown if detector dogs respond to the same stimuli and whether it is a specific VOC or a suite of decomposition‐related VOCs as their target odor. This review summarizes the VOCs that have been detected in various CDD training aids such as blood, human remains, decomposition fluid, soil, buried remains, textile, and synthetic formulations. Additionally, it discusses the reported capability of CDDs to respond to each of these training aids. The purpose of this review is to understand the variability of VOCs in CDD training aids and the response of CDDs to this wide range of compounds. Additionally, this review attempts to determine if there is a specific training aid to which CDDs respond preferentially. Such a review will assist to establish better practices for CDD training since no standardized practices exist globally. This article is categorized under: Crime Scene Investigation > Special Situations and Investigations Forensic Anthropology > Taphonomic Changes and the Environment Forensic Medicine > Death Scene Investigation

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Time Since Death in Bioarchaeology and Human Osteology

Forbes

Ueland

2020

Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology

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The analysis of textiles associated with decomposing remains as a natural training aid for cadaver-detection dogs

Abstract: Title The analysis of textiles associated with decomposing remains as a natural training aid for cadaver-detection dogs Short title Analysis of textiles associated with decomposing remains Article type Full Length Article

Cited by 29 publications

References 62 publications

Cadaver Dogs and the Deathly Hallows—A Survey and Literature Review on Selection and Training Procedure

Cadaver Dogs and the Deathly Hallows—A Survey and Literature Review on Selection and Training Procedure

Cadaver‐detection dogs: A review of their capabilities and the volatile organic compound profile of their associated training aids

Time Since Death in Bioarchaeology and Human Osteology

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