Abstract
A critical challenge to the canine detection industry is the identification of dogs with behavioral characteristics capable of fulfilling operational functions. This challenge is largely due to a lack of empirical evidence regarding the particular behavioral traits associated with long-term success in scent detection disciplines as well as reliable methods for identifying dogs possessing those traits. This chapter reviews behavioral characteristics universal to a range of detection tasks, highlighting aspects that may be unique to particular disciplines. We also discuss methods used to evaluate and select dogs for detection tasks, and make recommendations for future research needed to improve the selection process.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Angle TC, Passler T, Waggoner PL, Fischer TD, Rogers B, Galik PK, Maxwell HS (2016) Real-Time detection of a virus using detection dogs. Front VetY Sci 2:1–6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2015.00079
Beebe SC, Howell TJ, Bennett PC (2016) Using scent detection dogs in conservation settings: a review of scientific literature regarding their selection. Front VetY Sci 3:96. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2016.00096
Brady K, Cracknell N, Zulch H, Mills DS (2018a) Factors associated with long-term success in working police dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 207:67–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2018.07.003
Brady K, Cracknell N, Zulch H, Mills DS (2018b) A Systematic review of the reliability and validity of behavioural tests used to assess behavioural characteristics important in working dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 5:103. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00103
Brownell DA, Marsolais M (2000) The Brownell-Marsolais scale: a proposal for the qualitative evaluation of SAR/disaster K9 candidates. Adv Rescue Technol 5:57–67
Burghardt WF (2003) Behavioral considerations in the management of working dogs. VetY Clin: Small Anim Pract 33:417–446
Byosiere S-E, Feng LC, Rutter NJ (2019) Factors That May Affect the Success of Scent Detection Dogs: Exploring Nonconventional Models of Preparation and Deployment. Comp. Cogn. & Behav. Rev. 14
Cablk ME, Heaton JS, Cablk1 ’ ME, Heaton2 JS (2006) Accuracy and Reliability of Dogs in Surveying for Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). Source: Ecol Appl Ecol Appl 16:1926–1935. https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(2006)016[1926:AARODI]2.0.CO;2
Cecil L (2015) Drive: Where it came from. Where it’s gone to. What now? 25
Čejka T, Thomas PW, Oliach D, Stobbe U, Egli S, Tegel W, Centenaro G, Sproll L, Bagi I, Trnka M, Büntgen U (2022) Understanding the performance of truffle dogs. J VetY Behav 52–53:8–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2022.04.002
DeMatteo KE, Davenport B, Wilson LE (2019) Back to the basics with conservation detection dogs: fundamentals for success. Wildlife Biology. https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00584
DeRosa AJ (2019) The difference between a deutsch-drahthaar and a german wirehaired pointer. In: Project Upland. https://projectupland.com/hunting-dogs/the-difference-between-a-deutsch-drahthaar-and-a-german-wirehaired-pointer-2/. Accessed 19 Dec 2022
Dollion N, Paulus A, Champagne N, St-Pierre N, St-Pierre É, Trudel M, Plusquellec P (2019) Fear/Reactivity in working dogs: An analysis of 37 years of behavioural data from the Mira Foundation’s future service dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 221:104864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2019.104864
Gácsi M, McGreevy P, Kara E, Miklósi A (2009) Effects of selection for cooperation and attention in dogs. Behavioral and Brain Functions : BBF 5:31. https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-9081-5-31
Gadbois S, Reeve C (2016) The semiotic canine: Scent processing dogs as research assistants in biomedical and environmental research. Dog Behavior 2:26–32. https://doi.org/10.4454/DB.V2I3.43
Ganitskaya YuV, Feoktistova NYu, Vasukov DD, Surov AV (2020) Some behavioral features required for the selection of detection dogs. Biol Bull Russ Acad Sci 47:501–505. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359020050039
Goddard ME, Beilharz RG (1984) A factor analysis of fearfulness in potential guide dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Sciencer Science 12:253–265. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01071933
Graham LT, Gosling SD (2009) Temperament and personality in working dogs. In: Helton WS (ed) Canine ergonomics: The science of working dogs. CRC Press/Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, pp 63–81
Haney PS, Wilborn RR (2021) Breeding program management. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice 51:891–904. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2021.04.007
Hare E, Joffe E, Wilson C, Serpell J, Otto CM (2021) Behavior traits associated with career outcome in a prison Puppy-Raising program. Appl Anim Behav Sci 105218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105218
Hare E, Kelsey KM, Serpell JA, Otto CM (2018) Behavior Differences Between Search-and-Rescue and Pet Dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 5:1–5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00118
Hsu Y, Serpell JA (2001) Development and validation of a novel method for evaluating behavior and temperament in guide dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 72:347–364. https://doi.org/10.1524/ncrs.2009.224.14.255
Jamieson LTJ, Baxter GS, Murray PJ (2017) Identifying suitable detection dogs. Applied Animal BehaviourScience 0–1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2017.06.010
Jones KE, Dashfield K, Downend AB, Otto CM (2004) Search-and-rescue dogs: An overview for veterinarians. J Am Vet Med Assoc 225:854–860
Kokocinska-Kusiak A, Woszczyło M, Zybala M, Maciocha J, Barłowska K, Dziecioł M (2011) Canine olfaction: physiology, behavior, and possibilities for practical applications. Int Libr Ethics, Law Technol 6:133–183. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1330-7_6
Krichbaum S, Lazarowski L (2022) Reward type affects dogs’ performance in the cylinder task. AB&C 9:287–297. https://doi.org/10.26451/abc.09.03.03.2022
Lazarowski L, Haney P, Brock J, Fischer T, Rogers B, Angle C, Katz J, Waggoner LP (2018) Investigation of the behavioral characteristics of dogs Purpose-Bred and prepared to perform vapor wake® detection of Person-Borne explosives. Front VetY Sci 5:50. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00050
Lazarowski L, Rogers B, Krichbaum S, Haney P, Smith JG, Waggoner P (2021a) Validation of a behavior test for predicting puppies ’ suitability as detection dogs. Animals
Lazarowski L, Rogers B, Waggoner LP, Katz JS (2019) When the nose knows: ontogenetic changes in detection dogs’ (Canis familiaris) responsiveness to social and olfactory cues. Anim Behav 153:61–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.05.002
Lazarowski L, Singletary M, Rogers B, Waggoner P (2021b) Development and training for working dogs. VetY Clin N Am—Small Anim Pract 51:921–931. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2021.04.009
Lazarowski L, Waggoner LP, Krichbaum S, Singletary M, Haney P, Rogers B, Angle C (2020) Selecting dogs for explosives detection : behavioral characteristics. Front VetY Sci 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00597
Lazarowski L, Waggoner P, Hutchings B, Angle C, Porritt F (2021c) Maintaining long-term odor memory and detection performance in dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 105301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105301
Leighton EA, Hare E, Waggoner LP, OttoCM, Thomas S (2018) A solution for the shortage of detection dogs: a detector dog center of excellence and a cooperative breeding program. Front VetY Sci 5:1–7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00284
MacLean E, Hare B (2018) Enhanced selection of assistance and explosive detection dogs using cognitive measures. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 5:236. https://doi.org/10.3389/FVETS.2018.00236
Maejima M, Inoue-Murayama M, Tonosaki K, Matsuura N, Kato S, Saito Y, Weiss A, Murayama Y, Ito S (2007) Traits and genotypes may predict the successful training of drug detection dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 107:287–298. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2006.10.005
Martin C, Diederich C, Verheggen C (2020) Cadaver Dogs and the Deathly Hallows—A Survey and literature review on selection and training procedure. Animals 10:1–19. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10071219
McGarrity ME, Sinn DL, Thomas SG, Marti CN, Gosling SD (2016) Comparing the predictive validity of behavioral codings and behavioral ratings in a working-dog breeding program. Appl Anim Behav Sci 179:82–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2016.03.013
Mehrkam LR, Hall NJ, Haitz C, Wynne CDL (2017). The Influence of Breed and Environmental Factors on Social and Solitary Play in Dogs (canis Lupus Familiaris ). https://doi.org/10.3758/s13420-017-0283-0
Morrill K, Hekman J, Li X, McClure J, Logan B, Goodman L, Gao M, Dong Y, Alonso M, Carmichael E, Snyder-Mackler N, Alonso J, Noh HJ, Johnson J, Koltookian M, Lieu C, Megquier K, Swofford R, Turner-Maier J, White ME, Weng Z, Colubri A, Genereux DP, Lord KA, Karlsson EK (2022) Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376:eabk0639. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abk0639
Oxley J, Waggoner LP (2009) Detection of explosives by dogs. In: Asp Explos Detect. pp 27–40
Polgar Z, Kinnunen M, Ujvary D, Miklosi A, Gacsi M (2016) A test of canine olfactory capacity: comparing various dog breeds and wolves in a natural detection task. PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154087
Porritt F, Shapiro M, Waggoner P, Mitchell E, Thomson T, Nicklin S, Kacelnik A (2015) Performance decline by search dogs in repetitive tasks, and mitigation strategies. Appl Anim Behav Sci 166:112–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2015.02.013
Raffan E, Dennis RJ, O’Donovan CJ, Becker JM, Scott RA, Smith SP, Withers DJ, Wood CJ, Conci E, Clements DN, Summers KM, German AJ, Mellersh CS, Arendt ML, Iyemere VP, Withers E, Söder J, Wernersson S, Andersson G, Lindblad-Toh K, Yeo GSH, O’Rahilly S (2016) A Deletion in the canine POMC gene is associated with weight and appetite in Obesity-Prone labrador retriever dogs. Cell Metab 23:893–900. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2016.04.012
Rooney N, Gaines S, Hiby E (2009) A practitioner’s guide to working dog welfare. J VetY Behav: Clin Appl Res 4:127–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2008.10.037
Rooney NJ, Bradshaw JWS, Almey H (2004) Attributes of specialist search dogs–a questionnaire survey of UK dog handlers and trainers. J Forensic Sci 49:300–306. https://doi.org/10.1520/JFS2003048
Rooney NJ, Clark CCA, Casey RA (2016) Minimizing fear and anxiety in working dogs: A review. J VetY Behav: Clin Appl Res 16:53–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2016.11.001
Schneider, M., Slotta-Bachmayr, L. (2009) Physical and mental stress of SAR dogs during search work. In: Canine Ergon: Sci Work Dogs. CRC Press/Taylor & Francis
Sherman BL, Gruen ME, Case BC, Foster ML, Fish RE, Lazarowski L, DePuy V, Dorman DC (2015) A test for the evaluation of emotional reactivity in Labrador retrievers used for explosives detection. J VetY Behav: Clin Appl Res 10:94–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2014.12.007
Sinn DL, Gosling SD, Hilliard S (2010) Personality and performance in military working dogs: Reliability and predictive validity of behavioral tests. Appl Anim Behav Sci 127:51–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2010.08.007
Spafford M (2019) Should you consider a flushing breed for your next bird dog? In: Project Upland. https://projectupland.com/hunting-dogs/should-you-consider-a-flushing-breed-for-your-next-bird-dog-2/. Accessed 15 Dec 2022
Tiira K (2019) Resilience in dogs? lessons from other species. VetY Med: Res Rep 10:159–168. https://doi.org/10.2147/vmrr.s189566
Troisi CA, Mills DS, Wilkinson A, Zulch HE (2019) Behavioral and cognitive factors that affect the success of scent detection dogs. Comp Cogn & Behav Rev 14:51–76. https://doi.org/10.3819/ccbr.2019.140007
Udell, M.A.R., Ewald, M., Dorey, N.R., Wynne CDL (2014) Exploring breed differences in dogs (Canis familiaris): does exaggeration or inhibition of predatory response predict performance on human-guided tasks? In: Animal Behaviour. Accessed 2 May 2014
Wilsson E, Sinn DL (2012) Are there differences between behavioral measurement methods? A comparison of the predictive validity of two ratings methods in a working dog program. Appl Anim Behav Sci 141:158–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2012.08.012
Wilsson E, Sundgren PE (1997) The use of a behaviour test for selection of dogs for service and breeding. II. Heritability for tested parameters and effect of selection based on service dog characteristics. Appl Anim Behav Sci 54:235–241. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(96)01175-6
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lazarowski, L., Rogers, B. (2023). Behavioral Characteristics Associated with Detection Dog Success. In: Lazarowski, L. (eds) Olfactory Research in Dogs. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39370-9_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39370-9_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-39369-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-39370-9
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)