Search dogs: description, history, features, types.

The category of wanted four-legged friends of man is rightfully considered one of the most valuable among service dogs. Bloodhounds are called upon to search for a person by his scent. They have such a developed sense of smell that they are able to follow a trail left several hours ago for tens of kilometers.

Detection dogs help in detaining violators, protecting them, and searching the territory in order to find a person or things belonging to him. In addition, bloodhounds are able to identify the wanted person by smell alone.

It is not for nothing that detection dogs are recognized as the most faithful assistants of those who guard the state border, serve in the internal troops and public order agencies.

Historical excursion

The potential of dogs to benefit investigative activities was first noted by the founder of forensic science, Hans Gross, in 1893. He wrote that with the use of four-legged animals, the trace of a person who has broken the law can be detected much faster, thanks to the special olfactory system of dogs.

The very first bloodhound schools were formed in Germany. About four hundred police departments across the country used specially trained dogs in the early nineteenth century. Such work to combat crime in the country was a success, as a result of which forensic departments in other countries became interested in trained dogs.

In Russia, four-legged friends began to be involved in maintaining law and order only at the end of the nineteenth century; at that time there was no unified coordination and a common system. In 1908, following the example of the Germans, the Society for the Use of Dogs in Police and Guard Service was formed, which was patronized by the royal family.

A dog kennel for the police, as well as a school for their handlers, was formed in St. Petersburg in 1909, and became the first such institutions in Russia. At that time, dogs of such breeds as the German Shepherd or Doberman were mainly involved in the government service.

The wars of the early twentieth century almost destroyed the developments in this area, so V.V. Yazykov, as a scientist, had to renew the system of breeding service dogs in general and training bloodhounds in particular. His activities marked the beginning of mass training of four-legged animals, with whose efforts it was subsequently possible to solve many cases and detain hundreds of criminals.

During the Patriotic War, at least 6,000 dogs were trained to detect mines; their contribution to the cause of victory became so significant that the Victory Parade on Red Square in 1945 was not complete without their participation. On it, soldiers with their faithful four-legged comrades marched behind shelves with military equipment.

Today, detection dogs work in customs, army, police, rescue services, and also search for drugs.

Characteristics

Search dogs are trained in a special way. The requirements for sniffer dogs are much higher than for other categories of dogs.

Bloodhounds are trained and acquire the necessary skills for about six months; mainly, special training centers are used for this. Instructors, i.e. Persons in charge of training sessions must have an excellent understanding of the theory of the basics of dog training and have sufficient practical experience in the training and use of detection dogs.

In order to master the profession of a trainer of such dogs, you need to love them, know canine training, have perseverance and determination in achieving your goals, have sufficient physical fitness, endurance, and have the skills to navigate the terrain at any time of the day. In addition, you need to carefully study the character traits of dogs, be able to handle them, make decisions quickly, and calculate the situation several steps ahead.

The German Shepherd is recognized as one of the best breeds suitable for investigative work. This dog deservedly enjoys the reputation of a faithful, reliable assistant in search activities. The following breeds are also used for search:

Airedale;
Great Dane;
Giant Schnauzer;
Doberman;
Rottweiler;
Boxer;
Scottish Sheepdog (Collie).

The choice of breed is carried out taking into account the climatic and other conditions of the areas where they are used.

Detection Dog Skills

For work related to the search, the selection of dogs under the age of three years is carried out taking into account their physical development, visual acuity, endurance, development of hearing and sense of smell. During the period of upbringing and instilling professional skills, high demands are placed on mastering the skills of general disciplines, such as good endurance, obedience in following commands at a distance of up to thirty meters from the trainer.

Special Skills

In addition to general disciplinary skills, training dogs must master special skills unique to detective dogs. These include:

Wariness towards strangers, ability to detain a convoy of criminals, readiness to rush to the defense of the conductor;
Search for a person;
Search the territory, both open and closed;
Selection of objects by the smell belonging to a person and, conversely, selection of a person by the smell of his things;
The ability to be alert and quietly notify someone when someone is approaching;
Security.

In addition to acquired skills, dogs intended for search activities must have special physiological characteristics.

The main purpose of search dogs is to search for people by their invisible, scent trails, detain and escort detainees. In addition, they are used to search areas and premises in order to detect hidden people, their belongings and traces, for guard duty, and to select people and things. Unlike guard dogs, search dogs can work on traces not only of fresh (“hot”) ones, but also of medium and long standing (up to 10-12 hours from the time the traces continued or more) and, moreover, over a long distance (up to 25-30 km ).

Therefore, training dogs for search service requires more time, skill and perseverance from the trainer than for other types of service.

The best dogs for the search service are the German Shepherd and the Giant Schnauzer. In addition, Airedale Terriers, Rottweilers, and Collies can prepare for search service, but it should be remembered that they have less ability for this service.

Dogs selected for training must be physically developed, hardy, have good eyesight, excellent hearing, a highly developed sense of smell, and be no older than 3 years. Great demands are also placed on trainers and their assistants. They must be observant, self-possessed, and patient. They are required to know the basic theory and practice of dog training. It is advisable that trainers also have an understanding of tracking, i.e., about the tracks left on the ground by people, animals and vehicles, and about ways to search for people, animals and vehicles using their visible tracks.

The special skills of search dogs include: dog anger, skills of detaining, guarding, escorting people and protecting the trainer; skills of sampling a thing by the smell of a person and sampling a person by the smell of his thing or trace; skill of searching for a person by scent trail; skill in searching areas and premises; skill of long-term alertness in place and in motion.

Dog training for the search service begins after developing general training skills. Initially, dogs are trained to select things and select a person by the smell of his things. Then they move on to developing anger and detaining a person, searching for a person based on their tracks, searching the area and premises, keeping watch on the spot and on the move.

Sampling things by the smell of a person and sampling a person by the smell of his thing

Dogs are first trained to select things based on the smell of a person in the same way as protective guard dogs. Then the training becomes more complicated. Things are diversified as often as possible. They are used in different shapes, sizes, and materials (small, large, wooden, fabric, leather, etc.). The number of things with the smells of different people is increased to 6-8 pieces. The chosen item is pawned (disguised) with the things of other assistants.

Then the dog is trained to sequentially select items from several helpers. To do this, 2-3 assistants place things at a distance of 20-30 cm from each other. The trainer lets the dog take turns sampling the belongings of the assistants (first, second, third). Before starting, the dog is allowed to sniff the second thing of each of them. After this, an interval of 30-40 seconds is maintained. A selection of assistants' things is carried out alternately from different groups of things. To do this, two groups of things are laid out close to each other. A control check of the dog is carried out periodically (the dog is sent to sample a group of things where the desired thing is missing).

Developing the skill of selecting a person by the smell of his things should begin after the dog begins to clearly select the helper’s things from four things with the smells of other people. Training dogs to sample has the goal of developing the skill, after sniffing a certain person’s thing, to actively sniff a group of people and, clearly differentiating their individual odors, to find the owner of this thing.

Conditioned stimuli when developing a skill are the command “Sniff!” and a gesture - throwing out the right hand towards a group of people. Auxiliary conditioned stimuli - the commands “Fetch!”, “Give!”, “Fu!”, the exclamation “Good!” Unconditioned stimuli are a fetch object, a helper and a treat.

Before the trainer and the dog arrive, 3-4 assistants stand in one row at a distance of one step from each other. One of the assistants (the main one) places his item 3-4 steps in front of the group and stands in the group. The rest of the assistants hold things in their right or left hands that are similar to what they are supposed to have. The trainer with the dog on a short leash approaches the assigned item and lets the dog sniff it. After this, he turns the dog in the direction opposite to the people. The main assistant picks up his thing and gets back into line.

The trainer brings the dog to a group of people (preferably from the flank) and with the command “Sniff!” encourages her to consistently sniff the things they are holding. If the dog begins to sniff the main helper’s thing and tries to grab it, then the helper, taking a step forward, leaves the group and gives the thing to the dog. The trainer, having taken the item at the command “Give!”, rewards the dog with a treat. If the dog, having sniffed the thing, does not grab it, the trainer gives the command “Fetch!”; if it tries to take the thing from another assistant, then the command “Ugh!”, but in a muffled voice. »

During repeated exercises, the helpers hide things in their sleeves or put them in their pockets, and the dog, having discovered the desired smell, pulls the helper out of the group by the sleeve or other part of the clothing. To teach inactive dogs to grab the chosen person by the clothes, the assistant slightly moves the sleeve or edge of the jacket, and the trainer gives the command “Fetch!” During repeated exercises, the main assistant changes his location in the group each time.

Assistance to the dog in selecting a person (moving a sleeve or the edge of clothing, the command “Fetch!”) is provided only in the first lessons. In the future, this is not done so that the dog does not develop the unwanted habit of choosing a person not by the smell of his clothes, but by the movement of his clothes.

In subsequent classes, the number of assistants gradually increases to 5-6 people. The assistant, after the dog sniffs the item, does not take the item. The dog is allowed to sample without a leash. During sampling, assistants in the group occupy different positions (standing, sitting, lying).

In the future, when sampling, the number of assistants increases to 7-8 people. The sample is drawn from a group of strangers who have not had contact with the dog. The dog is accustomed to sampling in various rooms and in places where people are concentrated. Then a rotating selection of assistants is made from the same group of people. To do this, before the next send, the dog sniffs the thing of the chosen assistant. The helper chosen by the dog does not return to the group. And finally, they teach the dog to sniff a thing with a weakened (old) smell. To do this, things used for sniffing are placed in a certain place in advance, and sampling is done after some time has passed, which is gradually increased to several hours. Sampling should also be carried out at different times of the day and under different meteorological conditions.

When developing a skill, the following main mistakes of the trainer are possible:

1) Frequently using the same assistant or placing him in a group in the same place. As a result, the dog develops the habit of looking for a “familiar” helper;

2) Always the same clothes of the main assistant or clothes that are sharply different from the clothes of people in the group. In this case, the dog gets used to looking for people not by smell, but by appearance;

3) Frequently attracting the dog’s attention with the help of weak movements as it approaches. In this case, the dog learns to choose helpers based on the signal movement.

The development of anger in a dog. Detention, protection, escort of a person. Trainer protection

The methodology for developing these skills is the same as when training dogs for protective guard duty. It should, however, be borne in mind that these skills in detection service dogs must be clearer and stronger.

Searching for a person on a trail and selecting a person from a trail

The development of this complex skill, the main one in training a search dog, should begin when the dog has developed good obedience and anger with the desire to pursue a fleeing assistant, as well as the ability to select things by the smell of a person.

Accustoming to the search service is aimed at developing the dog’s ability to use the commands “Sniff!” and “Trace!”, as well as the smell of traces. Auxiliary conditioned stimuli - the exclamation “Okay!”, a hand gesture towards the trail, a fetching object. Unconditioned stimuli - trainer's assistant, blows with a rod or tourniquet, treats.

The development of the skill is based on the dog’s well-developed olfactory analyzer and the instinctive desire to pursue an animal or a person.

The development of tracking skills is divided into two periods. In the first period, the dog is accustomed to an interested (clear) search for a helper based on his scent trail. In the second period, the dog is accustomed to working the trail in difficult conditions. The first classes should be conducted in places where there are few distracting stimuli, preferably early in the morning, when there is dew, in an area covered with short grass and with the presence of sparse bushes and trees.

First, control tracks are used, that is, tracks well known to the trainer. The trainer tells the assistant what distance, where and what things to leave on the trail. During the first lessons, the trail is laid with a tailwind. After 10-15 lessons on control (known) tracks, blind tracks are introduced (the direction and length of the tracks are not known to the trainer). Audit trails are now only used when entering various complications.

There are two main methods of training a dog to track: the first uses the dog’s active defensive reaction, the second uses the dog’s desire to search for a retrieval object.

1st method. Arriving at the place of training, the trainer ties the dog and, away from it, instructs an assistant located in a shelter (behind a bush, tree, in a ditch, etc.). After this, he returns to the dog and stands behind it.

The assistant comes out from behind the shelter and approaches the dog. If the dog begins to show an active defensive reaction, the assistant does not touch it, but if it remains calm, he attacks it and inflicts several blows with a tourniquet or rod. The trainer gives the command “Fast!”

After this, the assistant leaves in the direction indicated to him to lay the trail. At the beginning of the scent trail, he uses shuffling movements of his legs to indicate the starting point of the trail, and then, dragging his feet along the grass, runs 100-150 m away from the dog so as to get out of its field of vision. Moving at first in a straight line, towards the end he rounds off the line of the trail and hides behind cover.

After a short wait, the trainer takes the dog on a long leash, straightens it, and, holding the leash 1-2 m from the collar, leads the dog to the starting point of the trail. By giving the commands “Trace!” and “Sniff!” and pointing to the trail with a hand gesture, the trainer directs the dog along the trail. The dog, excited by the helper, strives to find him and, sniffing, runs along the scent. The trainer runs after the dog, guiding it along the scent.

The influence on the dog with the leash is of great importance. Without allowing it to jerk, the trainer must be able to shorten or increase its length in time. If the dog loses the track, the leash is shortened and the dog is directed to the track. If the dog follows the scent without sniffing, the leash is passed from the collar between the front legs to be able to force the dog to bend its head and sniff. When the dog finds a helper at the end of the trail, the trainer gives her the opportunity to attack him and tug at his clothes (while keeping the dog on a leash). After a short struggle, the assistant, having escaped from the dog, runs away and again lays a trail, increasing its length by 30-40 m. The dog again sets off on the trail. This is repeated 2-3 times. The lesson ends with the detention and escort of an assistant.

2nd method. It is used in training dogs interested in fetching, as well as highly angry and excitable ones. It consists in the fact that the trainer, using a retrieving object, accustoms the dog to first work on his own trail and only then proceeds to work on the assistant’s trail.

The trainer, having tied the dog, takes the fetching object in his hand and, giving the command “Fetch!”, excites the dog with the sight and movement of the object. After this, he moves away from the dog 3-4 steps and with shuffling movements of his legs marks the beginning of the trail. Having laid the trail for a distance of 75-100 m, first straight, and then rounding it, the trainer places a retrieving object at the end of the trail. He returns back to the dog exactly in his tracks.

Taking the dog on a long leash, he leads it. to the beginning of the trail and, giving the command “Track!” and “Sniff!”, he gestures to the trail. If the dog tries to run in search of a retrieval object, the trainer encourages it with the exclamation “Good!”, gives the command “Track!” and directs along the trail. The dog is rewarded with a treat for finding the item. The exercise is repeated 3-4 times.

After 2-3 sessions, the dog switches to the helper's track. To do this, the trainer places a retrieval object in front of the tied dog. The helper approaches the object, takes it, and shows it to the dog. Having marked the beginning of the trail on the ground and grass, he lays a trail for 100-150 m, moving out of the dog’s field of view, at the end of the trail he places an object on the ground, and he hides behind cover.

The trainer sets the dog on the trail. For finding an object, the dog is rewarded with a treat and the exclamation “Good!” As soon as the dog clearly begins to follow the traces of the assistant and find the objects taken away by him, the detention of the assistant is introduced. Before this, classes are held to develop anger. The assistant, detained at the end of the trail, breaks away from the dog and runs away, laying a new trail. This is repeated 3-4 times, then the detained assistant is escorted.

When the dog responds to the commands “Sniff!” and “Trace!” will become good at sniffing the trail and finding an assistant, the command “Sniff!” begin to be used only in cases where the dog has lost the scent. There is only one command left: “Trace!”

The dog's work on the scent is gradually becoming more difficult. At each lesson, the length of the trail is lengthened by an average of 50 m, and its duration is increased by 5 minutes. Then the dog is trained to detect and follow the scent trail from a search of the area. To do this, the trainer leads the dog on a long leash to the area of the track and 35-40 m from it, with the command “Look for the track!” lets the dog search the area (towards the trail) and gets the dog to find and follow it. The dog also develops the skill of detecting and following a trail by the smell of something belonging to the trail maker. For this purpose, before starting the dog on a scent trail, it is allowed to sniff the scent trail maker’s thing. When the dog begins to confidently detect the scent, another person's scent trail is laid next to it. When the dog tries to follow a different trail, the trainer pronounces the prohibiting command “Ugh!” and with the help of a leash directs the dog to the desired trail.

To complicate the exercises, when laying a trail, various angles (straight, obtuse, acute) and loops are introduced. To teach a dog to work corners, the trainer must hold the dog a little with a leash before turning. To avoid unwanted connection to the leash, you should sometimes hold the dog with a leash and on a direct trail.

The dog is also taught to find things on the trail and bring them to the trainer (things are left by the assistant when laying the trail). If the dog finds and presents the item to the trainer, he rewards it with a treat and the exclamation “Good!” If the dog passes near the thing, the trainer commands “Fetch!” makes the dog pick it up.

At the end of the first track training period, the dog must work on “blind” tracks laid in vegetated areas. The length of the trail is 600-700 m, the age is up to 40 minutes, there are two corners and two abandoned things on the trail.

In the second period of training, the conditions for working out scent trails become more complicated and by the end of it they are approaching the conditions that are encountered in the real working conditions of search dogs. First of all, intersections of the desired traces with other traces are introduced. D. This second assistant, 10-20 minutes before laying the MAIN trace (the first assistant's trace), intersects his intended line at right angles. In the future, the exercise becomes more difficult. The desired trace is intersected by other traces at different angles, the time between laying additional and required traces is reduced, and the desired traces are laid across paths and roads. If the dog loses the desired track on the road or trail or switches to the tracks of other helpers, the trainer uses the commands “Sniff!”, “Trace!” guides her along the right path. The correct movement of the dog along the scent is encouraged by the exclamation “Good!”

Then the dog is trained to select a trail maker from a group of people (after working on the trail). All assistants must be dressed identically. They are located so that the dog can notice them at the end of the scent trail. First, the dog must choose a helper - the trail maker from a group of two people (including the trail maker), then three, four and five people. To develop the skill of selecting a person from a trail, the trail maker leaves his thing on it 20-30 m from its end. The dog must sniff this thing, and then, when the trainer allows it to approach a group of people, at the command “Sniff!” make a sample. If the dog does not sample, then at the beginning of developing the skill, the assistant is allowed to use light movements to encourage the dog to grab his clothes. However, this should not be abused, since the dog may develop the habit of selecting a person not by the smell of his footprint, but by his movements.

Another method of training dogs to a sample of people is also used, but only in cases where they are not very vicious. With this method, after the dog has worked the trail and detained the helper, he breaks away from the dog, lays a trail 100-150 m away and joins a group of people (other helpers). The dog works on an additional trail and at the command “Sniff!” chooses an assistant - a trail maker. The helpers chosen by the dog are taken under guard and transferred to another person.

Gradually, the training conditions become more complicated. Classes are held in different areas, at different times of the day, in any weather. The trail of the main helper is crossed at different angles by several (3-4) tracks of other helpers.! Enter angular and fan sampling of the trace. To do this, the second assistant approaches one of the corners of the desired track from the outside and, having made a turn, leaves in the direction opposite to the track.

With fan sampling, 3-4 assistants approach the desired trail from different directions, and then disperse in different directions.

The dog is taught not to be distracted by strangers. To do this, assistants (3-4 or more) appear in the immediate vicinity of the trail. At first, the helpers stand alone, and in subsequent classes they walk towards the dog. If the dog attacks them, the trainer gives the command “Ugh!”

The dog is gradually accustomed to working the trail in populated areas. The first classes are carried out early in the morning or late in the evening, when there are few distracting stimuli. First, the assistant lays a trail to the outskirts of the populated area, where he stops and after 30-40 minutes lays a short trail (200-400 m) through the populated area.

The dog is taught to work on tracks interrupted by water obstacles (streams, narrow rivers), roads, etc. In these cases, the trainer first helps the dog to detect the broken track. Subsequently, the dog begins to independently search for the trail using the command “Search!” and “Trace!” By the end of training, tracking work is combined with searching the area and keeping watch.

When developing the skill of searching for a person on a scent and selecting a person from the track, the following basic mistakes of a trainer are possible:

1) Laying the same type of trail (one direction, same angles) in the same type of terrain. Laying the trail in this way teaches the dog to work in the direction, and not according to the scent of the trail;

2) Repeatedly laying a trail in places where the assistant’s shoe prints are clearly visible (damp, clay or sandy soil, snow cover). Laying a trail in this way accustoms the dog to following a visible trail;

3) Constantly restraining the dog with a leash in front of corners or things on the trail. This causes an unwanted connection in the dog - making a turn or lifting an object by the tension of the leash;

4) Disguise the assistant at the end of the trail behind monotonous local objects (bush, tree). The dog learns to look for him at the end of the trail using these visual cues;

5) Frequent targeting by the trainer to an assistant selected from the group. The dog has an unwanted connection - making a selection with the help of the trainer.

By the end of the training period of the second period, the search dog must work on tracks up to 2 km long, up to 2 hours old, with other tracks crossing them at different angles, and select an assistant from the track from a group of 5-6 people.

Search of the area and premises

The initial training of dogs to search the area is carried out in the same way as when training dogs of protective guard service. Then complications are introduced.

The size of the searched area is increased to 100-150 square meters, the number of “empty” corners is increased (so that the dogs are not taught to change the direction of movement only after detecting an object). The dog is taught to bark at objects that it is not able to bring to the trainer. Therefore, the assistant leaves heavy objects in the places indicated by the trainer (a bag or backpack filled with stones or sand) or disguises them on top with grass, leaves and covers a padded jacket, coat, etc. with earth, snow. The assistant hangs some objects on the branches of trees, bushes or on a fence. First, when searching the area, the trainer points the dog at these objects, with the “voice” command he encourages them to bark and rewards them for barking with a treat. Then the dog is taught to independently search for and bark at these objects.

To train the dog to detect a hidden person, the assistant, having scattered things to be searched, hides at the end of the searched area. The dog on the command “Look!” first discovers things, and then finds and detains an assistant, who is taken under guard and escorted.

To train a dog to search premises, an assistant near a premises (barn, dugout, etc.) suddenly attacks the dog and the trainer, and then, breaking free, runs into the premises, where he carefully hides. The trainer with the dog enters the room and at the command “Look!” lets her in for a search. In subsequent classes, the helper not only hides in the room himself, but also hides things that the dog must find. The found and detained assistant is escorted.

Watchdog in place and on the move

This skill is developed in search dogs in the same way as in guard dogs.

Requirements for detection service dogs

After completing the detection service training course, the dog must:

1) Work on crossed tracks with a length of at least 700 m and an age of at least 40 minutes. Pick up 3 things on the trail, do not be distracted by extraneous stimuli;

2) Sampling a person by thing and from a trace from a group of 4 people and sampling a thing by the smell of a person from 4 things;

3) Search the area and premises, find disguised people and things hidden by them;

4) Carry out guard duty on the spot and on the move. Without barking and squealing, notify by your behavior (alertness, moving forward) about the appearance of strangers at least 50 m away. Detain and escort detainees, protect the trainer (owner) from attack and protect his belongings (for dogs of departmental services these requirements are higher) .

Special Features

Detection dogs in the general sense are those that work using their developed sense of smell and sense of smell. Sniffer dogs have received a wide field for demonstrating their unique abilities in the following areas:

Searching for people by their scent-trace;
Convoy;
Sentinel activities;
Detection of mines and explosives;
Sanitary assistance,
Ore prospecting;
Detection of narcotic drugs.

The special sensitivity of the olfactory receptors, as well as the high organization of the central nervous system, gives dogs the ability to find odors, very sensitively recognize and isolate the desired one from a mixture of extraneous aromas, and remember the required smell of a footprint or hands on things and objects. A subtle sense of smell leads you along the trail and allows you to choose the right person from a whole group of people.

In a dog’s life, the ability to perfectly distinguish the nuances of smell is of great importance. The sense of smell gives a signal to the animal about the onset of a dangerous factor, the proximity of food, the appearance of relatives nearby and other events. Observing dogs' excellent sense of smell, flexibility, and potential for training, people began to apply these valuable abilities to their goals.

Features of training dogs for tracking work in urban conditions article

OGAPOU "Belgorod Law Enforcement College named after Hero of Russia V.V. Burtsev"

Report

On the topic: “Features of training dogs for tracking work in urban conditions”

Belgorod, 2021

The main purpose of search dogs is to search for people using their invisible scent trails, detain and escort detainees. Also, they are used to search areas and premises in order to detect hidden people, their belongings and traces, for guard duty, and to select people and things. The most difficult thing in training is searching for a person by his invisible traces - smell.

The work of a detection dog is mainly based on the ability to differentiate odors. Dogs use all analyzers - vision, hearing and smell. The dog is able to distinguish the most insignificant odors on the soil, things, and in the air.

Working on the scent is one of the main points in the overall range of work of a search dog. The work that involves searching the area and independently finding the trail is the main one. Therefore, when teaching tracking work, the trainer must carefully consider issues related to polishing scent work, gradually introducing conditions that complicate the work and at the same time, trying to maintain the dog’s interest in the search and its desire for the final result.

Search dogs can follow tracks not only recently laid, but also of medium and long standing, and over a long distance, up to 25-30 kilometers. [1]

The freshness of a trail is determined by the amount of time that has passed since it was laid. Traces are divided by nature into:

a) Hot;

b) Normal;

c) Cold.

The most difficult are cold tracks, in which the odor molecules remain only partially on the soil, with long breaks along the entire length of the track. A dog that is interested in searching, for natural reasons, slows down the pace of work, loses the scent, actively searches for it, loses it again and finds it again. Only a well-trained dog can work on a cold scent, and most importantly, one with a highly developed instinct, capable of making clear differentiations, interested in work and constantly striving to achieve results, and therefore angry and energetic in searching for a person.

The trails laid can be control or blind. Control tracks are those tracks in which the trainer knows the starting point, direction, turns, places of thrown and hidden fetch and the final destination. Control tracks allow the trainer to come to the aid of the dog being trained at the right moment, directing it to the track. Blind tracks are necessary to check the dog’s performance, regardless of its performance from the behavior of the trainer. In this case, neither the dog nor the trainer knows the direction of the trail. With a well-developed search, a dog interested in elaboration independently finds the starting point of the trace. Therefore, training dogs for the search service requires more time, skill and perseverance from the trainer than for other types of service.

The most suitable dog for the search service is the German Shepherd. In addition, Airedale Terriers, Giant Schnauzers, Collies and Rottweilers can be used in the search service. Dogs must be physically developed, hardy, have good eyesight, excellent hearing, and a highly developed sense of smell. Their age should not exceed 3 years.

The work of search dogs in large settlements and cities is the most difficult and at the same time, operationally, the most necessary. The dog is required to have a very finely developed ability to distinguish the scent trail of the desired person among a large number of traces of strangers. Compacted soil, and even more so asphalt and concrete, do not retain odor particles well, as a result of which their concentration on the trail quickly decreases. Along with this, the work of a search dog on a trail under these conditions can be hampered by various external distracting stimuli and a significant amount of odors that are formed during the operation of transport and industrial enterprises, as well as those released from heated asphalt and the presence of a strongly interrupted trail.

Also, the work of dogs in urban conditions, more than anywhere else, is adversely affected by meteorological factors: high air temperature, strong wind and rain. High air temperatures have a tiring effect on dogs, forcing them to breathe intensely with an open mouth (thermoregulation in dogs is carried out mainly through the moist surface of the mucous membrane of the mouth and tongue), and therefore does not allow them to sniff thoroughly. An increase in soil surface temperature contributes to a faster occurrence of chemical reactions of oxidation of the odor trace fixed on the ground. The ground layer of air, as a result of heat transfer from the soil, heats up faster, which leads to vertical movements of air masses, in which heated portions of air containing odor particles rise upward, reducing their concentration on the trail. In addition, intense heat and solar radiation have a deodorant, that is, odor-destroying effect.

Wind is a very significant obstacle to the dogs' work on the scent. In windy weather, scent particles are carried away from the trail by air currents. The wind promotes intense mixing of air masses, and therefore increases the rate of oxidation of scent substances in the trace by air oxygen. Heavy rain, even of short duration, also sharply reduces the effectiveness of the use of dogs, since the significant speed and energy of water droplets leads to the washing away of odor molecules and often to complete deodorization of the trace.

Light stimuli include: light from lanterns, spotlights, fountains, banners, light from car headlights. All this causes a passive or aggressive reaction in an unprepared dog.

Sound stimuli include: the hum of passing crowds of people, the sound of passing cars, the sounds of construction work being carried out, loudspeakers.

Odor irritants include: odors of industrial enterprises (cafes, waste stores), an excess of odors of strangers and animals, various chemical deposits on the surface.

Altitude stimuli include various changes in height on the surface. That is, underground pedestrian crossings, subways, bridges.

The factors listed above, which make it difficult for a dog to track a dog in a city, do not at all indicate that the effective use of search dogs in populated areas is impossible. Success in this work depends mainly on the preparedness of the dog handler and the dog assigned to him.

At the end of a one-year training course, a normally developed service-search dog must meet the following requirements:

1) Be able to conduct interested and active work on a cold trail at a distance of up to 6 km, on any soil, in a complex urban environment with various distracting stimuli, with all kinds of trail breaks, intersections and other complications in the work, up to selecting a trail from a number of other tracks .

2) Work on sampling traces of people and things and searching the area at any time of the day.

3) Have a completely mechanized, trouble-free implementation of general obedience techniques.

The dog is required to have an exceptionally finely developed ability to distinguish the scent trail of the person in question, among a large number of traces of strangers. One of the features in training dogs in urban conditions is the presence of strong distracting stimuli such as light and sound stimuli, odor and altitude stimuli. First, you need to accustom the dog to a calmer place; as soon as it actively sniffs and shows interest, the conditions become more difficult. I start studying in the dark, under the light of lanterns and spotlights. Then you can take walks in the city, parks with a lot of people, so that the dog gets used to such flows. Conduct classes near cafes, landfills, walk along pedestrian and underground passages. Try to work out scent trails in parks with a lot of overlap of tracks, on tiled surfaces. Gradually, by introducing all these stimuli, the dog gets used to their presence and becomes indifferent to them. Consequently, she will be able to accurately carry out her search activities.

Possible trainer mistakes:

1) Forcing the dog with a leash and loud commands to sniff and work on the scent trail. In this case, the dog develops an unwanted conditioned reflex to the command “Track!” The dog will be afraid and run away from the scent.

2) Accustoming dogs with an active-defensive behavior reaction to work on the scent trail with preliminary teasing. Such dogs become overexcited and tend to look for a helper using their eyesight, without sniffing the scent.

3) Frequently laying tracks against the wind. In this case, the dog does not sniff the scent, but looks for a helper with his head held high - his upper sense.

4) Drilling the dog onto the trail with a leash, that is, limiting the dog’s independence in the work, as well as frequently pronouncing the commands “Track!”, “Okay, trail!”, as a result of which the actions of the trainer and his command turn into signals for the dog to move in a certain direction.

5) Laying uniform tracks, that is, identical in direction, length, age; Hiding the assistant at the end point behind similar-looking local objects leads to the dog developing conditioned reflexes that are undesirable for the service: the dog runs in the direction without sniffing the scent; work on the trail only for a certain distance at a certain time; search for an assistant using familiar landmarks.

6) Detection of a visible helper in open areas of the terrain, his premature appearance from behind cover leads to the fact that the dog gets used to finding a person with the help of sight and pounces on anyone who is not the trail maker, without first sniffing him.

7) Working only on known tracks leads to the fact that the trainer, as a rule, does not know the behavior of the dog, does not trust it, and when starting to work on unknown tracks, he gets off the scent, accustoms the dog to search for an assistant in the direction,

Frequent jogging with the dog outside the scent trail, which is encouraged by the commands “Trace!” and “Okay!”, lead to the development in the dog of a reflex of searching for a helper in any direction without a scent trail.

9) Involvement of the same persons as assistants, as a result of which the dog, as a rule, searches on the scent only for an assistant with a familiar smell, without reacting to other odors,

10) Constant use of a training cloak by the assistant to fight the dog. In this case, the dog quickly develops an unwanted conditioned reflex to the shape of clothing. To avoid this, the assistant must change the shape of his outerwear - a training raincoat, a suit, special sleeves, a civilian coat.

11) Excessive involvement in exercises to work out scent trails can lead to overtraining and a decrease in the dog’s performance. In the third period of training, it is recommended to work on no more than 2-3 tracks per week.

12) Searching for a helper without a scent trail and then beating him leads to the dog developing the skill of searching for a person not by the scent, but by other signs. It is strictly forbidden to give the dog the opportunity to pat the assistant in cases where it did not follow the scent trail.

13) Systematic laying of tracks in areas where clearly visible prints of the helper’s feet are formed - on sand, arable land, in winter on snow, leads to the fact that the dog gets used to working on visible tracks using vision.

14) Constantly laying tracks with a long stay of the assistant at the end point of the track reduces the dog’s interest in the work.

15) Incorrect, (friendly) relationships between the trainer and the assistant at the final point of the trail and when returning to the starting area reduce the dog’s angry, distrustful attitude towards strangers and its interest in searching for a person using scent trails.

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Search service

One of the most complex and time-consuming types of use of service dogs has become the search service.
Guard activity requires the dog to have a certain anger, distrust of strangers, and determination; these qualities are mastered within two to three weeks. To gain the skills of search activities, a much longer period of training and acquisition of knowledge by the dog will be required. In addition, the dog's handler must undergo a special training course in this area in order to properly handle the trained animal and obtain more effective interaction.

To prepare for investigative work, young pets with developed senses are best suited. Their disposition should be quite vicious and courageous. The psyche of a search dog must have stability and balance, and the nervous system must be strong.

A search dog knows how to find the trail of a criminal, choose him among others, and work with objects left behind by a particular person.

Directions for the use of service dogs in operational investigative activities

The specific features of the implementation of operational activities require the use of a wide range of means. One of these means is the use of various animals to increase the efficiency of detective (operational search) activities.

History has known cases of the effective use of dogs (to detain a criminal, search for buried corpses, weapons of crime), as well as horses (to detect voids (undermining) in the ground near places of detention). Since the end of the 19th century. Carrier pigeons were used for operational purposes.

The use of the capabilities of animals has always been due to their specific biological qualities that surpass the capabilities of humans - more acute hearing, sense of smell, vision, speed of movement, endurance, unpretentiousness, various instinctive feelings, etc.

The capabilities of service dogs were most often used in detective activities. Service dogs provide significant assistance in the fight against crime. For example, the detective training course for police officers in pre-revolutionary Russia included the topic “Working with a dog.”

In addition to technical means, modern operational-search legislation provides for the use of other means (Part 3 of Article 6 of the Law on Operational Investigation). These means include, first of all, service dogs. Their use in operational investigations is regulated by clause 7, part 2, art. 21 of the Police Law and departmental regulations. However, the effectiveness of using service dogs is not always high. One of the reasons hindering the effective use of dogs in internal affairs bodies is the poor quality of selection of livestock. Often, the selection of dogs for their subsequent acquisition is not given much importance locally; this task is entrusted to incompetent persons. In dogs purchased for training, many shortcomings are already revealed during preliminary checks, which make their successful training difficult or impossible. Culling and replacing such dogs is always associated with a large waste of time and public funds.

In the system of service dog breeding, depending on special training, the following types of service dogs are distinguished: 1) search dogs; 2) special; 3) detector dogs; 4) patrol officers; 5) escorts; 6) guards.

In the field of operational intelligence, search, special dogs and detection dogs are most actively used.

Search dogs are used to search for and detain by scent traces of persons suspected of committing a crime and other wanted persons, to carry out sampling by the scent of a person and thing, search for things and documents, as well as when inspecting and working out places of possible hiding of suspects and wanted persons, material evidence and spent cartridges.

The use of detection dogs is based on the presence of an individual odor emitted by the human body. The concentration of this odor decreases over time, as it is affected by precipitation, wind, soil cover, traffic, etc. In this regard, all odor traces are divided into three types: fresh (no more than one hour); 2) normal (from one to three hours); 3) cold (more than three hours). These time parameters largely determine the effectiveness of using a search dog. In search practice, there are cases when search dogs tracked a suspect over a distance of 10 km.

The use of service dogs when detaining women with visible signs of pregnancy, minors (except for cases when they offer armed resistance), citizens with children, and persons whose illegal actions provide for the application of administrative punishment against them is strictly prohibited.

The use of a search dog to retrieve items is possible in two cases:

to select an item that belonged to a person suspected of committing a crime based on the smell of the item found at the scene of the crime;
to sample an item found at the scene of an incident based on the smell of an item that belonged to a person suspected of committing a crime.

One of the main areas of use of search dogs is their work in “hot pursuit.” In this regard, dog handlers are included in investigative and operational teams for solving certain types of crimes.

Special dogs are used to detect weapons, ammunition, explosives, narcotic and psychotropic substances, and human corpses (remains). They are often used:

when inspecting residential and industrial premises, courtyards, household plots, areas of the countryside, forests, stadiums, etc.;
inspection of clothing and search of persons detained for the sale, purchase or possession of drugs;
inspection of luggage, station storage rooms, parcels, suitcases and other things;
inspection of vehicles and cargo at stationary and control posts of the traffic police.

To search and detect corpses, special dogs are used in accordance with a specific situation: a) in the presence of circumstances or an accident that threatened the death of the missing person: b) checking the testimony of persons and information about the commission of a murder with the subsequent concealment of the corpse; c) discovery of a dismembered corpse in order to find other parts of the body.

Detector dogs are used to conduct scent research on human footprints (odorological research). Such dogs can be used during the day of work with a “canned” scent trail. For these purposes, odor stores can be created and used in the ATC units of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

Detector dogs are most often used in operational investigations to solve the following particular problems:

identifying common signs of several crimes by comparing odorological objects seized from crime scenes;
testing a large number of suspects for involvement in a crime;
verification of operational-search and investigative versions regarding specific individuals and their actions.

The results of an operational search with the use of a service-search dog in the process of operational search and investigative activities are formalized in a corresponding act, which is drawn up by a canine inspector. One of three copies of the act is attached to the DOU.

If, with the help of a search dog, a crime was solved or a criminal was detained, the dog handler draws up a certificate, which is signed by the investigator, interrogator, or head of the investigative and operational group. This official document has guiding value and helps to intensify search efforts against persons suspected of committing a crime.

The procedure for search activities

Despite the fact that the criminal is inclined to cover his tracks, confuse them, and use any tricks, this will not confuse a trained dog and make him lose the trail.
Dogs are trained to work with a trail that can loop, be interrupted, change its direction, intersect with roads and pedestrian paths, and follow through populated areas. The criminal constantly invents new ways to mislead his pursuers: he walks on water, climbs trees and mountains, uses stilts and other means of transportation, and treats his tracks with odor suppressants. A trained dog easily avoids such obstacles on the way to the goal, is able to steadily move in a given direction, and catch up with the criminal. It happens that this may take more than one hour. Having discovered and overtaken the pursued criminal, the dog detains him and waits for the handler.

When the pursuit just begins, the dog can move away by the length of the leash, i.e. at a distance of up to ten meters, following the scent. Immediately before the arrest, the handler unfastens the leash, giving the bloodhound freedom of action. The dog overtakes the offender, rushes to detain him, thereby turning his attention to himself, giving the handler the opportunity to approach in relative safety and end the pursuit. When a criminal is detained, a handler and a dog escort him to the place of temporary detention. During the convoy, the dog is trained to vigilantly observe every movement of the detainee, keep an eye on him and prevent all attempts to attack the conductor or escape from the place of detention.

A complete cessation of thefts at all protected facilities is a reality!

The use of dogs in search activities is a highly effective method that gives excellent results when working in any direction.

The search for a person can be carried out either by smell or by trail . During search work, the dog can move long distances and work with traces that are long ago. The pursuit speed is 10-12 kilometers per hour, which is at least twice the speed of a pedestrian. In addition, the route of the pursued person is exactly repeated.

Features of investigative work

In addition to tracking down criminals, detection dogs have many other useful skills.
They are trained to search a given perimeter, look for abandoned items, and bring them to the guide. When a stranger is detected, dogs are taught to bark and apprehend until the handler appears. In addition, dogs are allowed to get acquainted with the smell of a person, for example, by letting them smell his hand, they are taught to choose the right one from a bunch of objects, i.e. belonging to a specific person. An exercise is used with the reverse principle, i.e. Having become familiar with the smell of a thing, the dog is taught to find its owner among other people. When a wanted person, whose trail is taken by a dog, tries to get lost in the crowd, the dog must detect him and bark, ignoring other people.

Among other things, dogs learn to look for shelters and hiding places, carefully camouflaged, hidden in the depths. An important skill is the ability to confidently refuse treats that strangers are trying to offer, or edible finds.

The dog should not be afraid of sharp and loud sounds, such as gunshots, falling objects, explosions; it needs to be able to work in any environment, without being distracted by anything.

The above list of skills is not complete, but it already becomes clear from it how difficult the fate of a search dog is. The service requires, both from the dog and from the person, remarkable patience, strong character, and the desire to be useful.

Search for explosives

In order to eliminate threats to human life, a dog can carry out search work for explosives , which contain:

- TNT

- tol

- plastid

- ammonite

- hexogen

- black smoky and smokeless powder.

This brings invaluable help to society. A special explosives detection dog works at airports, railway stations, and seaports to help ensure security. It carries out preventive cleaning of any premises, detecting odors of explosives in crowded places. No modern device can replace this faithful and reliable assistant.

In addition, a dog that has undergone special training is able to recognize not only the smells of explosives, but also analyze their combination with other olfactory ranges, so that attackers simply cannot disguise dangerous objects. When detected, the dog marks a specific place by laying it down, and this method is one of the most effective and efficient for eliminating such threats.

Types of dogs and nuances of their use

Different breeds of dogs are used for search activities.
Over the years of service, many of them have proven themselves to be faithful, reliable companions and assistants. Proper, comprehensive training of the dog, combined with the knowledge and experience of its handler, leaves no chance for criminals. The most frequently searched for are:

East European and German Shepherds;
Rottweilers,
Airedale Terriers.

Short-haired breeds successfully work in cities in response to various types of events and incidents; they work at train stations, airports, customs inspection points, and other buildings or structures.

Long-haired dogs are capable of serving in harsher weather conditions; they are used to protect state borders, in the armed forces, and forestry departments.

On the border

At the border service, dogs are trained to work in secret, i.e. in an ambush organized jointly with the guide. The dog’s task, being vigilant, is to listen carefully to the surrounding environment and warn in advance of the proximity of an intruder.

It takes remarkable restraint not to give yourself away ahead of time, not to make a sound and to indicate the direction from which the border violator is approaching. When the dog is released from the leash, its task is to detain the criminal until the handler appears. If the criminal still managed to leave the place and hide, the dog follows the trail to find him.

When accompanying border guards on patrol, the search dog, on the command “listen,” must immediately stop and quietly let the handler know if there is danger nearby. Unleashed, she combs the nearby territory. In cases of suspicion of committing offenses, the border patrol goes out to guard the border only with a patrol dog, this significantly increases the efficiency of security and activities related to the detection and detention of offenders.

As a rule, dogs work in search until they reach the age of ten years, later their hearing is impaired, their vision and sense of smell deteriorate, they lose their former endurance, and it becomes difficult for them to cope with stress.

There are many uses for service dogs. Features of the climate, social situation, national color and other unique circumstances are the reasons for the emergence of new types of applications for man’s four-legged friend, who is ready to serve and is always happy to be useful.

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Smell for danger: what Russian military dogs are capable of

The twenty-first of June is Cynologist Day in Russia. Initially, this holiday was reserved for specialists of the canine services of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but together with them it is celebrated by canine handlers of the armed forces, border service and troops of the National Guard of Russia. Read about the military “professions” of service dogs of the Russian army, border guards and special forces in the material of the Zvezda TV channel.

Stalin's dog

To protect important facilities, our military today uses an extensive arsenal of technical means: wireless alarm and video surveillance systems, highly sensitive fences, seismic sensors and much more. But along with ingenious devices, the Russian army continues to use guard dogs. Thanks to their sensitive sense of smell and subtle hearing, these animals can notice an intruder several tens of meters before the guarded perimeter and, with a loud bark, warn the sentry of possible danger. Also, the guard dog must not only “notify” the appearance of an uninvited guest, but also independently attack him.

Today, the only place where guard dogs are trained for the Russian Armed Forces is the 470th canine center of the Russian Ministry of Defense in Dmitrov, near Moscow. For guard duty, German, Eastern European, Caucasian, Central Asian and South Russian shepherd dogs, Rottweilers and Pyrenean mountain dogs are bred and trained there. The pride of the 470th center is the black terrier and Moscow guard dogs, which were bred here in the Red Star kennel of the Ministry of Defense during Soviet times.

The black terrier, nicknamed Russian black bear and “Stalin’s dog” in the West, was bred at Krasnaya Zvezda as a result of crossing 14 different breeds. The result was an ideal guard - aggressive towards strangers, hardy and unpretentious. The Moscow watchdog, whose ancestors are the St. Bernard, the Caucasian Shepherd and the Russian piebald hound, is also a match for him - this is a self-confident dog that knows no fear and is devoted only to its leader.

Sapper's Scent

For mine-detecting dogs, the strength of the jaws and the level of viciousness are not so important, the main thing is the sensitive nose of the animal, and therefore both severe German shepherds and completely peaceful Labradors are used with equal success.

The demining units of the engineering troops are armed with the most modern means of searching and detecting explosive devices, but they all have one drawback: none of the devices is capable of detecting the presence of an explosive.

An induction mine detector will indicate the location of a projectile or mine in a metal casing, the Korshun non-linear locator will detect an electronic fuse on a shell-less explosive device, but this technique will not give the sapper an answer to the question of whether the landmine is equipped with explosives or is it a false one. And here you can only rely on the dog’s sense of smell. It has been established that a dog is able to detect TNT in a bomb buried in sand or earth at a depth of more than half a meter.

Mine detection dogs proved their effectiveness during the Great Patriotic War. The famous dog Dzhulbars, for example, during the Second World War discovered more than seven thousand mines and shells, and in total more than four million mines and unexploded ordnance were discovered by dogs. The next time the help of dogs was resorted to was during the war in Afghanistan, when the regular mine detectors of our sappers were unable to detect Italian anti-tank mines in a plastic case. In the 21st century, mine detection dogs of Russian military engineers made a significant contribution to demining Syrian cities.

Army sleds

Dog sleds in many cases remain an indispensable means of transportation for the Arctic, despite the variety of new vehicles. That’s why Krasnaya Zvezda maintains a population of Siberian Huskies.

The use of dog sleds in combat proved itself well again during the Great Patriotic War. During the war years, dogs took almost 700 thousand seriously wounded Red Army soldiers from the battlefield and delivered three and a half thousand tons of ammunition and other cargo to the front line.

Today, military personnel who will serve in the Arctic and polar regions of our country are mainly trained to drive dog sleds. Thus, the Marines of the Pacific Fleet conduct exercises in which they master the methods of coupling sleds and harnessing sled dogs, and also perform dog sled runs.

Similar exercises are carried out in the Airborne Forces. Paratroopers of the Ivanovo and Pskov Airborne Divisions conducted a training operation at the North Pole. According to the legend of the exercises, travelers were in distress at the North Pole, and several units of “winged infantry” were sent to rescue them.

For their movement, several dog sleds were formed, which, according to the paratroopers themselves, turned out to be the most proven and trouble-free way of moving through the Arctic snow. The sled dogs ran at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour. At the same time, the “victims” can be safely transported on sleds. In addition, the animals sensed danger and helped the mushers choose the right path.

Border dogs

The dogs used by the Border Service of the FSB of Russia can rightfully be called “universal soldiers.” Thus, detection dogs serve at border outposts, whose task is to find and detain state border violators. To do this, border dog handlers train them not only to follow the scent, but also to forcefully seize.

It is noteworthy that despite all the technical equipment of the Russian border, most of its violators were detained with the help of border dogs. And, according to statistics, among the border guards awarded for successful detention, there are more dog handlers than ordinary shooters.

For investigative work, the border service traditionally uses German and East European shepherds. But in recent years, the Belgian Malinois breed has become increasingly popular. The border guards were attracted by the great agility and strong grip of these dogs.

Dogs are also used at border checkpoints. There, these animals are busy searching for explosives, drugs, weapons and ammunition in the luggage and vehicles of people crossing the Russian border. As in mine-hunting work, shepherd dogs and Labradors are also effective, but besides them, at the checkpoint you can meet Russian hunting spaniels.

Rottweiler for the Russian Guard

Another area in which service dogs are successfully used is the fight against terrorism. For example, in the canine units of the Russian Guard, Belgian and German shepherds are trained to capture armed criminals holding hostages. If a fire assault on a room or car with bandits could lead to casualties among the hostages, special forces can use “silent weapons” with sharp teeth.

In practice, if a dog grabs a criminal, then detaining him is not difficult: the pain from a bite on the arm or leg is so strong that the person loses the ability to resist. This, by the way, places a special responsibility on the dog handler - as soon as the criminal is neutralized, the dog must release him at the first command.

Together with shepherd dogs, dog handlers of the Russian Guard use Rottweiler dogs in their work. According to experts, this breed has a more stable psyche, Rottweilers are well controlled, and they are genetically endowed with the ability to independently make a decision to attack in case of danger for their counselor. Thanks to its strong build, when detaining even a tall criminal, a Rottweiler can knock him down. The only drawback of this breed is its shorter active life span compared to shepherd dogs.