Private Sector Detection Dogs
When you work with detection dogs, you need to be ready for anything. On most jobs, you don’t know what you’ll find, where you’ll find it, or what kind of obstacles you’ll run into along the way. In my 40 years on the job, I’ve learned that you need to roll with the punches and get the job done no matter what gets thrown in your way.
I’ve spent four decades training and working with dogs, finding drugs, bombs, land mines, and accelerants for public and private organizations all over the globe. I’ve published several books on the subject, including “Detection Dog Training; It’s Not a Job, It’s a Lifestyle.”
Not much is known about detection work in the private sector. There are a lot of training kennels around today that have never had any street experience and don’t know how to utilize the dogs’ best abilities.
One of my first jobs with the drug detection dog, Arno, was on ships in the canal. While getting set up on the deck, a worker came up to me and thanked me for being there. He explained that a few years back, a crane operator on the deck was stoned and swung a load into his leg. You could see his leg had been broken, and he was still working.
The drug dog was brought into many jobs to stop the use of drugs on the employer’s site. In fact, the employer is the employee’s best friend, watching and trying to make sure there were no drugs or alcohol used while working.
ALCOHOL:
Alcohol is just like drugs; the employer does not want it on the worksite. There are several schools of thought for training the dog for alcohol detection in the private sector. When I started training for alcohol, I used bottles of vodka and rye, which were commonly found. You can also do this with 75% alcohol. I would open bottles and store them with marijuana residue, and eventually, when I took the residue away, the dog was only indicating the alcohol. I replaced them with new bottles, and there was no problem at all. In training this way, I had no trouble with the dog hitting on shaving lotion or any personal alcohol products—that was my personal experience. In my maintenance and training area, I have shaving lotion and other alcohol products out to make sure the dog was ignoring them and just hitting on vodka, rye, and 75% alcohol.
Distractions in Living Quarters:
Later, I started searching mining camps. The dog would go from door to door in a hall of mobile trailers where employees lived. As time went on, I found that just walking down the hall, the dog would automatically search the doorknob and the door seam below it and indicate. Usually, drugs were found in the room.
This year, we found the dog hitting the furnace room door in the hall. Continuing the search of doors in the hallway, the dog would indicate at the bottom of the door instead of the seam underneath the doorknob, like he did before. Upon investigation, we found they were hiding contraband—mainly drugs and alcohol—in the heat vent underneath the desk in the room and the vents in the hall.
Because cocaine smells sweet, when I started searching, I found the dog indicating on toothbrushes and toothpaste. Thinking it was because of the sweet smell and like cocaine odor. When I put a toothbrush and toothpaste in my training area, the dog had no interest at all. Then I began to realize that a cocaine user brushing his teeth had residue on it.
It is known that methamphetamine use can reduce blood glucose levels, driving people toward sugary foods or drinks. You might keep this in mind when searching a room and only finding residue in a bag, with a lot of sweets scattered around the room. This could indicate drug use.
Search Warrants:
Over the next few years, I found so many drugs which were turned over to the RCMP that they asked for and got permission for me to participate in some search warrants with them. In that year, I did over 40 search warrants.
Day 1:
The day commenced with a call from the task force, summoning me to join them in executing a search warrant on a residence. As I arrived, I was briefed on the layout of the house and its occupants. With everything in order, I entered the home, accompanied by my trusty K9, Arno, stationed at my side.
Stepping through the front door into the living room, I took in the scene before me. A sprawling sectional couch dominated the space, but what caught my attention was an imposing branch secured to the wall above it. Upon closer inspection, I was startled to find a massive python coiled around the branch, appearing well-fed and content. Ha ha, they forgot to tell me about the snake.
As I began the search, my mind raced with thoughts of how this unexpected guest might affect our task. Would the presence of the snake distract Arno? Remarkably, Arno seemed unfazed, showing no interest in the serpent as we combed through the living room, finding what looked like cocaine in a small bag between the couch cushions. We continued through the rest of the house, finding small amounts of drugs in different areas.
Day 2:
On to the next search warrant. Our search led us through the kitchen to a child’s bedroom, where we encountered cages containing three rabbits, posing yet another distraction for Arno. Despite the temptation, he remained steadfast, undeterred by the presence of the small creatures. Handling through it is the key.
Moving to the bathroom, we faced an unexpected obstacle as Arno lay on his side beneath the tub. Sensing something amiss, I quickly pulled him out, revealing a stash of illicit substances hidden in the far corner. It was a testament to Arno’s training and instincts that we were able to uncover the hidden cache.
Day 3:
Another search warrant, where my K9, Arno, encountered a series of challenges. In the kitchen, the overwhelming scent of drugs emanating from the table tested the limits of his olfactory prowess. With patience and handling, Arno had to learn to overcome such intense odors, staying focused on the task at hand. Despite the overwhelming odors and distractions in the apartment, Arno did a tremendous job of finding the stashes of drugs in the kitchen and bedrooms.
Reflections:
Reflecting on the week’s events, I couldn’t help but recall my unconventional solution to working around snakes. Despite my reluctance to introduce such a creature into my workspace, I had found a practical arrangement with a friend who owned a pet store. By creating hides around the snake cages, I ensured minimal interference with our duties, as the reptiles proved to be of little concern to Arno.
Working in the pet store gave me the opportunity to work around cat and rabbit cages, which was another level of training for Arno. When we first started, I made the hides, and then once I became familiar with the surroundings, I had my friend make unknown hides.
Some key areas in the private sector that I have the dog check are washers and dryers, lockers, and vacuum cleaners. These areas could tell a story.
Setting myself up for success in my training of dogs always has me looking for different environments and distractions. This, I believe, is the key to a successful training session. Click here to learn more about my background.
After working and training with police departments around the world, especially in the United States, it has given me in the private sector a better perspective on the utilization of the detection dog. Over the years, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department has been extremely generous in allowing me to join in with my dogs to do maintenance work with them. Great bunch of guys!
