This talk will explain how new scientific discoveries are dispelling common K9 odor myths and how new national standards incorporating these discoveries will impact detection teams particularly when you are asked to testify in the courtroom including:
- The Ability of dogs to differentiate between subtle differences in target odors including Hemp versus marijuana odors and the impact of marijuana training aids used including pseudo scents.
- The ability of dogs to be trained to locate mass storage devices and the unique volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in cellular phones, hard drives, CDs, thumb drives, SIM cards and electronic controls. The development of canine detection calibrants and the potential impact on improving the reliability of detection teams.
- How national standardization efforts over 20 years have culminated in approved Standards. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for Detector Dogs through the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS- ASB) is disseminating national standards.
- These standards began in SWGDOG best practice guidelines starting in 2004, through OSAC Dogs & Sensors guidance documents which began in 2014.
- There are currently dozens of approved and under development national standards and this talk will show how the attendees can get involved through the International Commission on Detector Dogs (ICODD). Dr. Furton is the Director of ICODD and Dr. Frank is the Coordinator of ICODD.