K-9 Detection

May 5, 2022

Question: I saw a recent CDFW Facebook post that said K-9s can be trained to sniff out gunpowder, quagga mussels, deer, bear, abalone, shark fin, ivory and marijuana. I can understand the gunpowder and the animal products—but does ivory have a smell?

Answer: Yes! CDFW’s Law Enforcement Division has K-9s that are trained to detect (or “sniff”) ivory. K-9s can be useful in this regard because of the number of very high-quality synthetic ivory replicas out there. Wildlife officers are trained in ivory identification, but K-9s trained to detect ivory can make an investigation much more efficient.

Generally speaking, dogs can be trained to identify distinct smells even when the item has no detectable odor to humans. Some dogs have even been trained to alert on imperceivable odors such as the presence of cancer in blood samples. CDFW K-9s have been trained to locate saltwater fish, abalone, crab, lobster, firearms, gunpowder, freshwater fish, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, cannabis, deer, bear, ivory, shark fin, quagga mussels and grey squirrel.

Not really surprising.
My K9 has self trained to detect cheese from 1 part per million it seems.

Not really surprising.
My K9 has self trained to detect cheese from 1 part per million it seems.

mine has managed to do this with, of all things, zucchini!!

Not really surprising.
My K9 has self trained to detect cheese from 1 part per million it seems.

mine has managed to do this with, of all things, zucchini!!

Mine does this with watermelon rinds... Strangest thing I've ever seen. He loves em!

Not really surprising.
My K9 has self trained to detect cheese from 1 part per million it seems.

Moe Larry Cheese!

https://youtu.be/us7SZKdPDIM?t=1

Here's a dog checking for invasive species at a boat check station in Montana.

Had a K-9 inspection at I think New Melones?  It was great, so much easier than the 3rd 4th and 5th degree you might get at an EB lake.  But it must not have been trained for all those things 

Not really surprising.
My K9 has self trained to detect cheese from 1 part per million it seems.

mine has managed to do this with, of all things, zucchini!!

Mine does this with watermelon rinds... Strangest thing I've ever seen. He loves em!

Mine does this with mushrooms.  And will eat them if not muzzled. 

Not really surprising.
My K9 has self trained to detect cheese from 1 part per million it seems.

mine has managed to do this with, of all things, zucchini!!

Mine does this with watermelon rinds... Strangest thing I've ever seen. He loves em!

Mine does this with mushrooms.  And will eat them if not muzzled.

Maybe he's hoping for the magic kind...

My dog is trained to find western pond turtle shells which is pretty much bone