What the Dog Knows

1. A Difficult Dog Led to an Unexpected Path

I never thought death could have an upside. I certainly never expected a dog to point that out to me.

Solo's challenging start. The author's German shepherd, Solo, was a singleton puppy, lacking crucial early socialization with littermates. This resulted in behavioral issues like poor bite inhibition and aggression towards other dogs, making traditional obedience training difficult and frustrating.

Seeking a solution. Desperate for a way to channel Solo's intense energy and drive, the author sought advice from experienced trainers. Traditional dog sports and therapy work seemed unsuitable for his unpredictable nature. This search for a job for Solo unexpectedly led to the suggestion of cadaver work.

An unconventional fit. Cadaver work, or human remains detection (HRD), appealed because it often involves working alone, minimizing Solo's problematic interactions with other dogs. It offered a practical, meaningful task for his powerful nose and relentless drive, transforming his perceived flaws into potential assets for a specialized job.

2. Cadaver Work Offers Meaning and Purpose

For him, human death is a big game. To win, all he has to do is smell it, get as close as he can to it, tell me about it, and then get his reward: playing tug-of-war with a rope toy.

Finding purpose in the grim. The author, initially uncomfortable with the idea of working with death, found unexpected meaning and even joy in cadaver work. Solo's enthusiastic, game-like approach to searching for human remains reframed the somber task.

A needed service. Cadaver dogs provide a vital service, helping families and law enforcement find missing persons, often in tragic circumstances. This practical application of Solo's skills felt more engaging and purposeful than the author's previous hobbies or even some aspects of her academic career.

Beyond the macabre. While the subject matter is dark, the work itself is a challenging puzzle that requires intense focus and partnership. The process of reading Solo's body language, navigating difficult terrain, and working with dedicated law enforcement and search professionals illuminated other aspects of the author's life and provided a sense of immersion and challenge she craved.

3. The Dog's Nose: A Complex and Mysterious Tool

Neurobiologists aren’t that interested in setting up olfaction competitions between species. They don’t care which species’ nose is “the best.”

Beyond simple metrics. While dogs are widely known for their superior sense of smell compared to humans, the exact degree of this superiority is often exaggerated and varies greatly depending on the substance. Scientists are less concerned with declaring a "best" nose and more interested in understanding the complex mechanisms of olfaction across species.

What dogs actually smell. The precise chemical compounds that dogs detect as "cadaver scent" are still not fully understood. Human decomposition is a complex process releasing hundreds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). While some compounds like cadaverine and putrescine are known, dogs likely react to a specific combination or pattern of scents, which can vary based on:

• Stage of decomposition (fresh vs. old)
• Environment (buried, surface, water)
• Individual factors (diet, chemicals ingested)

Training enhances ability. Like human experts (perfumers, wine tasters), a dog's olfactory ability is significantly enhanced through training and experience. Trained working dogs can distinguish scents at incredibly low concentrations and differentiate between complex odor profiles that untrained dogs or machines cannot.

4. Working Dogs Have a Long, Varied, and Often Dark History

Although they have been cherished for their good qualities—hunter, guard, herder, friend, worker—the inverse dog is the spoiler of human graves and eater of corpses, the keeper of hell’s gates.

Ancient roles. Dogs have been intertwined with human life and death for millennia. Ancient cultures, like the Zoroastrians and Egyptians, incorporated dogs into funerary rites, viewing them as guides or protectors of the dead, often stemming from observations of their scavenging behavior.

From utility to terror. Historically, dogs were used for practical tasks like hunting and herding. However, their abilities were also exploited for darker purposes, such as tracking runaway slaves or prisoners. The image of the "bloodhound" became a symbol of terror in the American South, though the dogs used were often mixed breeds encouraged to be aggressive.

Modern specialization. The 20th century saw a rapid expansion in the use of working dogs, particularly in law enforcement and military roles. Driven by needs in war and rising crime rates, dogs were trained for specialized tasks like detecting:

• Bombs and land mines
• Narcotics
• Suspects (patrol/apprehension)
• Search and rescue (live find)

This era also saw the formal development of cadaver dog programs, initially for military disaster recovery and later adopted by civilian law enforcement and volunteer teams.

5. Effective Training Builds Drive, Environmental Toughness, and Handler Skill

If you can’t act like a crazy person, you will not be a good dog trainer. Don’t be scared to do things that make you interesting to the dog.

Beyond basic obedience. Training a working dog, especially for scent detection, goes far beyond teaching commands like sit or heel. It requires channeling the dog's natural drives (play, hunt, retrieve) and building environmental toughness so they can work confidently in diverse and challenging locations.

Foundation is key. Early training focuses on creating a strong association between the target scent (e.g., cadaver) and a high-value reward (toy, specific game). Techniques like the "shell game" with buckets or boxes teach the dog to identify and commit to the scent source.

Handler's role. The handler's attitude and skill are paramount. Trainers emphasize:

• Keeping training fun and engaging ("Be more exciting than pee on a tree!")
• Learning to read the dog's subtle body language and "alert" signals
• Allowing the dog independence to work the scent problem
• Building the dog's confidence through positive reinforcement and exposure to various environments (rubble, water, woods)

This partnership requires the handler to be both a guide and a follower, trusting the dog's nose while providing direction and support.

6. Human Credulity and Bias Undermine Canine Reliability

Most people are rather confident of their ability to recognize bullshit and to avoid being taken in by it.

The Clever Hans effect. Just as the horse Clever Hans responded to subtle, unconscious cues from his handler, dogs can be influenced by human expectations and body language. Handlers, wanting their dogs to succeed, can inadvertently cue them, leading to false alerts.

False alerts and their consequences. False alerts, where a dog indicates scent is present when it is not, are a significant challenge. While sometimes due to residual scent or environmental factors, they can also stem from handler error or a dog learning to "please" the handler by alerting. Unchecked, this can lead to:

• Wasted resources (unnecessary excavation)
• Undermining the credibility of the dog and handler
• Potentially contributing to wrongful accusations or convictions

Combating bias. Training methods must actively work to mitigate handler bias and the Clever Hans effect. This includes:

• Blind and double-blind training problems (handler doesn't know hide location)
• Negative searches (searching areas with no scent)
• Focusing on the dog's clear, trained alert behavior, not handler interpretation

The legal system is increasingly scrutinizing canine evidence, highlighting the need for rigorous, unbiased training and handling protocols.

7. Realistic Scenarios Are Essential for Preparedness

If all the search world’s a stage, and all the handlers merely players acting out their parts, I think some of us find ourselves in the “Zombie Handler Act.”

Training for reality. Effective working dog training moves beyond simple scent drills to complex scenarios that mimic real-world conditions. These scenarios challenge both the dog and the handler to work effectively amidst distractions, difficult terrain, and psychological pressures.

Beyond finding scent. Scenarios teach handlers to:

• Interpret subtle dog behavior in challenging environments
• Work within operational constraints (crime tape, difficult access)
• Make strategic decisions based on wind, terrain, and historical information
• Deal with negative searches (finding nothing) without discouraging the dog

Avoiding "Zombie Handler" syndrome. Once handlers gain confidence, they can sometimes become complacent, passively watching their dogs instead of actively partnering. Realistic scenarios, including "stings" with false positives or unexpected distractions (like mouse juice or horse hooves), keep handlers engaged and test their ability to read their dogs accurately under pressure.

8. Searching Involves Grief, Frustration, and Unexpected Relief

The grief and nightmares of not finding someone belong to the missing person’s family and friends, not me. It would be presumptuous to appropriate them.

The emotional landscape. While finding a missing person is the goal and brings a sense of accomplishment, the process of searching is often emotionally taxing. Handlers witness the grief of families and face the frustration of vast search areas and limited leads.

The dread of missing something. The author's greatest fear is not finding a body, but learning later that they missed a body in an area they searched. This possibility fuels relentless self-questioning and review of search strategies and dog behavior.

Finding relief. Even when another team finds the missing person, it brings a profound sense of relief. Knowing that the person was found, regardless of who located them, eliminates the agonizing uncertainty and the fear of a "false negative" in their own search area.

9. Dogs Have Played Vital Roles in War and Disaster Recovery

You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye / Who cheer when soldier lads march by, / Sneak home and pray you’ll never know / The hell where youth and laughter go.

From battle to mercy. Dogs have served in military conflicts for centuries, initially for attack and guarding. World War I saw the rise of "mercy dogs" or "sanitary dogs" trained to find wounded soldiers on the battlefield, carrying medical supplies.

Post-conflict recovery. While the focus was on the living, the grim reality of war meant many soldiers were left behind. Formal efforts to recover war dead evolved over time, but it wasn't until the 21st century that the U.S. military officially deployed cadaver dogs to search for servicemen missing from past conflicts, like Vietnam.

Modern disaster response. Dogs are indispensable in disaster recovery efforts, from building collapses (like L'Ambiance Plaza) to hurricanes and earthquakes. Their ability to cover large areas and locate victims, both living and deceased, in chaotic and dangerous environments makes them invaluable tools when technology falls short.

10. Water Cadaver Work Requires Unique Skills and Trust

“Believe me, my young friend, there is NOTHING—absolutely nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing,” he went on dreamily . . . “Look ahead, Rat!” cried the Mole suddenly.

A different medium. Searching for human remains in water presents unique challenges compared to land searches. Scent behaves differently in water, bubbling up from decomposing bodies and moving with currents and temperature gradients.

Canine adaptation. Dogs must learn to work from a boat, which becomes their "legs." They cannot run freely to the source of scent. Instead, they must communicate subtle cues to the handler and boat operator to guide them towards the strongest scent plume.

Handler-dog synergy. Water work demands exceptional teamwork and trust. The handler must learn to read the dog's specific water-based signals (licking lips, head turns, pawing) and translate them into directions for the boat. The dog must trust the handler to move the boat correctly based on their indications.

11. Despite Tech, Dogs Remain the Best Detection System

“When I started doing work in this area twenty years ago, I originally thought we would be able to make a machine that could replicate a dog,” said analytical chemist Ken Furton. “But it’s not going to happen in my lifetime. We are not going to replicate what a dog can do.”

The promise of artificial noses. For decades, scientists and engineers have pursued the development of electronic or biomimetic noses to replace working dogs. These technologies promise advantages like never tiring, not being affected by weather, and detecting minute concentrations.

Limitations of technology. Despite significant investment and advancements, artificial noses and other technologies (like bomb-detecting ferns or search vultures) have not matched the overall capabilities of a trained dog. Dogs possess a unique combination of skills:

• High sensitivity and discrimination
• Adaptability to diverse environments and conditions
• Mobility and ability to navigate complex terrain
• Cognitive judgment to filter distractions and avoid false positives
• Ability to communicate findings clearly (through trained alerts)
• Interaction with handlers and ability to work as a team

The enduring partnership. While technology can complement canine search efforts (e.g., ground-penetrating radar for burials), dogs remain the most effective tool for many detection tasks, particularly those involving complex, variable scents in challenging, dynamic environments.

12. The Enduring Partnership and Facing the Future

“My knees say, ‘You stupid idiot,’ but I just can’t picture doing anything else,” he told me.

Aging and retirement. Working dogs, like their human partners, age. Physical ailments eventually limit their ability to perform demanding search tasks. Handlers face the difficult decision of retiring their beloved partners and, often, starting the training process anew with a younger dog.

The cycle continues. Starting over with a new puppy is a significant undertaking, requiring immense time, energy, and patience. It involves building a new bond and teaching foundational skills from scratch, often with the knowledge that the new dog may not possess the same natural talents as the previous one.

The bond transcends the task. Despite the physical demands, emotional toll, and the inevitable loss of partners, handlers remain committed to the work and the unique bond it creates. The partnership with a working dog provides a profound sense of purpose, challenge, and connection that is difficult to find elsewhere.

Last updated: May 31, 2025