| Police Protection Dogs are a valuable asset to | | | | track scents left behind by the disturbance of the |
| police forces everywhere and essential to many | | | | ground as a human walks or runs, and thus kicks |
| police operations. Among all of their capabilities, | | | | up a variety of dust and dirt particles along the |
| tracking is one of the most frequently used. | | | | way. Others have suggested that dogs are |
| However, when dealing with serious cases, as the | | | | primarily focused on the scent of the feet or |
| police often do, the reliability of a dog's tracking | | | | shoes that have left behind traces as they have |
| ability is of incredible importance. At present, | | | | rubbed against the ground. Others still say that |
| United States courts do not consider a dog's | | | | unique human scents are left behind as a |
| tracking ability to be 100% reliable. The results | | | | multitude of skin cells and hair are shed from our |
| produced by a police tracking dog can only be | | | | bodies. The reality is that a well trained tracking |
| used as supporting evidence, and cannot be | | | | dog will be looking out for a mix of both human |
| presented as the only available evidence. | | | | scent as well as ground disturbance. However, |
| Furthermore, the dog's tracking ability must also | | | | human scent must remain the focus with ground |
| be proven to be reliable. In all cases, the first test | | | | disturbance acting only to assist in maintaining the |
| of reliability is the dog's ability to track human | | | | trail on a human scent. A reliable dog must be able |
| scent. | | | | to demonstrate the ability to track human scent |
| A dog's ability to reliably track human scent has | | | | without getting distracted by converging trails left |
| been a topic of debate for many years. As | | | | by other humans. |
| humans, it is difficult for us to understand the | | | | The key to reliability in a police protection dog is |
| process of scent tracking from a canine | | | | to begin training at an early age. It is not enough |
| perspective. The canine nose is more than capable | | | | to simply begin training track drive in a young |
| of identifying between a wide variety of scents, | | | | Belgian Malinois puppy or German Shepherd puppy. |
| but ensuring that a police dog is following the | | | | Detecting human scent should be taught almost |
| correct scent is far more difficult. The biggest | | | | from the beginning, and should remain the focus |
| skeptics have always maintained that rather than | | | | of tracking exercises throughout the dog's career. |
| tracking a humans unique scent signature, dogs | | | | |