Exhibit A and the Trial of D'Andre Lane.

[Robittybob1]

Without a test we don't know

Use your nose.  I'm talking about what any person is capable of smelling.

[Mr Gray]

Use your nose.  I'm talking about what any person is capable of smelling.

I'm talking about a dog

[Robittybob1]

I'm talking about a dog

Well test your dog then.  I don't have a dog.  SIL has a dog, maybe he could run a test.

Go to a local pet shop and blindfold yourself.  Can you tell what species of animal you are near just by the smell of the cage?  I doubt the difference in odours relates to cadaverine.

[Robittybob1]

Well test your dog then.  I don't have a dog.  SIL has a dog, maybe he could run a test.

Go to a local pet shop and blindfold yourself.  Can you tell what species of animal you are near just by the smell of the cage?  I doubt the difference in odours relates to cadaverine.

Since we are humans we probably have no idea of what humans smell like to a dog.

[Mr Gray]

Well test your dog then.  I don't have a dog.  SIL has a dog, maybe he could run a test.

Go to a local pet shop and blindfold yourself.  Can you tell what species of animal you are near just by the smell of the cage?  I doubt the difference in odours relates to cadaverine.

I'm interested in scientific validation if the alerts... Not more anecdotal evidence

[Robittybob1]

I'm interested in scientific validation if the alerts... Not more anecdotal evidence

The experiment I suggested is also scientific.    It can be measured and repeated.

[G-Unit]

Training is the key whatever a dog is used for. A dog is given access to the target scent over and over again. Every time he alerts to it he gets positive feedback. Not only is the dog learning which scent the trainer wants him to alert to, he's learning that the trainer can't be fooled. If the dog alerts when the scent isn't present no positive feedback is offered.

A fully trained dog knows exactly what he's looking for and exactly what he isn't looIking for. In the end the dog's alerts are a guarenteed Pavlovian response. A cadaver dog will alert every time he smells a decomposing human because he can't help it. Nothing else will trigger an alert.

[Mr Gray]

Training is the key whatever a dog is used for. A dog is given access to the target scent over and over again. Every time he alerts to it he gets positive feedback. Not only is the dog learning which scent the trainer wants him to alert to, he's learning that the trainer can't be fooled. If the dog alerts when the scent isn't present no positive feedback is offered.

A fully trained dog knows exactly what he's looking for and exactly what he isn't looIking for. In the end the dog's alerts are a guarenteed Pavlovian response. A cadaver dog will alert every time he smells a decomposing human because he can't help it. Nothing else will trigger an alert.

For these dogs the target scent is human decomposition... But they also alert to blood and decomposing pig...so there isn't a single well defined target scent

[Mr Gray]

Training is the key whatever a dog is used for. A dog is given access to the target scent over and over again. Every time he alerts to it he gets positive feedback. Not only is the dog learning which scent the trainer wants him to alert to, he's learning that the trainer can't be fooled. If the dog alerts when the scent isn't present no positive feedback is offered.

A fully trained dog knows exactly what he's looking for and exactly what he isn't looIking for. In the end the dog's alerts are a guarenteed Pavlovian response. A cadaver dog will alert every time he smells a decomposing human because he can't help it. Nothing else will trigger an alert.

Is this your opinion or a cite... Link?

[Vertigo Swirl]

Hahaha - that has nothing to do with trained and accredited cadaver dogs. The dogs would be of no use to the Police if they often gave false alerts. The alerts are circumstantial. The Police are interested in finding material for forensics to examine. They don't want them barking randomly for treats. Dear me!!

I know it’s nothing to do with cadaver dogs, I just find the cliche “dogs don’t lie” to be rather stupidly hilarious in itself and that was my light hearted riposte.

[Vertigo Swirl]

Training is the key whatever a dog is used for. A dog is given access to the target scent over and over again. Every time he alerts to it he gets positive feedback. Not only is the dog learning which scent the trainer wants him to alert to, he's learning that the trainer can't be fooled. If the dog alerts when the scent isn't present no positive feedback is offered.

A fully trained dog knows exactly what he's looking for and exactly what he isn't looIking for. In the end the dog's alerts are a guarenteed Pavlovian response. A cadaver dog will alert every time he smells a decomposing human because he can't help it. Nothing else will trigger an alert.

I thought the dogs had to be given a command before they started alerting?

[Angelo222]

I thought the dogs had to be given a command before they started alerting?

A working dog is constantly looking for commands, it makes no difference whether it is a sheepdog or a cadaver dog.

[Billy Whizz Fan Club]

I'm interested in scientific validation if the alerts... Not more anecdotal evidence

Google is your friend. There's loads of articles in forensic science journals.

[ShiningInLuz]

This is obviously a test for SIL's cadaver dog. See if it reacts to stale urine.

Gonçalo barked at his two cadaver finds to date.

He has never barked at stale urine, though he does enjoy sniffing it a lot.  The village dogs like to mark 'their' territory on their adventures.

I've never thought about testing him on stale human urine.

Now I need a specimen bottle.

[ShiningInLuz]

Training is the key whatever a dog is used for. A dog is given access to the target scent over and over again. Every time he alerts to it he gets positive feedback. Not only is the dog learning which scent the trainer wants him to alert to, he's learning that the trainer can't be fooled. If the dog alerts when the scent isn't present no positive feedback is offered.

A fully trained dog knows exactly what he's looking for and exactly what he isn't looIking for. In the end the dog's alerts are a guarenteed Pavlovian response. A cadaver dog will alert every time he smells a decomposing human because he can't help it. Nothing else will trigger an alert.

I've seen two instances where trained police cadaver dogs alerted to non-human remains.  In both alerts it was necessary for human intervention to prove that the remains were non-human.