ABSTRACT
Detection canines have been utilized throughout the world for over a century, and while numerous attempts have been made to replicate the canine’s ability to detect substances by mechanical means, none has been as successful. The olfactory system is a highly intricate and sophisticated design for chemical sensing, and the olfactory capacity of many animals, including canines, is considered unmatched by machine due to not only their great sensitivity and superior selectivity but also their trainability and mobility. These unique features have led to the use of such animals as "whole-animal" biosensors.
Amplifying the benefits and diminishing the limitations of detection canines' interdisciplinary research is crucial to understanding canine olfaction and detection and enhancing this powerful and complex detector. The past 50 years have produced vast advancements in animal behavior/training technology to develop canines into more proficient and reliable sensors, while scientific research has provided tremendous support to help practitioners better understand how to utilize this powerful sensor. This book assembles a diverse group of authors with expertise in a variety of fields relating to detection canines and the chemical sensing industry, including both research and operational perspectives on detection canines. It illustrates how science enhances our understanding of how canines are employed for solving some of the world’s leading detection challenges.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
section Section 1|177 pages
A Dog's World: Chemical Sensing Through Olfaction
chapter Chapter 2|42 pages
Comparing the Olfactory Capabilities of Dogs with Machines Designed to Detect Odors
section Section 2|200 pages
Understanding the Canine Biosensor: Fundamentals
chapter Chapter 6|35 pages
Neurobiological, Cognitive, and Behavioral Bases of Canine Olfactory Capabilities in Detection
section Section 3|154 pages
Fostering an Effective Sensor: Training and Evaluation
chapter Chapter 10|31 pages
Training the Sensor: Impacts of Learning on Canine Detection and Performance
chapter Chapter 11|25 pages
Training Considerations for Operational Performance: Train the Handler, Train the Dog, Train the Team
chapter Chapter 14|22 pages
Considerations in Vapor Generation and Delivery for Canine Testing and Training
section Section 4|252 pages
The Canine Biosensor in Practice