ABSTRACT
Chemical analysis of odor has a relationship with work of detection dogs in (1) identifying what chemicals and patterns of chemicals may be detected by dogs,1 as well as identifying compounds they may not detect2; (2) designing optimal training aids that will most closely replicate the odors for which they are being deployed (see Chapter 18 herein); (3) improving existing chemical sensory procedures and instruments (see Chapter 7), and developing new technologies, including electronic noses3; (4) understanding the effect of environmental factors (seasonal, temperature, humidity, rainfall, etc.) on odor profiles (Meyer et al. 2013; Forbes and Perrault 2014; Forbes et al. 2014); (5) establishing comprehensive databases of chemicals associated with various events and items of interest in forensics, medical, and other scientific analysis (Vass et al. 2004); (6) evaluating training regimens for detection dogs (Harper et al. 2004, 2005); and (7) providing greater certainty as to the evidentiary value in criminal prosecutions of the reactions of trained detection dogs to odors of accelerants (Kurz et al. 1996) and individuals (scent identification as discussed in Chapter 19, cadavers in Chapter 16, and narcotics and explosives in Chapter 18).
