NCJ Number
218539
Date Published
October 2006
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether the common Dutch method of making training aids for explosive detection by dogs could be used to train dogs in the reliable detection of various kinds of solid triacetone triperoxide (TATP) explosive mixtures.
Abstract
Dogs trained to respond to the training aids created by the common Dutch method showed a sufficient response to various kinds of crystalline TATP; no systematic false alerts on either acetone or hydrogen peroxide were noted. The Dutch method of making dog training aids for explosives involves impregnating stainless steel tubes or other objects with the odor of an explosive by storing them for a minimum of 24 hours in a glass jar with solid explosives, but without direct contact with the explosives. This method of producing training aids for dogs is particularly useful for TATP explosives, since TATP is extremely dangerous to synthesize and handle. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a training aid that can be produced in a safe manner while providing training that reliably transfers to effective detection in the field. In the current study, training aids were created with TATP produced in very small amounts that used pure base compounds. Both experienced and new dogs were trained using these aids. The dog search tests with the training aids consisted of a number of consecutive searches of a set of cupboards. 4 tables and 8 references