Drug Detection Using Dogs

The Operational Use of Drug Detection Dogs

There are two types of drug detection dogs – passive and proactive.

Passive Detection Dogs – are trained to sit on detection of drugs. This type of training is used for searching people whether it is staff coming to work or for the public going into a night club or event.

The passive dog is highly effective because it does not raise anxiety levels.

Proactive Detection Dogs – are trained to find and retrieve drugs. The dog will search different areas of a building including toilets, cloakrooms, furniture, store rooms, lockers, eating areas, parking areas, warehouses and other common areas.

The dog will usually work off the lead to enable it to freely follow the scent. This dog will not usually be involved in searching people.

Due to the increasing number of incidents of drugs and public violence; a growing need for increased school security and drug free environments has arisen across the country.

Schools and employers are allowing detection teams into their work places as a strategy to improve safety in schools and assist in drug abuse prevention.

Drugs in Young Children

Drug dogs in schools can provide an excellent service for drug prevention. Supporters say that after the program is implemented, the drug dogs rarely find illegal substances but still provide a powerful deterrent.