Explosive Detection Dogs are specialized in finding military and industrial explosives also they are able to find self made explosives.
The corresponding teams are used for example in airports, railway stations, buildings and also for event-protection.
The education of Explosive Detection Dogs is based on the utilization of the natural motivation of the dog. Most of the time there is an opinion that Explosive Detection Dogs do not own an excessive game-motivation, since it should show the ex- plosives „passively “(through „leadership“). That is not quite true.
The dog must own a strongly distinctive and mortgageable playfulness in order to be able to enforce enough motivation for a longer intensive search because the materials are not always strongly fragrant. Also a very spirited dog learns to show the explosives quietly.
Especially in hot climate-zones like Saudi Arabia, Africa or Sri Lanka is the high motivation important, so that the dogs performances are optimall.
The transaction of the search as well as the search-system is dependent on the rule-works of the customer.
The one system intends a long leash, in which the dog-handler „presents“ the objects being scanned to the dog.
Other customers prefer them as „free-search.“
Both systems have advantages — and disadvant- ages.
By keeping on the leash it could happen that the dog has already perceived a smell but is escorted away from it and possibly exactly this material will not interest him any more.
This is because he assumes that an ad-behaviour is not wished here, since he was led away instead being confirmed.
With the free-search it is possible that the Explosive Detection Dog receives weather very quickly and shows the material. It can however also occur that the dog „goes over a material “, this is because many explosives do not smell very in- tensive.
We therefore consider a combination from both systems the best solution.
First the „free-search“ and then by keeping on the leash for a more intensive treatment.
The ability of the dog-leader is especially important here to perceive lowest changes in the behaviour of his Explosive Detection Dog. As well, he must know exactly the individual body-language of the dog. Because long before the dog shows through „leadership “, he sends out body-signals.