Unlike cops, you cannot trick narcotic detector dogs

Cops and other drug enforcement arms of the government have been using narcotic detector dogs to sniff and find illegal substances. While their human counterpart may have lapses in judgement, the dog’s nose does not lie.

Dogs have been involved in many of drug cases in Kalinga Province, serving in the anti-drug campaign of the government. Without them, says one police officer, the work will be more difficult since drug runners and peddlers have many ingenious ways of hiding their contraband.

PSSgt. Lester Balana, k9 handler in Kalinga Province, said drug sniffing dogs can trace the slightest presence of illegal drugs. That is why even if the narcotics cannot be readily seen, these K9 dogs shall be able to find exactly where the drug is hidden.

“Jay mata tayo ket agpatingga lang, pero jay aso adayu nga napigpigsa iti panag angangot iti aso kaysa kadatayo. Isunga haan mo mai-conceal dayta kasi uray nu concealed dayta, nu naisemento, sumngaw nga sumngaw latta jay angot na,” he explained.

Narcotic detector dogs are the working line breeds such as German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Labrador Retriever, Jack Russell Retriever, Beagle, Dutch Shepherd, and Golden Retriever. The toy or pet dogs, he said, are only for obedience training due to their personality and characteristics.

The Police Staff Sergeant further explained that as for Aspin or Asong Pinoy, they are more for search and rescue given their remarkable endurance as compared to these foreign breeds which are more ideal as narcotic detectors.

The Training of narcotic detector dogs

These narcotic detector dogs before they can go to the field have to undergo around 6 months training. Usually, Balani said, they start training a dog as early as 3 months old and that they start with obedience which could last for two months.

Following obedience is a 4-month imprinting period wherein these dogs will be introduced to substances which they are to recognize. After, there will be the separation of odor training to see which smell the dog has difficulty in identifying.

Lastly, the correction stage wherein the dog is given freedom to decipher the substance which will be corrected by the handler. Just like humans, there are also those dogs who are hard headed but they soon will listen, depending on the connection and bonding of the dog and the handler.

On negative indication

As to false indication, Balani said that there could be discrepancy on the alarm or indication the dog will be give due to residual odor or the flow of the wind.

He said that on instances wherein a dog will show positive indication that an illegal substance is being concealed in an area or baggage but then turn out to be negative once checked by the seizing officer. Balani said there are reasons why the dog was alerted of a smell.

“Actually nagadu nga aspects nu apay nga nag alert isuna ijay kasi kanyami adda iti residual odor. Nu nabayag nga accumulated diyay substance ijay nga banda, absorb en diyay storage na so nu diyay pusher kumbaga sa cabinet niya lagi niyang nilalagay inala na amin napan na inlako, ag alert nga ag alert jay aso ijay,” he explained.

Balani reiterated, “hindi mo madadaya ‘yung aso.”

These drugs sniffing dogs are usually utilized in search warrants and in checkpoints. They normally serve the government until 8 – 10 years before they retire from the service.

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