Statistics on Drug Dog alerts?

[Bert Gamble]

I would like to know if in the US, information is tracked on how many alerts a drug dog makes actually are found to have narcotics in them upon search?

If the dog or his handler has a high number of false alerts, is there additional training required? Is the dog removed from service?

I ask this because I was watching a show on Australian Immigration. (Yes I know you can't believe everything you see on TV). On the show, there were 3 seperate instances where the dog alerted on the bag after the handler directed the dog to it several times. In each of the 3 instances, a thouough search of the bag turned up nothing, and the traveler was allowed to enter the country.

The dog was broght in because the Immigration Agent suspected something was wrong. Several bags were lined up, with only one being the suspect bag. It appeared that the handler enticed the dog to alert on a particular bag by slapping it differently than the others, and bringing the dog back to it when it did not alert the first time..

[Bert Gamble]

I don't have a link. I think it is called Border Security. It is some kind of reality show. I can't even tell you what channel it is on. I am in Angola, and it was on one of the channels here.

[Blademan21]

A false hit happened to my Grandson. He had a bag of "colon cleanser" beef jerky in his back pack. My grandson told his buddy "watch the dog hit on my backpack". His buddy said I bet you $10 he won't. Bingo the dog hit,grandson's bag was searched,his person was searched,nothing was found.
I understand the school uses a contract company for these searches. That was per the Sheriff's Dept. So yes there can be a false hit by a drug dog thats not properly trained.
That beef jerky is crazy hot. I had a small piece coming back from Front Sight this past March

[Sleighter]

Sounds a lot like the horse that could do math. If you haven't heard about it, you should read this:http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clever_Hans

In training an animal to "alert" it's important that the training is specifically for the desired find and not for the handlers actions. Animals pick up on subtleties in body language that people would rarely if ever catch.

[Bert Gamble]

Um... Kind of I guess.

[Bert Gamble]

Alright, what else were you looking for? I tried to hit on everything, trying to end the thread before it turns into cops are just trying to get everyone in trouble

It is good enough. I am beginning to understand the need to end it.

[Falconis]

I don't have a link. I think it is called Border Security. It is some kind of reality show. I can't even tell you what channel it is on. I am in Angola, and it was on one of the channels here.

damn editing

[Invisible_Dave]

Also not all false hits are false. Just because the dog hit and nothing was found doesn't mean the substance wasn't there recently.

[Bainter1212]

Just to jump in....that's what I was thinking too. Maybe somebody had a bag of pot or something in their bag and removed it at some time. Thinking that there would probably be detectable odors for quite some time after.

[oddjob]

Were they searching for drugs or was it a "fruits and vegetable" dog?

[CBR_rider]

Also not all false hits are false. Just because the dog hit and nothing was found doesn't mean the substance wasn't there recently.

Absolutely correct. When tracking people, the dog doesn't start off by finding where the human IS but rather where they WERE. The problem with bags/containers is of course that if there is no contraband there at the time the dog hits it may be impossible to determine if/when the contraband was ever there.

[tyrist]

All of our narcotics dogs are tested and certified for court purposes.

[Librarian]

Alright, if you think of a different way to ask what you're trying to figure out, feel free to pm me, been training police dogs nearly my entire life.

All of our narcotics dogs are tested and certified for court purposes.

That would seem to suggest that some information is available, if one has the need; would that be similar to, say, calibrating radar guns and the documentation of proper training?

[CBR_rider]

That would seem to suggest that some information is available, if one has the need; would that be similar to, say, calibrating radar guns and the documentation of proper training?

To an extent, yes. All agencies will have records of training completed by the handler/K9 at minimum. On a related note to see how this plays out in court (or at least how the Supreme Court views it), see Florida v. Harris from this year.

[NuGunner]

Also not all false hits are false. Just because the dog hit and nothing was found doesn't mean the substance wasn't there recently.

I'm surprised no one else mentioned this. This has happened to me when I stopped a guy who lived out of a known dope house. Guy wasn't dirty that day but dog went nuts all over his laundry in the trunk.