Introduction

Gerry Adams is a security consultant in Washington since 1972. His partner, Jarro, is a Dutch Shepherd. Dutch Shepherd Dogs are commonly used for explosive detection work. International Detection Canine Foundation (IDCF) certifies this team as an explosive detection team.

Scent

Detection dogs are selected for their drive and keen sense of smell. Dogs with long snouts and plenty of exposed nose tend to have a keener sense of smell. The farther up a dog’s nasal passage the more discriminating the alveoli is.

Therefore Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Malinois, Dutch Shepherds, and German Shepherds are commonly used as detector dogs. Many individuals from these breeds display vigorous drive and they all have physical characteristics providing a long nasal passage.

Scent constantly tries to flow from higher concentrations to lower concentrations. To this end odors will bleed through containers and a detector dog will find it. Several factors can influence this including temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure.

Everything has an odor. Some things are just odorless to people.

Explosive Odors

There are literally thousands of explosives, combinations, mixtures, and compounds. This is not to say that an Explosive Detector Dog (EDD) must detect and discriminate thousands of explosives.

All commonly used commercial and military explosives contain products that are found in five common explosive families. All these explosives, combinations, mixtures, and compounds contain at least one of the explosive families.

Any of a number of other ingredients can be added to an explosive mixture. Some of these ingredients are intended to enhance the explosive nature of the product. These products are not detectable when found alone. But these very same products pose no threat when found alone. An EDD will ignore those added odors and search only for the explosives.

Therefore an EDD need only detect and discriminate the five explosive families in order to detect all the commonly used commercial and military explosives.

Reliability

Some certifying and accreditation agencies allow EDDs to certify with a reliability rate as low as 92%. Others require a demonstrated reliability of 100%. Simply because an EDD has a reliability rate of 100% by no means assures complete protection from threat of explosives.

If an EDD is100% reliable and is only tasked to screen 50% of the luggage at a passenger terminal the effective reliability of the screening is only 50%. If a 100% reliable EDD screens only one or two sections of a stadium the spectators seated in that area are assured an explosive-free environment. The remaining spectators will not have such assurance.

In order to maintain the effectiveness and proficiency of an EDD team, on-going training is necessary. Maintenance training and annual re-certification are two ways of maintaining, and documenting, reliability.

Of all the explosive detection and deterrent methods available an Explosive Detector Dog is the best single technique.

Program Components

Any business or governmental organization that is realistically at risk of threat by explosives must first conduct an assessment in order to determine their actual needs. The assessment will allow reasoned decisions when considering whether to add security personnel, harden a perimeter, select training criteria, or when best to deploy an EDD.

A comprehensive safety and security program must include combinations of tools and techniques in order to provide the best possible protection.

Line personnel must be selected based on their history of reliability and their desire to assure protection. They must be afforded adequate training and education.

Supervisory personnel must be selected based on their proven experience, history of reliability, their familiarity with and understanding of industry practices, and a desire to assure protection.

An explosive deterrent and response plan should be an integral part of any safety and security program. Protocols and procedures must be developed that are specific to each location.

The EDD team is a part of the overall safety and security program. It is the essential component for an explosive deterrent and response plan.

Conclusion

There is no single preventative measure that can detect and deter the threat of explosives. A safety and security program that is realistic, comprehensive, and complete must be in place in order to assure the greatest level of protection.

Program components must include appropriate protocols and procedures for explosives deterrence and response.

Essential components of any explosive deterrence and response plan include a realistic threat assessment, proper selection and training of personnel, and the proper deployment of Explosive Detector Dog teams.