Drug dogs are trained to detect various substances like marijuana, crack, heroin, and now, fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. While it is prescribed for chronic pain, illegal use can lead to overdose and death. Specially trained dogs are used to sniff out fentanyl and alert the police. This article explores how dogs are trained to detect fentanyl and the signs that your dog may have encountered it.
Signs Your Dog is Smelling Fentanyl
Trained dogs will exhibit specific behaviors when they detect fentanyl, such as scratching, pawing, and sitting in front of the source. They may also bark, whine, whimper, or howl. Untrained dogs might exhibit curiosity by sniffing the air or following a scent with their noses to the ground. They may ignore people and other dogs to track down the source and may paw, claw, bite, or scratch at it to get attention.
Body Language
Accidental ingestion of fentanyl can be fatal for dogs. Signs to watch out for include whining, weakness, whimpering, tail tucking, dilated pupils, and whale eye. Other signs may include diarrhea, slow or stopped breathing, coma, lethargy, sedation, and vomiting.
The History of Drug Detection Dogs
Dogs have long been used for their exceptional olfactory abilities. Bloodhounds were used by the London police force in the late 1880s to catch Jack the Ripper, and dogs were used by the US military to detect bombs during World War II. Law enforcement, government, and military organizations continue to use dogs to sniff out drugs, explosives, and weapons.
The Science Behind the Sniffer
Dogs have wet, spongy noses that not only allow them to sniff but also capture scent. Their nostrils have folds of tissue that separate air into two channels – one for breathing and one for smelling. Dogs have up to 300 million olfactory receptors on their noses, compared to humans’ 6 million. Their olfactory cortex, responsible for smell, is 40 times larger than humans’, giving them a sense of smell that is 10,000 to 100,000 times more acute.
Training Your Dog to Detect Drugs
Dogs trained to detect drugs are not addicted to or crave drugs. Instead, they associate the smell of drugs with their favorite toy. To train your dog to detect substances, work with a licensed trainer. For at-home training, introduce play as a reward for correctly following basic obedience commands. Then, hide the toy and reward your dog with playtime when they find it. Gradually introduce the scent with the toy and increase the difficulty of hiding spots. Eventually, remove the toy and reward your dog when they successfully detect the scent.
“The incredible power of a dog’s nose: Sniffing out fentanyl to save lives”
Tips & Things to Know
1️⃣ Be aware of the signs that your dog may be smelling fentanyl. This can include scratching, pawing, sitting in front of a specific area, barking, whining, or ignoring other people and dogs to hunt down the scent.
2️⃣ Understand the body language of your dog if you suspect they have ingested fentanyl. Look out for signs such as whining, weakness, whimpering, tail tucking, dilated pupils, diarrhea, slow or stopped breathing, coma, lethargy, sedation, or vomiting.
3️⃣ If you want to train your dog to detect drugs, work with a licensed trainer who can help you ensure your dog is well-prepared. Use play as a reward and gradually introduce the scent you want your dog to detect, rewarding them with playtime when they find it.
Frequently Asked Questions, Answered ✅
1. What is fentanyl and why are dogs trained to sniff it out?
Answer: Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is used illegally and can cause overdose and death. Dogs are trained to sniff it out to help law enforcement identify and seize these drugs.
2. How do dogs sniff out fentanyl and how are they trained to do it?
Answer: Dogs are trained to detect the scent of fentanyl through specific signals such as scratching, pawing, sitting, barking, whining, or howling. They are trained using reward-based methods, associating the scent with their favorite toy.
3. What are the signs that a dog is smelling fentanyl?
Answer: Dogs trained to detect fentanyl may exhibit behaviors such as scratching, pawing, sitting, barking, whining, or howling. Dogs not trained to detect drugs may exhibit behaviors such as sniffing high in the air or following a scent with their noses pressed to the ground.
4. What are the signs that a dog has accidentally ingested fentanyl?
Answer: Signs that a dog may have accidentally ingested fentanyl include whining, weakness, whimpering, tail tucking, dilated pupils, whale eye, diarrhea, slow breathing, stopped breathing, coma, lethargy, sedation, and vomiting.
5. How are dogs able to sniff out drugs with such accuracy?
Answer: Dogs have a highly developed sense of smell, with up to 300 million olfactory receptors on their noses compared to humans’ 6 million. Their olfactory cortex is also about 40 times larger than humans’, making their sense of smell much more acute.
