The Nose Knows

A Dog’s Nose Can Solve Murders

A dog’s nose is so powerful that it enables them to sniff out the chemical a decomposing body emits. They can sniff out 1-2 drops of blood, even if they are enclosed in the trunk of a car! These dogs are the superheroes who can solve murders. That’s why they have been nicknamed “Cadaver Dogs.” They are distinct from search and rescue dogs because they can detect decomposing flesh.

Sometimes they help find people buried in debris caused by natural disasters. Under these circumstances, search and rescue and cadaver dogs usually work side by side. Some dogs have located fallen soldiers. Their noses can also help to find missing children and adults while they’re still alive. Law enforcement relies on cadaver dogs to help solve crimes. Not only does this provide more evidence that can be used in court, it can provide closure in cases where a person is assumed dead, but not definitively so. These dogs have a remarkable ability to recognize decomposing flesh regardless of whether it’s hours old or decades old!

The Nose Knows

These amazing dogs can detect the remains of a person buried 15 feet underground. They can find remains 38 feet underwater. Their noses perform these tasks with 95% accuracy. A dog’s sense of smell is so astute that they can even differentiate between animal and human remains. So, as they search for a body in a forest, they can ignore decomposing squirrels or birds.

Cadaver dogs, on average, can cover about 10,763,910 square feet in one day’s search. Their goal is to please their masters and perform on duty. They do not rest until a cadaver, a drop of blood, or a piece of a fingernail is detected. Cadaver dogs can also identify crime scenes, even when the body is moved. They can find the scent in one place and then lead law enforcement to the new location of the body.

Nose Training

It takes about 1,000 hours of training before a Cadaver Dog can perform on the field. They train for 18 months to 2 years to receive the “Cadaver Dog” title. These canine heroes have become one of our greatest security assets.

There are 14 breeds of dogs best suited for work as a Cadaver Dog. They aren’t heroes just on TV murder mysteries. These dogs are real-life heroes who live in real homes with real people. The difference is that they are highly driven and have an intense ability to focus and work for extended periods of time.

Potpourri of Noses

Cadaver dogs can live with a family, but their noses are always at work. Surprisingly, some of the breeds that are trained to be cadaver dogs are sometimes misjudged as dangerous dogs. Others are known as sweet and lovable, or extremely intelligent. So, it can be surmised that the commonality between these breeds is their attention span, eagerness to work, and yearning to please their masters. These are the breeds most commonly trained as Cadaver Dogs:

If you have one of these breeds, consider having them trained to be a Cadaver Dog. Your pet could become a superhero if the need arises in your area for a dog with a spectacular nose to sniff out a missing child or locate a dead body. It’s work your pet would love, and you’d have some great stories to tell!

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