Synthetic Decompesition

[Mrs.K]

I am just watching Alpha Dogs (I know this already has a topic but this is about SAR/HRD) and they just said that they start training their Cadaver dogs with Synthetic Decompesition sources on the Boxes.

I know this has been discussed before and people generally are not impressed with Synthetic Decomposition so how do you feel about these dogs that are trained on Synthetic Sources?

How is the transition from Synthetic stuff to Real Sources?

[jocoyn]

Since I don't know anyone who trains that way, I can't say how the transition is.

Grim had some exposure to it before I got him but I was concerned he would hit on any decomp and did a lot of proofing off of animals -- he actually did hit on animal decomp early in our training and I had to "cancel it out" with a good bit of proofing. Beau has never smelled the stuff and he has never indicated on animal remains..

It has held up in courts, though. It is a non specific odor and as soon as it has been used once (a lot of folks reuse it because of expense) the relative composition of the consituent odors change because they are volatile. It is not allowed to be used for most (if any?) of the certification tests though. With real HR the source is constantly generating new odor. Pseudo is not source, it is just volatile chemicals that release the odor when the sealed vial is snapped and air gets to it. To me that would be like training on residual odor which is something I won'd do either.

It is quite possible they train on "real thing" and use the vial to stifle conversations with the people doing the show because viewers may find it offensive.

[DinoBlue]

I don't know anyone that uses the synthetic HR stuff either. All we ever use for training/certification is the real stuff.

Originally Posted by jocoyn

It is quite possible they train on "real thing" and use the vial to stifle conversations with the people doing the show because viewers may find it offensive.

Didn't even consider this...quite possible.

[ladylaw203]

Psuedo is worthless. Cadaverine and putrecine in an alcohol carrier. both of those volatiles are also produced by decomposing animals. Also there is the threshold issue. The stuff is overpriced and worthless. Back in the day it probably sounded like a good deal. there are only a few volatiles unique to human decomposition. To train on common odors is silly. Also, I would not pay a lot of attention to what goes on with that TV show. It is not representative of all police and military trainers.................

[Mrs.K]

Originally Posted by DinoBlue

I don't know anyone that uses the synthetic HR stuff either. All we ever use for training/certification is the real stuff.



Didn't even consider this...quite possible.

Not, sure if that is the case, in the end they brought out a human foot and placed it somewhere in the woods. That being said, that little Spaniel was awesome. But they had no issues in showing that foot or to make fun of the guy who was a little squeamish around it.