Cadaver Dogs and the Deathly Hallows - A survey and literature review on selection and training procedure

Human remains detection dogs (HRDDs) are powerful police assets to locate a corpse.
However, the methods used to select and train them are as diverse as the number of countries with
such a canine brigade. First, a survey sent to human remains searching brigades (Ncountries = 10;
NBrigades = 16; NHandlers = 50; Nquestions = 9), to collect their working habits confirmed the lack of
optimized selection and training procedures. Second, a literature review was performed in order
to outline the strengths and shortcomings of HRDDs training. A comparison between the scientific
knowledge and the common practices used by HRDDs brigade was then conducted focusing on
HRDDs selection and training procedures. We highlighted that HRDD handlers select their dogs by
focusing on behavioral traits while neglecting anatomical features, which have been shown to be
important. Most HRDD handlers reported to use a reward-based training, which is in accordance
with training literature for dogs. Training aids should be representative of the odor target to allow a
dog to reach optimal performances. The survey highlighted the wide diversity of homemade training
aids, and the need to optimize their composition. In the present document, key research topics to
improve HRDD works are also provided.