Factors that may affect the success of scent detection dogs: Exploring non-conventional models of preparation and deployment

Abstract

In the target article “Behavioral and Cognitive Factors That Affect the Success of Scent Detection Dogs,” Troisi, Mills, Wilkinson, and Zulch (2019) provide a review on the current state of research in scent detection dogs. Specifically, the authors highlight important factors underlying preparation and deployment of scent detection dogs that may influence individual variation within the population, as well as task-specific learning. As noted in the target article, dogs can be trained to detect a variety of scents (biological and nonbiological), which has led to the use and implementation of a variety of different preparation and deployment procedures (for an in-depth review, see Browne, Stafford, & Fordham, 2006). Even though these procedures are often Sarah-Elizabeth Byosiere School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Australia