# Training of dogs for explosives detection **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 25, 2020, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896 "2020-12-25T16:29:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Turki-lurki](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turki-lurki/32/7168_2.png) [@Turki-lurki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turki-lurki)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2020, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896/1 "2020-12-25T16:29:49Z")
This morning I listened to an MSNBC interview with a guy named Jim Cavanaugh on the Tennessee explosion- he described a Federal training program for explosive detection dogs. I did not hear this clearly but I think he stated that 'they never eat again in their lives if they don’t find explosives - imagine their motivation.‘ Is this real? Surely we have better ways to train animals than this kind of ‘motivation’. Anybody familiar with this or did I mis-hear? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2020, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896/2 "2020-12-25T16:34:08Z")
I’m sure he was joking but animal training is rewards based, some combination of food, praise, petting along with using a clicker or other sound to signal proper performance. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896/3 "2020-12-25T16:41:12Z")
This article from the Smithsonian paints a significantly less harsh picture: > **[The Education of a Bomb Dog](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/the-education-of-a-bomb-dog-4945104/)** > > A top training academy works double time to meet skyrocketing demand for canines who can sniff out danger > [@](#): > > These odors are imprinted on the dog’s brain by constant repetition and reward, Pavlov-style. > [@](#): > > “Good dog,” says Roberts, the “good” a full octave higher than the “dog” in an exaggerated singsong, before reaching into a pouch on his belt for the kibble that is the working dog’s wage. The article also mentions that the dogs want to please (because they are dogs, of course). Technically they are training the dogs with food rewards, and so if the dog doesn’t find the odor that they are training for then the dog doesn’t get the reward. But from the dog’s point of view it’s more of a reward system than a threat of not eating type of system. The dogs do it for the reward and to fulfill their desire to please, not because they are afraid of starvation. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896/4 "2020-12-26T02:05:21Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > But from the dog’s point of view it’s more of a reward system than a threat of not eating type of system. All dog training systems of any value are only positive feedback systems. Punishment (negative feedback) are never, ever, ever a part of it. You can certainly get results with negative feedback systems but I don’t think anyone who trains dogs for these jobs does that. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896/5 "2020-12-26T17:52:37Z")
I worked with a bunch of bomb dogs in the past. Food was never part of the training. Some programs may use food rewards but I never saw it. They all had special toys that only came out after they worked. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896/6 "2020-12-26T18:10:41Z")
A colleague of mine adopted a retired bomb sniff dog from our time in Iraq. The dog’s reward for doing a good job was a special red ball that came down only when he did a good job. Their UPS guy and postal carrier got to be friends with them and let the dog search their vehicles when they came to the house, years later the dog still had to sniff every vehicle coming on their farm. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896/7 "2020-12-28T15:28:08Z")
> [@Turki-lurki](#): > > they never eat again in their lives if they don’t find explosives - imagine their motivation In my experience “never eat again in their lives” in dog means “has not in eaten in 10 minutes” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896/8 "2020-12-28T23:37:49Z")
Short attention spans can be a good thing. Or not. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2021, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896/9 "2021-06-04T22:05:26Z")
To heck with dogs and @Tripler s! Get a rat! > **[After Years Of Detecting Land Mines, A Heroic Rat Is Hanging Up His Sniffer](https://www.npr.org/2021/06/04/1003258540/after-years-of-detecting-land-mines-a-heroic-rat-is-hanging-up-his-sniffer)** > > Magawa is credited with saving lives. The African giant pouched rat has found 71 land mines and 38 items of unexploded ordnance. Now, he has reached retirement age after five years of service. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896/10 "2021-06-05T06:49:05Z")
And dolphins and sea lions are trained to locate mines. No, they don’t disable the mines and get themselves blown up. Dolphins are waaaaaay to expensive to let that happen. When they find a mine, they place a marker by it. Allegedly, dolphins can find a dime buried in the muck. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896/11 "2021-06-05T06:56:07Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > In my experience “never eat again in their lives” in dog means “has not in eaten in 10 minutes” Your dog had good self control. Our dog ate something from her bowl, turned around, and then gave us a face telling us she was starving. When we raised guide dogs food treats were never used as part of training, but since then they have changed strategies and now use food for positive feedback. We used pats and “good girls” for positive feedback. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896/12 "2021-06-05T13:51:23Z")
So much for job security. Tripler “Awww, _rats_!” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2021, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896/13 "2021-06-06T12:30:15Z")
Even in cases where food is used as a reward in training a dog, the dog’s usually not actually doing it for the food per se: The human giving the dog a bit of kibble is mostly significant in that it’s a concrete expression of the human’s approval. A tiny morsel is usually just as effective as a full meal, since either one is “one reward”. That wouldn’t be the case if it were all about eating. ---
**Author:** ![Chopstick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Chopstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopstick)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2021, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896/14 "2021-06-06T18:20:33Z")
Some & some? It is a small amount, but a good percentage of dogs will do things for “treat” that they wouldn’t do for other rewards. “Come” is a big one. And dogs can differentiate types of treats, the usual reward level and the special stuff that only comes out for big good dogs. Liver & fish are good for that, so maybe it’s the extra stink. It’s been a few years so I’m not sure what the puppyraisers use, but our guide dog school definitely switched from praise & clicker to praise & treat. Presumably the Labs work better that way; they’re almost always food obsessed. (One of the struggles is getting them to not grab any foodlike objects while working) ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896/15 "2021-06-07T03:06:47Z")
> [@Chopstick](#): > > Presumably the Labs work better that way; they’re almost always food obsessed. (One of the struggles is getting them to not grab any foodlike objects while working) Golden Retrievers too. See the fun starting at 0:50 . . . [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/5iTTNRE-njM/maxresdefault.jpg "Hilarious Golden Retriever Really Wants To Race But.. First Things First.") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iTTNRE-njM) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896/16 "2021-06-07T21:16:25Z")
Funny. As part of training our golden was supposed to race to the finish line where there was a hot dog and ignore it and go across the finish line. Which she did - and then doubled back and at the hot dog. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896/17 "2021-06-07T23:15:33Z")
My neighbor was training his new Lab puppies for duck retrieval. The dogs are just supposed to mouth the duck, not crush it, when bringing it back. I’d go over to the fence to yak with him while the dogs were happy to “practice” on my hand, wrist, forearm, elbow. I’d end up covered in Labrador drool. Apologies from the neighbor; but it was all good and washable. ---
**Author:** ![Chopstick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Chopstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopstick)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/training-of-dogs-for-explosives-detection/928896/18 "2021-06-08T00:45:02Z")
With a soft enough mouth, Labs can sometimes snag living (very dumb) birds. And then there’s using knee as headrest with much hopeful drool.