Cadaver dogs

Cadaver dogs are trained to locate and follow the scent of decomposing human flesh. They are used instead of search and rescue dogs when the outcome of a search is likely a dead body - as in cases of accidents or disasters. Cadaver dogs work both on and off leash to detect the scent of decomposition that rises from the soil, the same principle as when a dog knows where he last buried his bone. They are trained as trailing dogs (following a scent that has fallen on the ground) and air-scenting dogs (picking a scent out of a breeze and following it to the source), using a special chemical that simulates cadaver smells and is only available to certified training facilities. Training techniques pioneered by Dr. Debra Komar in association with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Canadian Search Dog Association have resulted in near 100% accuracy rates.