A study by researchers from the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) has found how dogs detect explosive chemicals like C-4. The researchers also found that the detection efficiency is best with the actual explosive, thus calling to question the use C-4 mimicking products to train the dogs.

The findings were part of a four-year Pentagon-funded contract. The researchers included Forensic and Investigative Sciences Program director and chemistry and chemical biology associate professor John Goodpaster, Ph.D. “Appropriately, dogs that are trained to find real explosives are going to find real explosives and not much else,” said Goodpaster.

In the study’s first phase, the researchers found that non-explosive chemicals that are given off in mimics of C-4 are present in other common plastic objects as well. These objects included movie tickets, grocery plastic bags, plastic food wrapping and electrical tape.

In the second phase, 33 trained canines from the Pentagon, Amtrak, Department of Justice and other agencies were exposed to these vapors and their responses were analyzed. The researchers found that the dogs did not respond significantly to any of the specific odor compounds in C-4, and that dogs will react better to real explosives if they are trained on the full scent.

Goodpaster said, “The canines are not easily fooled -- you can't pick and choose components of explosive odors and expect the dog to respond.” He added, “Dogs are specific and it's the full scent that causes them to alert.”