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Introduction
Whether at the airport, atrain station, or anothersecurity checkpoint, it islikely that you have seen adrug-detection dog. These pooches are highly trained to use theirsuperpower noses to sniff out all kinds of odors, ranging from illicit drugs and explosives to lost humans.
So if you're wondering whether dogs can smell dab pens, the answer is an unwavering yes. Whether you're inhaling marijuana or tobacco, dogs are able tosniff it out, even if the vape pen is small and discrete. Read on to find out why!
Signs that Dogs Can Smell Dab Pens
Dogs are trained to react to the scent of drugs in a multitude of ways. Even further, the level of accuracy in scent detection may vary slightly depending on the dog. In identifying a particular scent, dogs are first given a scent of the drug they are looking for. When a scent catches a dog's attention, they will alert their handler.
Some dogs are trained to alert their handler with barking, while others are not. Common "alerts" are: touching their noses to the area where the drugs are hidden, sitting in front of the location and staying there until their handler comes by, or digging/pawing at the location of the scent.
Just like there are some humans that are naturally good at things, there are some breeds of dogs that are naturally better with scent detection. German Shepherds, Basset Hounds, Beagles, and Bloodhounds are known for their superior smelling abilities. You will see these breeds are commonly used as security or police dogs.
Body Language
Here are some signs you may notice when a dog detects a scent from a dab pen:<br/>
Growling
Staring
Alert
(Video) Do drug-sniffing dogs pass the smell test?Barking
Whining
Jumping Up
Sniffing
Paw Raised
Ears Up
Other Signs
<p>These are some other signs you may notice if a dog detects drugs:<br/></p>
Pawing At The Object Or Location
Digging
Standing In Front Of The Object
Touching Their Nose To The Location
The History Behind Dogs Smelling Dab Pens
Dogs have incredibly powerful noses, and us humans have taken full advantage of these super-human abilities. For instance, bomb-sniffing dogs were introduced in the 1940s in order to detect German bombs. In the 1970s, dogs were trained to sniff out other contraband, as drug use in the United States was on the rise.
Today, dogs are mostly only used to detect contraband and illicit drugs rather than medications or other legal drugs, for instance, tobacco. "Dab pens" are a popular form of vaporizers; used to inhale forms of nicotine, including tobacco (vaporizers are more commonly used to inhale marijuana). Dogs are not utilized to sniff out tobacco use, however, if dab pens are being used to inhale marijuana, dogs can certainly sniff out that scent.
However, as states and municipalities are increasingly legalizing marijuana use,police officers are not training drug-detection dogs to detect marijuana. Instead, training has become focused on the detection of hard drugs, like heroin,ecstasy, cocaine, ormethamphetamine.
The Science Behind Dogs Smelling Dab Pens
A dog has the ability to smell 10,000 to 100,000 times better than us humans (that's pretty incredible!) Because dogs have such a strong sense of smell, they can easily be taught to detect certain smells through intense training methods.
It is also important to understand that drug-detecting abilities can really depend on the breed of dog. For instance, Bloodhounds have at least 300 million scent receptors in their noses, while German Shepherds or Beagles have about 225 million. However, most dogs (even if they weren't bred for scent detection) are capable of recognizing illicit compounds at a ratio of five parts per billion.
Trainers also note that the personality of the dog can matter even more than the breed. Hunting and tracking abilitiesmight be obviousstrengths to have, but drug-detection dogs also need to be fit, independent, agile,and hardworking Dogs that tend to be easily distracted or simply uninterested working are not fit for the job.Hornbecks.net, a K-9 training center, requires a drug detection dog to know how to alert their handler, find illicit substances in 10 minutes or less, and show proficiency in searching a variety ofindoor and outdoor areas - rather than specify a required breed.
Training Dogs to Smell Dab Pens
The National Narcotic Detector Dog Associationis a nonprofit organization that handles the certifications for drug-detection canines. Certifications can be for a whole range of abilities - for instance - police units, body searches, explosive devices searches,and drug searches. However, it is important to understand that the dog and trainer must both be a part of the Federal Armed Forces or Armed Force reserves inorder to obtain a certification through this organization. Astandard certification includes the ability to identify marijuana and cocaine; however, you have the option to certify your dog in the detection of other drugs as well.
There are also private organizations you can reach out to, organizations known for providing drug detection training for parents, businesses, and halfway houses. Although the dogs are not certified through the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association, dogs still go through the same vigorous training processes that dogs at the Narcotic Detector Dog Association must go through. If you are interested in training your dog for scent detection, reach out to your local private organization for details.
Have questions or concerns about your pet?
Chat with a veterinary professional in the Wag! app 24/7.
Safety Tips for Drug-Sniffing Dogs:
- Always ask the handler if you are able to pet the pup.
- Professional drug-detection dogs must be trained properly.
- If off duty, ask their handler to say "hi" before you touch or pet the dog.
ByOlivia Gerth
Published: 04/27/2018, edited: 04/06/2020
More articles by Olivia Gerth
FAQs
Can Dogs Smell a Dab Pen? ›
So if you're wondering whether dogs can smell dab pens, the answer is an unwavering yes. Whether you're inhaling marijuana or tobacco, dogs are able to sniff it out, even if the vape pen is small and discrete.
Can police dogs smell dab pen carts? ›Yes, drug dogs can smell carts. They can detect vape cartridges and vape pens. However, drug dogs are not trained specifically to find vape cartridges themselves or anything vaping-related like vape juice and vape pens.
Can drug dogs smell drugs inside you? ›However, sniffer dogs are not capable of smelling illicit drugs inside the human body. Their training focuses on detecting the odour of drugs in the air or on surfaces. They are not trained to detect drugs that are concealed within the body.
What happens if a dog smells a vape? ›Symptoms of e-cigarette poisoning
Dogs are often tempted by the smell of the liquid nicotine in e-cigarettes. Symptoms generally appear very quickly after ingestion and can include sickness, diarrhoea, agitation, heavy panting and a rise in heart rate.
Drug dogs can smell delta-8. The handlers train these canines to pick up various substances, including delta-8 and other cannabis derivatives. However, with relaxed legislation around cannabis and more focus on hard drugs, the chances of a drug dog picking up delta-8 are low.
What material can dogs not smell through? ›Although man's best friend tends to have a pretty incredible ability to sniff things out, dogs cannot smell though airtight, vacuum sealed containers.
How far can drug dogs smell? ›Accurate detection of threats and illicit substances is among the drug-sniffing dog facts ensuring you feel safe. Dogs have excellent senses and can detect objects or people's smells 20 km away under perfect conditions.
Can I take a dab pen cart on a plane? ›Good news: there's no size limit for liquids in checked baggage, and pods and cartridges are also allowed. Tips for flying with e-liquid: Cabin pressure can make full bottles expand, or even split at the seams.
Can K9 dogs smell nicotine? ›Can you detect nicotine? The answer is yes. Our K9's sniff out every drug you can imagine like cocaine, heroin, marijuana, MDMA, and Amphetamines to name a few. However with the rise of products like Juul's parents, schools, and administrators are worried about vaping.
Can drug dogs smell dead Vapes? ›Drug sniffer dogs can smell vape cartridges and pens depending on what's in the juice and cartridge. Police dogs can signal to detect what they have been trained for, which can include cannabis and nicotine with some law enforcement agencies. Yes, they absolutely can.
Can police dogs smell wax pens? ›
So if you're wondering whether dogs can smell wax pens, the answer is an unwavering yes. Whether you're inhaling marijuana or tobacco, pups are able to sniff it out.
Can sniffer dogs smell CBD oil? ›And since most of the CBD products on the market are in liquid form or some cosmetics with low CBD content, it is difficult and impractical for sniffer dogs to detect them, but they can still be trained to detect products with high CBD concentration, Chan added.
Can police dogs smell Delta 8 pens? ›Police dogs are trained to detect a variety of controlled substances, including marijuana (cannabis) which includes Delta 8 THC.
What drug can a dog smell? ›Dogs are also good at sniffing out illicit drugs. Most sniffer dogs can be trained to pick up the smell of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, opiates, ecstasy and LSD.
How little drugs can dogs smell? ›Sniffer dogs can smell a wide range of substances, from cannabis to heroin, to ketamine and MDMA. They are trained to identify illegal odours that emit from certain drugs.
Can dogs smell Xanax? ›However, a trained drug-detection dog is able to use their powerful sense of smell to pinpoint exactly where drugs are being hidden. Dogs can sniff out everything from marijuana, methamphetamines, opioids, ecstasy, cocaine, and bars (xanax).
What smell can dogs not stand? ›- Citrus Scents. Citrus scents top the list of smells your dog probably hates. ...
- Vinegar. While this non-toxic household substance is safe for use around your home, your dog won't appreciate it. ...
- Rubbing Alcohol. ...
- Fresh Herbs. ...
- Cleaning Products & Chlorine. ...
- Mothballs. ...
- Hot Peppers. ...
- Perfume.
Bleach is one such scent that can overpower a dog's sense of smell, causing them to lose it completely. This leaves them unable to process other scents around them. Even though they have lost their sense of smell, their primary sense, they still attempt to rely on it.
What is the most sensitive dog in smell? ›- #1 Bloodhound. ...
- #2 Basset Hound. ...
- #4 German Shepherd. ...
- #5 Labrador Retriever. ...
- #6 Belgian Malinois. ...
- #7 Bluetick Coonhound. ...
- #8 Black and Tan Coonhound. ...
- #9 Golden Retriever.
In fact, a dog's sense of smell is so powerful that in a million gallons of water, they can smell a tablespoon of sugar. So it becomes clear why they can locate small amounts of substances such as drugs in a search and rescue situation where large amounts of water are concerned.
Can dogs smell through mason jars? ›
Dogs are able to smell through glass. However, if a glass container is airtight, such as a mason jar, a vacuum has been created and no air is able to escape. Therefore, no odor can escape and a dog is not able to detect a scent.
Can drug dogs smell through smell proof cases? ›His dogs have tested nearly every brand of odor proof bags on the market. Popular Brands such as cookies, dime Bags, skunk bags, revelry bags have all FAILED K9 testing. Abscent's activated carbon bags are the ONLY smell proof bags to consistently and reliably defeat K9's.
Do dab pens scan through TSA? ›According to the TSA stipulation: You can put your dab pen devices in your carry-on luggage. Do not put a dab pen in checked luggage. Most electronic cigarettes and dab pens contain batteries, if you place the device in checked baggage directly, it is prone to the risk of spontaneous combustion or explosion.
Can you take a dab pen on a plane if your under 18? ›The TSA has no policy regarding the use of vapes by minors, including people under 21. Therefore, you can bring a vape on a plane regardless of your age. If you're flying with a vape or bringing a vape on an airplane, it should be kept in the carry-on baggage rather than in the check-in luggage.
Can TSA scanners see carts? ›Nobody can visually tell the difference between your cannabis oil cartridge and an other vape liquid cartridge. And the airport scanners aren't going to magically be able to tell it's cannabis oil either, so don't worry about that. Just be cool, put them in your bag like anything else and just go have fun on your trip.
What drugs can k9 dogs smell? ›- Marijuana.
- Cocaine.
- Crack cocaine.
- Heroin.
- Ecstasy.
- Methamphetamine.
- Ketamine.
- LSD.
You want to hide gummies? Stick 'em in a gummie bag. Chances are, they won't even look at them, but if they did, it would say “gummies” on it, and there'd be gummies in it.
Can police dogs smell through aluminum foil? ›A detection dog trained to pick up the smell of a specific substance does not need additional training to smell through foil. A trained sniffer dog zeroes in on even the faintest odor, no matter what the object is wrapped in.
Will drug dogs alert nicotine? ›While dogs certainly can pick up on the scent of nicotine, most drug-detection dogs are not trained to detect non-illicit drugs like nicotine or tobacco.
Do smell proof bags work on police dogs? ›Though it cannot be guaranteed that a smell proof bag will protect your stash from the senses of trained drug dogs, the bare human nose cannot detect the contents of your bag. In addition to deterring human detection, your smell proof bag protects your stash from contamination, visual detection, and oxidation.
Can sniffer dogs smell tobacco? ›
A tobacco detection dog is trained to sense tobacco using stockpiles from seizures around the country. Once trained, the dogs can detect illegal tobacco with outstanding accuracy and from a distance of up to fifteen metres. They are an essential tool in the fight against the illegal tobacco trade.
Can I smoke CBD around my dog? ›You should avoid smoking around dogs as it can lead to symptoms like drooling, vomiting, shaking, and seizures for them.
Can I share my CBD with my dog? ›CBD products are perfectly safe for your furry friend as long as they're derived from the hemp variety of the cannabis plant. Products derived from the marijuana variety of cannabis, however, are NOT safe for animal consumption, as they typically contain high levels of THC and can thus be toxic to animals.
Can dogs smell vacuum sealed drugs? ›Unfortunately for the drug smugglers, airtight doesn't mean “smell proof.” Some airtight materials, such as plastic, contain microscopic pores that leak smell. To a dog's nose, these microscopic holes are as large as the holes in a fishing net!
What drugs can police dogs smell? ›- Marijuana.
- Cocaine.
- Crack cocaine.
- Heroin.
- Ecstasy.
- Methamphetamine.
- Ketamine.
- LSD.
His dogs have tested nearly every brand of odor proof bags on the market. Popular Brands such as cookies, dime Bags, skunk bags, revelry bags have all FAILED K9 testing. Abscent's activated carbon bags are the ONLY smell proof bags to consistently and reliably defeat K9's.
Can K9 dogs smell nicotine Vapes? ›There are also drug-detection dogs that are able to smell illicit substances and other odors in all kinds of substances. So if you're wondering whether dogs can smell the nicotine in juuls, the answer is an unwavering yes. Your pup's sense of smell can be 1,000 times more powerful than a human's.
Can police dogs smell bars? ›However, a trained drug-detection dog is able to use their powerful sense of smell to pinpoint exactly where drugs are being hidden. Dogs can sniff out everything from marijuana, methamphetamines, opioids, ecstasy, cocaine, and bars (xanax).
What do dogs do if they smell drugs? ›Drug dogs use an aggressive alert, where they dig and paw at the spot where they smell the drugs without causing damage to personal or business property. When they smell the drugs without causing damage to personal or business property.
Can you smoke a vape around a dog? ›Vape smoke contains nicotine, which is toxic to pets. There are potentially other ingredients in vape juice that are aerosolized and can also be problematic for animals. Not to mention, elements such as THC, propylene glycol, and even formaldehyde can carry their own toxic risks.
Do drug dogs pick up nicotine? ›
Can you detect nicotine? The answer is yes. Our K9's sniff out every drug you can imagine like cocaine, heroin, marijuana, MDMA, and Amphetamines to name a few. However with the rise of products like Juul's parents, schools, and administrators are worried about vaping.
Can dogs sniff Xanax? ›Because Xanax is a legal prescription drug, police dogs cannot learn to detect it.
Do drug dogs bark when they find drugs? ›An active or aggressive alert occurs when a dog responds with a vocal or otherwise overt reaction to locating drugs. An active alert might be barking, straining toward, digging, or pawing at the spot where the drugs are located.