Passive alert
Definition
A trained response in which the dog sits, lies down, or freezes at the scent source without digging or pawing. Preferred in forensic search because it does not disturb potential evidence at the deposit location.
Related terms
- HRD dog
- Human Remains Detection dog: a dog trained to detect and alert on the volatile organic compound signature of decomposing human tissue. Also...
- Scent cone
- The plume of airborne VOC molecules that diffuses upward and downwind from a buried source. A dog working downwind of a buried...
- Search pattern
- The systematic geometric route walked by a dog handler to ensure uniform coverage of the search area. Standard patterns include the ladder...
- Tile probe
- A solid steel rod used to probe suspect ground by hand pressure, detecting resistance changes in disturbed soil and releasing sub-surface gases...
- VOC (volatile organic compound)
- Carbon-containing compounds that evaporate readily at ambient temperatures. Decomposing human tissue produces a complex, changing VOC mixture that HRD dogs are trained...
Explained in
- Canine Search and ProbingA trained response in which the dog sits, lies down, or freezes at the scent source without digging or pawing. Preferred in forensic search because it does not...