How do Sniff Dogs work?
You set up an appointment with Sniff Dogs when you’re going to be home by yourself. A search performed while the party-of-concern is not present is a critical success factor—as not only does it reduce conflict and anxiety, it also helps to retain discretion, should a subsequent search be warranted.
“It is essential that our parents understand that they’re the child’s most important teacher and that the message must be unequivocal: don’t use drugs.”
—President of the United States
A professional handler will accompany the friendly and intelligent Sniff Dog as it does a room-to-room search of your premises. If the dog picks up a scent, it is trained to sit and the Sniff Dog handler marks the spot. The search continues through the rest of the house and automobile.
If the dog identifies a scent, Sniff Dogs do not seek out the drugs—that is left to you after the visit. In fact, Sniff Dogs will not locate the drugs, nor dispose of them. Sniff Dogs does not even document results in its client records: everything is completely confidential.
If a dog picks up the scent of a drug—perhaps a small volume such as cocaine residue on a dollar bill or a single joint of marijuana—Sniff Dogs won’t know the exact nature of what was found. Likewise, Sniff Dogs will not discern between a small amount or a larger volume; only you will know after Sniff Dogs has left your premises.
That’s all there is to it.
Then what?
In the event the Sniff Dog identifies a scent, the handler will provide you with resources for dealing with the findings. The Sniff Dogs Resource Kit will provide you with sources for more information as well as “conversation starters” for dealing with your situation, local guidance and intervention specialist contact information and valuable and accredited Web sites for your own research.