A 2023 study conducted at the National Academy of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine offers a detailed methodology for training inspectors-cynologists and their service dogs in the detection of explosives, weapons, and ammunition. Published in the journal Pedagogіchnі Nauki, the study outlines a systematic approach that blends theoretical knowledge with practical field training.
The program is built on three main training periods: initial, main, and final. During these phases, dogs develop specialized detection skills through a progression of preparatory exercises, search system development, and marking behavior—which is the dog’s consistent signal when locating a target substance. These exercises are adjusted based on each dog’s individual behavioral characteristics to optimize results.
Key innovations of the method include identifying common trainer errors that lead to undesirable conditioned reflexes in dogs and offering strategies to prevent them. The system also introduces complications in a structural and logical sequence to reinforce robustness under increasingly realistic conditions. The training culminates in practice scenarios that simulate real-world environments faced by border patrol units.
By integrating behavioral science, stepwise skill development, and operational simulation, the method ensures that both the human and canine members of detection teams are prepared for high-stakes fieldwork. This structured approach enhances accuracy while maintaining dog welfare and operational efficiency.
Source: Дмитро Софіян, Світлана Серховець, Артем Афанасьєв, Сергій Клепацький, Олександр Ковальчук. 2023. “Methods of Training Inspectors-Cynologists with Service Dogs to Search for Explosives, Weapons and Ammunition.” Збірник наукових праць Національної академії Державної прикордонної служби України. Серія: педагогічні науки. Published on December 15, 2023.
