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SIGMA
 
CANINE TRAINING 
AIDS
BASIC CADAVER TRAINING 
USING SIGMA PSEUDO''" CORPSE SCENT 
FORMULATIONS I AND II
The following information is a compilation 
of experiences by Andrew J. Rebmann, of the K-9 Specialty Search School 
in North Franklin, Connecticut.
      Sigma 
Pseudo Corpse Scent formulations provide a safe, easy to handle source 
for training specialty scent dogs. The formulations allow a search dog 
handler to observe the dog's reactions during its initial introduction 
to a deceased victim under controlled circumstances, and to train specifically 
for cadaver search, if desired.
      Certain 
items of equipment make training easier. Multiple cement blocks can 
be used, with a container containing the source located in one. 'Scent 
tubes" made from eight inch lengths of one and one-half inch 
black ABS plastic pipe, with tight fitting end caps containing the Sigma 
pseudo'"' Corpse Scent on a gauze pad may also be buried, hung, 
concealed above ground or used as a throw toy to reinforce a weak dog.
     Sigma 
pseudo"" Corpse Scent is available in pre-measured one dose 
vials. One vial provides a sufficient amount of scent for most applications. 
When training for burials deeper than one foot, a stronger source will 
be provided if two doses are put on gauze pads and placed in the container. 

Canine reaction to a body can vary 
widely. The general categories of behavior are: 
t . Enthusiasm - the dog 
does not hesitate to approach the body. It may attempt to elicit a response 
from or urinate on the victim.
2. Cautious Interest - the 
dog slows its search, may become nervous and raise its hackles, but 
with encouragement, will approach the victim.
3. Avoidance 
- the dog will not approach the scent source and may actually attempt 
to leave the area. This behavior may become evident some distance from 
the body as the dog enters the scent cone.
      If 
a dog exhibits avoidance during evaluation, verbal encouragement from 
the handler as the dog approaches the source, combined with immediate 
play reinforcement when it reaches the source should overcome its aversion.
      Search 
for human remains is an additional specialty function for air scent 
dogs. Every handler should realize that not every search will proceed 
successfully. A handler cannot assume that the dog will

  alert' on a deceased victim. 
  Victims have been missed because the handler did not recognize a different
  alert' or a wide ranging dog 
  did not do a "refind" after locating a body.

      Training 
for any type of specialty scent work requires that the dog be introduced 
to the scent source prior to its use in realistic situations. Sigma 
pseudo"" Corpse Scents allow the handler to teach scent 
recognition quickly. Once the dog reliably 'alerts' to the odor, then 
the product can be used to simulate deceased victims both above ground 
and buried.     
 
BASIC CADAVER TRAINING 
USING SIGMA PSEUDOTM CORPSE SCENT 
FORMULATIONS I AND II (continued) 
Page 2 of 3  
Scent training should be conducted 
in progressive steps.
Step One: Scent recognition
Step Two: Scent commitment
Step Three: Introduction of desired 
alert
Step Four: Area 
search for above ground source Step Five: Area search for buried source 
Step Six: Larger area searches  
     Sigma 
Pseudo"'"' Corpse Scent Formulations I and II should 
be used for cadaver search training. If you are introducing Sigma Pseudo' 
Distressed Body Scent (Trauma and Fear Formulation), the dog should 
be introduced to the source using steps one through four. Once the desired 
"alert' has been obtained, then the handier can proceed to step 
six.  
     The 
principles involved in training for cadaver search are identical to 
those used for other tasks. The handler must (1) introduce the dog to 
the scent, (2) develop its interest with properly timed reinforcement, 
and (3) reward the dog for locating the source. Once the dog becomes 
committed to finding and indicating the exact location of the scent 
source, the handler can introduce the desired "alert." 
 
     Emphasis 
is placed on the handler's timing of reinforcement. When the dog acknowledges 
that it has detected an odor, secondary reinforcement should be immediate. 
The reinforcement can be verbal or a sound cue for the dog. When the 
dog gets to the source, reward must be immediate and given at the source. 
Most handlers use a "ball play00reward, showing the ball to the 
dog right at the source, then throwing it for the retrieve. 
 
     The 
handler must concentrate on "reading' the dog's body language from 
the start. He must recognize the indication that the dog 
has initially encountered the desired scent, and be able to interpret 
its actions as it works into the source.   

     The 
initial stage  involves teaching the dog scent recognition. The 
chemical is absorbed on a gauze pad and placed in a container. Since 
this phase requires many repetitions, the container is either placed 
in a "daisy wheel" or concealed in a concrete block in a line 
of four or five blocks. The 'daisy wheel" is a rotating device 
which presents four possible scent locations to the-dog and can be revolved 
to reposition the source after every trial.  

     When 
using a line of concrete blocks, the position of the source is changed 
after two or three repetitions. In this case, both the container and 
the block must be moved, since odor will remain in the block. Otherwise 
the handler may become confused by the dog's reaction to an empty block 
and not realize the dog is "alerting" to residual scent. 
 
     In 
the early steps, the handler is aware of the placement of the scent 
source, so he may properly reinforce and reward the dog. Once the handler 
recognizes the dog's actions, then the same exercise is carefully supervised 
to prevent acknowledging false alerts from the start. Proper reinforcement 
and reward permits rapid development of scent commitment on the part 
of the dog.  
     When 
the dog shows a strong commitment to the exact location of the scent 
source, the desired alert is introduced. The alert can be either active 
(i.e. bark, dig) or passive (i.e. sit or lie down at the source). Again 
the secondary reinforcement is given when the dog goes to the source 
and the reward comes with the final alert. The use of this reverse chaining 
of behavior creates a stronger scent commitment.  

BASIC CADAVER TRAINING 
USING SIGMA PSEUDO CORPSE SCENT 
FORMULATIONS I AND II (continued) 
Page 3 of 3  
     The 
next step in the progression is to enlarge the search area and conceal 
the scent source. The training aid is above ground, and concealed in 
grass or brush in an area approximately 30 yards by 30 yards. Again 
the handler initially is aware of the location of the source. When the 
handler develops confidence in reading the dog, he works a similar problem 
with the training aid location unknown to him. A trainer accompanies 
the team to prevent reinforcement of false alerts; however, the trainer 
is careful to make sure he does not indicate the source location to 
the K-9 team.
     The 
formulation of the training aid should be changed periodically to insure 
that the dog will respond to the entire spectrum of odors. We alternate 
from Sigma Pseudo'`' Corpse Scent- Formulation II to Sigma pseudo''" 
Corpse Scent Formulation 1, and then introduce Sigma pseudo"" 
Distressed Body Scent. Because we introduce a variety of odors, the 
dog will indicate a victim, either deceased or in shock and non-responsive.
     Once the 
handler has adequately grasped the concepts of properly timed reinforcement 
and reading the dog, we proceed to search for buried scent. 

     The 
first exercise is performed in an area approximately 25 yards by 25 
yards. We select an area with a relatively open soil i.e.. gravel, if 
possible. Several holes are dug to a depth of 8"-10" and the 
impregnated gauze pad is buried in one of them. Again, the handler is 
aware of the location of the source before the start of the exercise. 
The dog is properly reinforced when it indicates the area and rewarded 
when it indicates the exact location of the scent. Even if the eventual 
alert is to be passive, the dog is encouraged to dig to the source, 
if it desires. 
     When 
the dog is reliably locating the shallow buried source, the area can 
be enlarged and the source buried deeper. The handler then proceeds 
to teach the desired alert at the source, altering the dog's behavior 
if desired. When the handler is comfortable with his ability to read 
the dog, the team commences to search for buried sources without knowledge 
of the location. Again, they are accompanied by a trainer to supervise 
the exercise. 
     When 
the dog, is alerting reliably at the source and the handler has correctly 
grasped the concepts and shown he can read the dog, training proceeds 
to larger areas with realism added to the scenarios. The types of problems 
should be varied. The dog should be able to locate the source, and should 
not search just for a buried source while ignoring a "victim' hanging 
from a tree. 
     Training 
scenarios should be set up allowing time for a scent cone and pool to 
develop. The dog will be able to work under more realistic circumstances 
if the scent has had time to duplicate the scent conditions caused by 
a victim remaining in an area for an extended period of time. 

     Evaluation 
has been made of a large number of dogs initially trained using Sigma 
pseudo"' Corpse Scent formulations, then tested on actual human 
remains. The dogs have all successfully located the actual materials. 
Teams trained using the progression have been responsible for numerous 
successful searches since the program's inception. 

Authored by Andrew J. Rebmann, (Connecticut 
State Police-Retired), K-9 Specialty Search School, North Franklin, 
Connecticut. 
This publication is intended for use 
as an aid in canine training efforts. This is not intended for use as 
a product manual. 
Copyright 1993 Sigma Chemical Company. 
Reproduction forbidden without permission.