I’ve heard of drug sniffing dogs but the term vapor-wake detection dog is new to me. Amtrak is using them at Chicago’s Union Station and other locations. The story from the Chicago Tribune is listed below:
HMMMMMMMMMMMMM! Vapor detecting dogs, trained in Alabama.
Did they mix the mix black powder in the beans and cornbread, to test the dogs? OOPS!
the comedy tropes are attracted to this I’ll just back away form the key board, before the site police arrive… Vienna hot dogs with sauer kraut. Chicago should give those dogs a run for their money.
[^o)] As long as the dogs pay their fare, let them get on board the plane or train.
HEH HEH
Black powder???
What kind of police department still uses black power loads in their ammunition? I could believe that the dog was picking up residues of smokeless powder from the gun, but black powder?
- Erik
Well, Erik, what Chicago reporter knows anything about what the propellant in bullets is? I trust that no policeman told him that black powder can be detected.
[quote user="Deggesty"]
erikem:
samfp1943:
Did they mix the mix black powder in the beans and cornbread, to test the dogs? OOPS!
Black powder???
What kind of police department still uses black power loads in their ammunition? I could believe that the dog was picking up residues of smokeless powder from the gun, but black powder?
- Erik
Well, Erik, what Chicago reporter knows anything about what the propellant in bullets is? I trust that no policeman told him that black powder can be detected.
[/quote]
Guys- Erik and Johnny:
My comment about the scent of Black Powder was related to the statement quoted below, and it wasn’t a LEO, it was apparently a US Marshall (?) who said what was an apparent misquote as to the scent the dog picked up on(???).
I guess you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work as either a reporter[:|] or a Marshall.[C):-)]
FTA: “…”.Riot " [The Vapor detecting dog from the previously linked article] “…Recently picked up on a scent and followed it to a man dressed in a business suit at Union Station, Bailey said. It turned out the individual was a U.S. marshal passing through the station, and Riot had picked up the odor of black powder in the marshal’s gun, Bailey said…”
Sam,
My intent was to josh the reporter, not you in regards to “black powder”. OTOH, large naval rifles used small charges of black powder to help ignite the main charge of smokeless propellant.
A good portion of my last two decades of work has been involved with various aspects of explosives detection technology, though not with dogs. From what I understand is that dogs can detect several of the constituents of smokeless powder (both single base and double base).
Getting back on topic, using vapor trail detecting dogs does make more sense for Amtrak that the methods used in airport security.
- Erik
I will second that as a pilot airports are a mess.
It is great to know that such good work at Auburn is being done 50 miles from my location. Their Vet school is very well known.
Seems to me these dogs are no different than what “Bloodhounds” have been used for in hunting or tracking fugitives or hunting lost children. Give them a whiff of something to follow and off they go.
There are some subtle differences. Bloodhounds sniff the ground to pick up the scent of skin flakes or hair. The folds of skin along their noses helps with this process. Vapor wake detection involves sniffing the air, as in following the scent of perfume to find the woman wearing it.
- Erik