23/04/2026
🔥 Speaker News!! 🔥
Dr Adee Schoon is back! Join us for this fantastic and extremely relevant talk, to deepen your understanding of human scent dynamics and their direct impact on detection dog training and performance.
🧬 Human Scent Dynamics 🧬
In Part 1, we dive into what is currently known about human scent—an area that has advanced significantly since “The Scented Ape” was published by Stoddart in 1990. Today, our understanding is far richer and more nuanced. We now know that different body parts emit distinct odors on the same individual, that there are clear differences between individuals as well as between groups, and that human scent is far from a simple, uniform phenomenon.
This session explores the complexity of scent in detail: from volatile compounds emitted directly from the body, to the role of aerosols, and the constant shedding of skin rafts. We will also examine how scent traces are deposited on surfaces and dispersed through movement. Importantly, while humans are continuous sources of odor, the scent traces we leave behind are dynamic—they change, degrade, and redistribute over time. Understanding what is actually available for detection is crucial, especially in the context of training dogs.
In Part 2, we turn this knowledge into practical application. What scent is available at different points in time—and where can it be found? How does this influence the way dogs search for human scent? We will explore the differences across disciplines, including live person search, article search, tracking and trailing, and human scent identification.
Special attention is given to the implications for training and operational use. When dogs are trained on human scent—particularly in contexts where outcomes may be used as forensic evidence—it is essential to apply critical thinking and rigorous standards. This session will outline key criteria that, in my view, must be met to ensure reliability and validity.
We can’t wait!! Secure your seat now with a deposit at sciscent.org!
