What is a cadaver dog?

CADAVER dogs play an important role in many missing person or homicide cases.

They can often help law enforcement give closure to families who are concerned for their missing loved ones.

What is a cadaver dog?

Cadaver dogs are trained to pick up the scent of human remains and are often referred to as human remains detection dogs.

Cadaver dogs specialize in detecting decomposing flesh and are at least 95 per cent effective in picking up the scent of decaying skin, including bodies buried up to 15 ft.

Authorities rely on cadaver dogs in cases where a dead body is suspected.

What breed are cadaver dogs?

The dogs that are trained as cadaver dogs are typically German Shepherds.

The German Shepherd breed are medium to large-sized dogs who are trained in different working tasks including, herding and guarding sheep along with multiple roles within police and military departments.

Some of the common words associated with the breed include:

• Intelligent
• Stubborn
• Curious
• Loyal
• Alert
• Obedient
• Confident
• Courageous

The dogs typically live for nine to 13 years and can get as heavy as 88 pounds.

Other names for the breed include Berger Allemand and Deutscher Schäferhund.

Cadaver dogs were also used to help find Glee star Naya Rivera who died after drowning back in July 2020.

What do cadaver dogs have to do with the Brian Laundrie case?

Brian Laundrie, 23, is currently a wanted fugitive and a person of interest in the murder of Gabby Petito.

On October 20, 2021, cadaver dogs, along with a medical examiner, were sent to Myakkahatchee Creek where the dogs helped find human remains that were in the nature park.

Laundrie has been missing since September 13, and while the identity of the remains has not been confirmed, many suspect that they could belong to the fugitive.

Prior to finding the human remains, Laundrie’s parents had found personal items nearby, sparking the search.