Cadaver water dogs can search open or moving water by being deployed on a boat or by completing a bank search. Specialist Search Dogs will deploy fully equipped and qualified teams, including boats, in order to fulfill any water search. Dogs have demonstrated that they can distinguish the scent of human remains that are both deep in water and in moving current.  When there is believed to be a body in the water, our dogs will quickly be able to detect where they are located.  

In most water searches a dog will be positioned on a purpose built platform on one of our boats. If the dog is able to detect scent, they will indicate to their handler and will generally show the strongest indication closest to the target scent. It is important to establish the impact of wind and current on the scent that a dog detects. 

Cadaver water dogs can be used to search water when a victim may have drowned, entered the water in a vehicle or been deposited into the water and submerged.  In order to become qualified, dogs are assessed in both the ability to search by boat and on the bank.