Safer K9 training: Why real substances put detection dogs at risk (and what to do instead)

To train detection dogs, real target substances are often used. But daily exposure to explosives, narcotics, biohazards, or mold can silently damage a dog's health—causing organ failure, cancer, infections, or even fatal overdoses. These risks shorten working lifespans, drive up veterinary costs, and reduce your return on investment.

Fortunately, science now offers safer, equally effective alternatives. Getxent® Tubes reproduce the real odor profile without exposing dogs to the hazardous substances themselves. Below, we'll explore the dangers of traditional training and explain how Getxent® protects your K9 partners without compromising their performance.

Health risks of real explosives, narcotics, and biological materials

Using real hazardous materials isn't just "inconvenient"—it's dangerous for our four-legged partners. No responsible trainer wants to risk their dog getting cancer, organ damage, a deadly overdose, or a lung infection just for doing their job.

• Toxic chemical exposure: Many explosive compounds are toxic carcinogens. For example, TNT and RDX can poison a dog's blood and organs with repeated contact. Chronic TNT exposure has even been linked to tumors (bladder cancer) in humans¹, and RDX has caused liver and lung tumors in animal studies; chronic exposure was also linked to neurotoxicity and reproductive effects². Both raise concerns about long-term cancer risk in detection dogs.

• Respiratory irritants and harmful particulates: Sniffing real explosive materials can irritate a dog’s respiratory system¹. Over months and years, this could contribute to lung damage or a shortened lifespan.

• Accidental ingestion or absorption: Dogs explore with their noses and mouths. If the real target odor isn't handled carefully, a dog might ingest residues or absorb chemicals through the skin. Ingesting even small amounts of explosives can be acutely toxic. For example, a few milligrams of certain compounds can trigger tremors, seizures, or methemoglobinemia, requiring emergency care¹. In one veterinary study, dogs fed low daily doses of TNT developed hemolytic anemia, liver damage, and other serious effects—and no safe exposure level could be established¹.

• Opioid overdose dangers: For narcotics detection dogs, fentanyl and its analogues are the biggest threat. Fentanyl is so potent that merely sniffing a tiny airborne amount can kill a dog by overdose³. Police and military K9 units have documented cases of dogs collapsing after inhaling fentanyl dust during searches. The U.S. DEA has warned that "canine units are particularly at risk of immediate death from inhaling fentanyl." Although handlers now carry naloxone for K9s, it’s far safer to prevent exposure altogether—especially in training, where risks can be controlled.

• Physical instability and safety hazards: Some real explosives (e.g., TATP or HMTD) are highly unstable⁴. They can detonate unexpectedly with minimal handling, posing severe risks to dogs and handlers. Even live detonators or blasting caps carry unnecessary risk in a training setting.

• Biohazard exposure risk (viruses, bacteria, cadavers, mold): Medical detection dogs and cadaver dogs are often trained with real biological material—including virus-positive samples, decomposing tissue, or infected body fluids. These materials can carry zoonotic pathogens or infectious agents, posing contamination risks to both dogs and humans. Mold detection dogs face similar risks. Real mold samples can release spores or mycotoxins, which may cause respiratory illness, allergic reactions, or even fungal infections when repeatedly inhaled⁵.

Beyond welfare: the real operational cost

Beyond welfare concerns, there’s a real operational cost. Repeated exposure to hazardous substances can lead to illness, early retirement, or even premature death—shortening a dog’s working life and reducing your return on investment. On top of that, agencies must cover veterinary care, treatment, and downtime. These health-related setbacks, when multiplied across a K9 unit, can become a significant financial burden.

Fortunately, with modern training aids, you no longer have to choose between safety and performance.

What about pseudo-odor training aids?

Beyond the fact that pseudo-odor training aids are ineffective⁶ ⁷, they may also release fine particulates when handled or inhaled—particles whose chemical composition is typically undisclosed. This makes it difficult to assess their toxicity or long-term safety, especially for dogs subjected to repeated, intensive training cycles. In addition, they "often produce much more odor than the original material, which could provide a chemical hazard to the canine"⁷.

Just like real materials, repeated exposure to poorly characterized pseudo-compounds may contribute to cumulative health damage—once again shortening a dog’s working life and increasing long-term costs.

This is where Getxent® offers a clear advantage: it provides the actual odor profile, using a particle-free and inert polymer matrix. The result is both high-fidelity odor replication and exceptional safety for dogs and handlers alike.

Getxent® training aids: a safe, high-performance alternative

Getxent® odor training aids let you train safer, smarter, and more effectively. They deliver the real target odor profile—without exposing dogs to carcinogens, unstable chemicals, deadly opioids, or infectious agents.

• Real odors without the risks: Getxent® training aids are non-hazardous polymer tubes impregnated with the actual target odor molecules, eliminating contamination risks by capturing the scent without exposing the dog to the material itself. For example, an Odor Getxent® TNT Tube smells like TNT to the dog but is completely non-detonable and toxin-free—no explosive, no residue, no regulation needed. Your dog gets trained with 100% real odor, while you get peace of mind that they’re not sniffing carcinogens, opioids, pathogens, or spores.

• Scientifically proven effectiveness: Multiple peer-reviewed and field studies confirm that dogs trained on odor-impregnated aids perform just as reliably—or better—than those trained on real substances.

• Maximizes return on investment: By reducing health risks, Getxent® extends working life, minimizes veterinary costs and downtime, and ensures greater continuity and performance across your K9 teams.

• Greater safety and convenience for trainers: With Getxent® Tubes, no special licenses or bunkers are needed to store them. They’re safe to transport and stable in diverse environments.

• Covering an infinite range of odors: Getxent® Tubes have been developed to capture the full odor signature of a wide range of targets—including explosives, narcotics, cadavers, molds, and disease markers. They are available pre-impregnated (Odor Getxent® Tubes) or blank (Blank Getxent® Tubes), allowing you to make your own impregnated Getxent® Tubes.

Train safer, smarter, and more effectively with Getxent

By protecting your dog's health, Getxent protects your investment: longer working lifespans, fewer medical issues, and better continuity across your K9 teams. Backed by peer-reviewed research and operational success, Getxent® is the safest, most cost-effective choice for agencies and companies committed to performance, safety, and long-term mission readiness.

Are you ready to enhance the safety and effectiveness of your K9 unit?

Sources: ¹ 10.1016/j.cvsm.2018.06.007 ² EPA IRIS RDX Report ³ American Veterinary Medical Association https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2018-02-01/synthetic-opioids-put-police-dogs-risk ⁴ Joint Counterterrorism Assessment Team (JCAT), a collaboration by NCTC, DHS and FBI https://www.dni.gov/files/NCTC/documents/jcat/firstresponderstoolbox/78--NCTC-DHS-FBI---Triacetone-Triperoxide-%28TATP%29-.pdf? ⁵ 10.2147/VMRR.S25021 ⁶ https://www.police1.com/k-9/articles/k-9-detection-training-differences-in-the-4-types-of-simulants-XTtsL44atXAu4qhM/ ⁷ 10.3389/fvets.2020.00313