Getxent as an odor carrier: Exploring sniffing duration, the effect of impregnation time, and odor type.
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of Getxent tubes as odor carriers by analyzing whether dogs, both trained to detect Kong and never previously exposed to Getxent tubes, can locate and correctly indicate Kong-impregnated Getxent tubes.
The study concludes that:
- Dogs sniff Kong-impregnated Getxent tubes significantly longer than empty jars, blank Getxent tubes, and non-target odors.
- The rate of correct positive indications is significantly higher with tubes impregnated for 120 hours compared to those impregnated for 6 hours.
- Getxent tubes can be effectively used as odor carriers in training.
The initial hesitation observed in some dogs can be attributed to the fact that the odor of the Kong used to impregnate the Getxent tubes differs from the typical odor of a Kong. This difference arises because the Kong was boiled for 20 minutes before being used for impregnation.
As demonstrated by GC-MS analysis, the odor profiles of an unboiled Kong and a Kong boiled for 20 minutes differ significantly. In particular, tert-butylamine—a compound used in the rubber manufacturing process and highly concentrated in an unboiled Kong—is almost entirely absent after boiling.
