UNDERSTANDING ODOR CHEMISTRY AND DYNAMICS FOR OPERATIONAL K9 TEAMS
Instructor: Dr. Lauryn DeGreeff
Location: Land O'Lakes, FL (Pasco County, ZIP 34637)
Dates: January 7–8, 2027
Duration: 16 hours
Cost: $199.00
Course Overview
This intensive two-day workshop equips canine handlers with comprehensive knowledge of the scientific principles underlying odor detection. Participants will develop a thorough understanding of odor chemistry and dynamics, examining how scents originate, distribute through the environment, undergo chemical changes based on environmental factors, and are ultimately detected by working canines.
The program combines lecture-based instruction with hands-on demonstrations to provide handlers with practical insights. Attendees will investigate the variables that impact odor presence and handler-canine team performance in operational scenarios. Course content spans fundamental odor principles alongside specialized applications in narcotics detection, explosives detection, human scent identification, and human remains recovery. This workshop serves handlers across all detection disciplines and prioritizes practical application of concepts to real-world training and field operations.
About the Instructor
Dr. Lauryn E. DeGreeff holds a PhD in forensic chemistry from Florida International University, where she serves as an associate professor in the Chemistry Department and at the International Forensic Science Research Institute. Her research specializes in volatiles analysis as it relates to canine vapor detection capabilities. Dr. DeGreeff employs chemistry-based methodologies to investigate olfaction with applications to field vapor sampling practices. Her research interests center on trace vapor sampling, characterization, and generation techniques that support canine and other detection methodologies.
Category: K9 Training