This blog explores the dangers of training detection dogs on multiple, unrelated odour groups such as drugs, cash, and firearms. Drawing on operational experience, it highlights how overloading dogs with too many targets leads to confusion, unclear alerts, and serious legal risks — especially in environments like stash houses, private dwellings, and vehicle searches. Real examples from UK police and Trading Standards teams expose the practical and legal consequences of using dual-trained or career-shifted dogs without proper retraining or maintenance. The blog makes a strong case for single-purpose detection dogs, arguing that clarity in training leads to reliability in the field — because in real-world deployments, one nose should have one job.
