Searching is the most common usage of Police canines.  When conducting an area search a canine will use their exceptional sense of smell to locate a subject.  A slow breeze creates a scent cone that the canines work their way to the source.  The handler will notice subtle changes in their canine’s behavior. These behavior changes may lead the handler to direct his canine partner a certain way to hopefully catch a stronger portion of the scent cone.

 The handler can achieve this by getting information from officers on scene of an event where a   subject was last seen.  The handler must know which direction he/she went, and how much time has gone by.  A solid team effort involving all officers and the public will help increase the likelihood of a successful find.

An area search may be conducted on a leash or off leash.  Sometimes canines are used to search for missing people, not just criminals.  However, the majority of the time when you see a canine team working in your neighborhood conducting a yard-to-yard area search they are looking for a suspect.