Photo: Karyn Regal/WBZ NewsRadio
MELROSE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — As the Boston Marathon nears, humans aren't the only ones going through rigorous training.
A set of police dogs and their handlers from all over Massachusetts took part in the Boston ATF's National Odor Recognition Training, where police dogs learn how to sniff out and distinguish the smells of explosive devices.
The training involves different items placed under small coffee can like containers. Some of the cans contained explosive odors, while others contained distractions, like a piece of food, a plastic glove, or a piece of tape.
The dog then has to decide which ones are explosives and which ones aren't. If the dog gets it right, then they get a treat.
One of the dogs that participated in the training Wednesday was Giselle, a dog with the Melrose Police Department. Her handler officer Sean Morris told WBZ's Karyn Regal Giselle has a lot of experience in identifying these types of devices.
"She's able to locate everything from a spent shell casing after a shooting to an actual firearm to a 100 or 200 pound improvised explosive device," Morris said.
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Prior to working as a police dog, Giselle used to work as a guide dog. When that did not work out she got training from the ATF and was sent to Melrose. She'll be on the front lines of the Boston Marathon on Patriot's Day working hard to keep runners and spectators safe.
WBZ's Karyn Regal (@karynregal) reports.
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