Cairn Canine Detection

Developing reliable Historical Human Remains Detection (HHRD) dogs requires more than simply burying training aids in freshly dug holes.

Historical burial environments are complex systems where odor interacts with soil chemistry, moisture, microbial activity, vegetation, and time. To prepare dogs for these challenges, training must extend beyond basic burial exercises and incorporate scenarios that more accurately reflect real-world conditions.

In addition to training in historical cemeteries, Cairn Canine Detection is incorporating elements of Paul Bunker’s burial protocols to provide controlled opportunities for training aids to interact with soil over time. This approach helps expose dogs to more realistic odor presentations and supports the development of the low-threshold odor recognition skills required for historical and archaeological applications and old cold cases.

As with any detection discipline, realism in training is essential. The closer training conditions mirror operational environments, the more meaningful the resulting canine performance becomes.

Our goal is not to teach dogs to find a buried training aid. Our goal is to develop dogs capable of recognizing and responding to the complex and often subtle odor signatures associated with historical human remains in real-world environments.

We remain committed to advancing evidence-informed training practices and improving the reliability of HHRD canine teams working in support of historical, archaeological, and culturally sensitive investigations.

This Memorial Day, we honor all of the heroes resting here — the veterans, the forgotten, and the generations who came before us.

With Daryl, Dexter and others standing watch over this beautiful old cemetery with such devotion, we are reminded that remembrance matters. Thank you to everyone resting here for allowing us the privilege to train alongside our historical HRD dogs in these sacred grounds, helping us continue the mission of finding those who have been lost or forgotten.

* Nine Little Indians isn’t available to stream yet
* It’s just starting its festival run (May 2026 premiere)
* It will likely come to theaters or streaming later in 2026
Watch the trailer:

Nine Little Indians | Official Trailer Nine Little Indians tells the story of the Charbonneau sisters’ decades-long fight for acknowledgement, justice, and healing after the abuses they suffered i...

Recently, thanks to our generous donors, we obtained an Emlid Reach RX2 GNSS device for recording waypoints. Paired with a NTRIP correction from RTKdata, we can record a K9 TFR with centimeter precision, rather than the 6 foot error we get with a handheld GPS device.

While we do flag K9 TFRs, flags can get moved or lost between the time the TFR was flagged and followup with GPR or excavation can occur.

With this system, we can navigate back to the exact spot the TFR was within centimeters.

The company that supplies the NTRIP correction, RTKdata, was intrigued by the work we do and wanted to do a story about it.

RTK GPS for Search and Rescue: K9 Case Study | RTKdata RTK GPS for search and rescue: K9 teams record cadaver dog alerts within centimeters, replacing handheld GPS off by 8-15 feet.

Yesterday marked an important benchmark in Team Suzanne/‎Kulla’s journey towards becoming an operational HHRD K9 team. Thank you June Mansfield and Trina Eddy for your support, time and professionalism.

What once looked like Kulla doing simple searching is becoming something deeper—more intentional, more connected. You can see it in the way she slows down, commits, and listens… really listens. Nose to the ground, reading what most of us will never perceive.

This is where training begins to transform.

From learning odor… to understanding it.
From working the surface… to listening to the ground.

Every step forward brings her closer to the purpose behind it all—to help give voice to those who can no longer speak for themselves.

Proud of this moment. Proud of the journey. And we’re just getting started. Kulla just had her first birthday last week.

Nothing—and I mean nothing—like grinding through three straight days in cemeteries with a crew of handlers and archaeologists who actually give a damn. The mission? Give a voice to those who can’t speak anymore.

We’re halfway into our 3-day Historical Human Remains Detection workshop with Ronda Bowser (and Adela Morris’s presence is another bonus), and yeah… brains are fried. Mine. Kulla’s. Probably everyone’s.

It’s a full-system overload—in the best way. Learning, recalibrating, unlearning bad habits. Humans and four-leggeds both putting in the work, pushing limits, getting sharper by the hour.

Over 60 attendees joined our session, with another full room for Sally’s presentation—and hundreds of meaningful conversations at our vendor table over the past three days. The NW Anthropological conference has far exceeded our expectations. Feeling incredibly grateful and energized.