Cairn Canine Detection

05/29/2026

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.

05/25/2026

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.

05/05/2026

* 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 tells the story of the Charbonneau sisters’ decades-long fight for acknowledgement, justice, and healing after the abuses they suffered i...

05/02/2026

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 teams record cadaver dog alerts within centimeters, replacing handheld GPS off by 8-15 feet.

04/24/2026

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.

04/11/2026

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.

03/29/2026

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.

03/25/2026

CCD is excited (and honored) to be presenting twice at the 2026 Northwest Anthropological Association Conference in Bellingham!

We’ll be talking about what our HHRD K9s can (and can’t) do in historical and archaeological work—and how they pair with tools like GPR to help “listen to the ground” in a meaningful, non-invasive way.

Come find us if you’re attending—we’d love to connect.

01/24/2026

Thankful and excited.

New gear, same mission. Huge thx to those who donated to our cause and enabled the purchase of this equipment.

We’re excited to add survey-grade GPS to our historical projects. This means we can record K9 alert locations with far greater accuracy than before—helping us create clearer maps, better documentation, and stronger reports when working alongside archaeologists and Tribal partners.

It’s one more way we’re being thoughtful and intentional about how we do non-invasive work: honoring the past, respecting the land, and supporting the people who care for these sites.

Same dogs. Same dedication.
Just better data. 🐾📍

01/23/2026

New gear, same mission. Huge thx to those who donated to our cause and enabled the purchase of this equipment.

We’re excited to add survey-grade GPS to our historical projects. This means we can record K9 alert locations with far greater accuracy than before—helping us create clearer maps, better documentation, and stronger reports when working alongside archaeologists and Tribal partners.

It’s one more way we’re being thoughtful and intentional about how we do non-invasive work: honoring the past, respecting the land, and supporting the people who care for these sites.

Same dogs. Same dedication.
Just better data. 🐾📍