May 24, 2002 (2dayuk) - A dog's amazing sense of smell could provide a better early warning system for some cancers than modern science.
Veterinary researchers at Cambridge University have applied for funding to test their theory with an eminent dog trainer.
Dr Barbara Sommerville wants to train dogs to react to cancer cells in urine samples, which would revolutionise the screening process for conditions like prostate cancer.
"If there is a consistent change in odour the dogs will be able to detect it, of that we are in no doubt," said Dr Sommerville, of the University's Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine.
"At the moment identifying prostate cancer is an inexact science, the tests are serum tests which provide a lot of false positives and some false negatives.
"Our research would be based on the fact that a dog's sense of smell is so acute that it can detect any change in odour."
If the University gets funding it will ask well-known trainer Charlie Clarricoates, 39, a professional dog trainer for 12 years, to carry out the experiment.
Mr Clarricoates runs Charlie's Dog Training Centre in Soham, Cambs.
He's had already started the process of training three dogs - Black Labrador Tarn, who's two, German Shepherd Chip, four, and Bliss, a seven-year-old Golden Labrador.
"It's very similar to teaching dogs to sniff out drugs and explosives - they become very very keen on finding that particular scent.
