Conservation Detection Dog

Conservation detection dogs are dogs that are specially trained to sniff out odours related to conservation. They work very similarly to other detection dogs: drug, bomb, or Search and Rescue dogs – but instead of searching for drugs, or missing people etc, they search for things related to conservation.

Conservation detection dogs are used for things that fall into a few categories:

1. Invasive species.
These are plants or animals that have colonised a part of the world that they’re not native to. They arrive with human help and without any natural predators or diseases taking over an ecosystem. This can be devastating to the native plants and animals. Generally, conservation detection dogs are used to find plants or insects in this category. They may also be trained to find the scat (poo) of invasive animals as a way to confirm if they are present in an area or not.

2. At-risk species.
Dogs can be trained to sniff for the scat of an endangered animal – but can be used for any animal. Once the dog finds a pile of scat, the handler can collect a sample to send to the lab for analysis. A vast amount of information can be gained from the scat of an animal.

3. Wildlife crime.
Dogs can be used at ports of entry, airports/harbours, or international borders to screen for smuggled wildlife parts. Conservation detection dogs around the world help in anti-poaching efforts by searching vehicles/luggage and shipping containers for many things like ivory, pangolin scales, live birds being smuggled for the pet trade, and more.

4. Contaminants.
The final large category of conservation detection dog work is contaminants. Dogs can be trained to find gas leaks in pipelines, heavy metals and oil spills along shorelines, agricultural pests, and much more.

This rapidly growing field is very exciting, and there are increasing opportunities available for both full-time detection dog teams and citizen scientists or hobbyists.

So why chose dogs to help you……. Here’s a few reason why you will love working with them:

• Dogs are more efficient and far more accurate in their efficacy finding scat or their target odours, than humans.
• Dogs can search for multiple targets at once and collect data non-invasively. (Low impact and with a small footprint)
• Dogs are mobile and hardy, even in the most challenging field conditions. Dogs can go where humans can’t!
• Our dogs are highly motivated biosensors that are readily “calibrated” to new target odours. They’re all-terrain, all-weather ” mobile snot boxes!
• Donors, school groups, and other education groups love hearing about and meeting conservation detection dogs. Dogs are great Ambassadors.
• Detection dog teams can do the work of camera traps in days, compared to weeks or months if using just camera traps.
• Our dogs are highly trained and able to work on- or off-lead for the safety of wildlife and the public. They are all muzzle trained.

We are at the forefront of working animal welfare. Our team’s complete regular training and odour recognition tests (ORT). Where possible prior to being deployed on fieldwork, an ORT will be carried out. We are at the forefront of working animal welfare.

We have been involved in some great projects, to name a few:

• Storm petrels Survey- Nature Scot-Isle of May
• Pine Marten Territory Surveys
• Otter Territory Surveys

We have a team of Conservation dogs, trained on certain odours, and are happy to train them on different odours, we also have some puppies that have been trained to search, but aren’t on a target odour yet. Our Handlers are Certified by Lantra as Conservation Dog Handlers. Lantra, is one of UK and Ireland’s leading awarding bodies. Our mission to provide conservation detection dogs to researchers at a low cost. To this end, we’re happy to work with you in a variety of ways:

• Fully Trained Dog-Handler Team:
  One or more of our dog-handler teams comes to your field site to help collect your data. We will work closely with you to solidify training for the dogs and survey techniques to reach your goals. This is our most popular service. Costs vary but include, at a minimum, a daily rate for the team/s, and transport costs to the field site. We often can reduce costs dramatically by using our Mobile Field Unit.
• Prospective Dog Screening:
  If you are looking for a dog to add to your team or project. We can assist with the selection, and start to finish training of the dog. Initial screenings can be done remotely but it will require us to meet the dog to assess the dog fully.
• Provide Training Bespoke Workshops for Handlers:
  We will work one-on-one with handlers, dogs, or dog-handler teams to reach your goals. This is a much more intensive training workshops with a focus on the practical, hands-on field and dog skills for handlers. This can be done from 2 of days to 14 days depending on level of experience.
• Provide Initial Training for Dogs:
  Have a dog but not confident in training? Or not sure if your dog is capable? We will provide a residential training services to get your K9 up and running, then provide mentoring to ensure that you are ready to handle the dog in the field. We can also provide a dog! We will source and supply a well-selected and completely green dog that will need 4 weeks of training which will included imprinting/conditioning an odour on the dog and search training specific to the task of the dog, plus follow up sessions.

Costs vary, contact us for a quote.