Lessons learned from training dogs to detect plants – Presented by Kat Janczur

Detection dogs are increasingly used in conservation efforts to find endangered and invasive species; effective detection is crucial for the implementation of successful management techniques. Due to our experience with training dogs to detect Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) we were asked to explore training for another; this time elusive plant (which cannot be named at this time).

Presence of this plant can be a good predictor of rich biodiversity and therefore environment that needs to be protected. In this presentation we will discuss the challenges that come with training dogs to detect living plants. Whether working with invasive or endangered species acquiring training samples can be very difficult and those limitations have to be considered during training, especially the imprinting stage. Another important issue to consider is the discrimination neccesary when our target is mixed with its environment is the discrimination. In both the case of Japanese knotweed and the other plant there are other species that are closely related to them that may have similar scent profile and we therefore have to make sure dogs have a good understanding of what they are searching for.

Coming soon.