In recent decades, the use of dogs in conservation work has exploded. Deployed to detect things like invasive or elusive species, scat, poachers, illegal wildlife trade products, and much more, conservation dog teams are trained to aid teams in the field. With benefits like speedier searches over large areas, proven targeted detection accuracy, and ease of transport and surveying, conservation dogs also offer possibilities for enhancing other technological methods by confirming or providing results in real-time.
Conservation dog teams now provide scat, reptile, aquatic species, whale scat, and invasive plant detection, and plenty more. This expansion of use is partly due to refined training techniques that offer a broader capability in very specialized detection roles, and partly due to more people seeing the capabilities and benefits of trained dogs.
Specifically, the utilization of dogs in conservation has experienced a considerable increase in recent years as people realize what the capability brings to the field survey arena. The benefits of dogs offering enhanced detection to support surveys includes:
- Speed of search
- Covering large areas effectively
- Proven detection capability
- Calibrated on a variety of species, if required
- Accuracy in the detection of targets and ignoring similar non-target specimens
- And easy to transport to survey sites.
Whether you train, handle, use, or are interested in finding out more about conservation dogs, this is the community for you! This group is growing, so if you'd like to get started and make connections here, here are some suggestions:
- Do you have advice to share with others who are interested in trying conservation dog work for the first time? Or do you need advice on whether conservation dogs suit your work?
- Do you have resources or research to share on training or using conservation dogs?
- Do you have a case study or project update that involves conservation dogs?
- Do you have a question about how to access conservation dogs for your own work?
Your group manager is Paul Bunker. Direct message him through WILDLABS or email him here with any questions or suggestions.
Header photo: Bill, photographed by Stephanie O'Donnell
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Published paper attached
14 November 2022
Article
Ceres Tag sends just in time alerts and GPS location to have the power to track and trace.
22 July 2022
Today we're talking to Paul Bunker, owner of Chiron K9, a canine consultancy company specializing in detection, author of the workbook Imprint Your Detection Dog in 15 Days, a resource aimed at providing tools to get...
7 May 2021
November 2023
event
February 2023
Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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These are great materials to refer to. I just have to wrap my amateur brain around the technological words but I should be fine. Thank you Harold. |
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Conservation Dogs, Women in Conservation Tech Programme (WiCT) | 7 months ago | |
"Preliminary results- Fecal samples are increasingly used in wildlife research to confirm species’ presence and to estimate population... |
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Conservation Dogs | 1 year 3 months ago | |
In this short presentation, Dr. Edgar Aviles-Rosa of the Canine Olfaction Lab at Texas Tech University joins Chiron K9's Principal,... |
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Conservation Dogs | 1 year 6 months ago | |
The UK's first Conservation Canine conference is now available for replay ticket purchase. Day 1 9:30 -... |
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Conservation Dogs | 1 year 6 months ago | |
thanks Pete, yes we're going to collect some from captive animals when they come out of hibernation. I'll keep in touch. |
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Conservation Dogs | 1 year 9 months ago | |
Thank you! I just replied via email. |
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Conservation Dogs | 1 year 9 months ago | |
With their boundless enthusiasm and amazing powers of smell, canines are playing a growing role in global efforts to protect wildlife. |
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Conservation Dogs | 1 year 10 months ago | |
This paper describes the training methodology used to investigate the ability of a scent detection dog to locate live riverine rabbits (... |
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Conservation Dogs | 2 years ago | |
This class is being offered again, here's the information: Online DATES: December 27, 2021 - January 21, 2022 EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS NOVEMBER 10, 2021... |
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Conservation Dogs | 2 years ago | |
Please feel free to reach out if you have questions. |
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Conservation Dogs | 2 years ago | |
Dogs, in simple terms are a tool just like any other technology you use. There are advantages and limitations just like any other technologies. I like to tell people they need to... |
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Conservation Dogs | 2 years 1 month ago | |
Forget the newest technology: One of the most powerful tools in conservation research is human’s best friend. Rogue Detection Teams... |
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Conservation Dogs | 2 years 1 month ago |
The Wildlife Society Conference
19 June 2023 5:59am
Researchers Using Dogs to Combat Spotted Lanternflies – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth
26 April 2023 2:51pm
By sniffing out egg masses, dogs are helping researchers against an invasive species
Thinking out loud
24 November 2022 2:21am
11 February 2023 6:19pm
Thank you for this exciting reply and links to the papers. I use an olfactometer that utilizes Arduino boards. It has been used linked to a treat and train, although my system provides sound feedback and I provide the reinforcements. I found these links very interesting!
28 February 2023 7:26pm
These are great materials to refer to. I just have to wrap my amateur brain around the technological words but I should be fine. Thank you Harold.
Working with Detection Dog Teams
15 February 2023 9:49am
These Dogs Are a Bird's Best Friend | Audubon
15 September 2022 1:13pm
Nice article from Audubon showcasing a variety of conservation dog projects: 'They can turn up endangered species, track down poachers, root out invasive pests, and prevent the spread of wildlife diseases'
CERES TAG
22 July 2022 3:36am
Detection dog-team outcompetes human fieldworkers in collecting pine marten scat
1 July 2022 5:08pm
Evaluating Spotted Lanternfly Detection Dog Capability and Limits of Detection.
15 March 2022 7:28pm
Replay Conservation Canine Conference
5 March 2022 10:08pm
Detection dogs in Conservation
29 November 2021 12:44am
6 December 2021 9:24am
Thanks for sharing. We've funded research using a detection dog to succesfully find hibernating hedgehogs over winter. Wondering whether they're likely to be able to detect smaller hibernators - hazel dormice - on the forest floor?
6 December 2021 3:30pm
I would bet that yes, they are capable of it-- the question is mostly detection distance and whether it's vauable in the field. We've had similar situations with turtle nests and other difficult targets.
Do you have a few known hibernation sites that could be used to test dogs? If so, that would be a big help. Feel free to reach out to me or Alice Whitelaw ([email protected]) if you'd like to discuss in more detail.
7 December 2021 9:29am
thanks Pete, yes we're going to collect some from captive animals when they come out of hibernation. I'll keep in touch.
Conservation Canine Conference
16 November 2021 1:10am
3 December 2021 7:02pm
I'm part of a GSD rescue, so we periodically get dogs that would do well in search. I'll email you.
-Robert
3 December 2021 8:03pm
You have Leo who was one of mine for adoption. The other dogs all went to new homes.
3 December 2021 9:18pm
Thank you! I just replied via email.
News Article: These Dogs Are a Bird's Best Friend
27 November 2021 1:30am
Training methodology for canine scent detection of a critically endangered lagomorph
23 September 2021 12:49am
Online/in-person courses in detection dogs
17 March 2021 3:28pm
27 May 2021 5:52am
Thanks any others online courses related to dogs utilization?
16 September 2021 1:17pm
This class is being offered again, here's the information:
Online
DATES: December 27, 2021 - January 21, 2022
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS NOVEMBER 10, 2021
https://www.centerforwildlifestudies.org/courses/scentdogs-online-2-2021-2022
Longevity of Scented Gauze
30 August 2021 6:33pm
3 September 2021 7:23pm
There are a number of factors to consider here:
Firstly, gauze selection and preparation.
Sample collection.
Collection of distractor/control scents
Storage to include immediate storage (mylar bags, Borosilicate glass, Mason jars etc.) and then freezer or fridge.
The best gauze is Dukal unsterilized. Rinse the gauze in Ethanol and then dry in an oven 150f for 15mins. Store all unused gauze together until ready to use.
Ensure the person collecting uses disposable gloves (not powdered or chlorinated) and changes the gloves for each gauze. Rinse the turtle with clean unchlorinated water before scent collection to remove tank water and environmental odours.
As soon as sample is collected place in Mylar bag or Borosilicate jar or whatever you are using and seal. (Do not touch the outside of container with contaminated (scented) gloves). Use stainless steel tweezers if needed.
Make sure the person prepares controls (handles gauze without collection scent) and distractors (collect various scents) in exactly the same way and store them the same.
I do not typically freeze reptile samples as the scent can be delicate. I store in the fridge. Ensure all controls and distractors are stored the same or the dogs will learn to smell the storage and not the target (I have had that happen).
Once open I typical do not use for more than 30mins (if that) then dispose. The problem is the scent cannot replicate as there is not source for the odour and it will burn off quickly depending on the climatic conditions. I have stored samples for 3 weeks without issue but once open the deteriate fast.
Hope this helps.
7 September 2021 4:06pm
Thanks Paul!
That's really helpful! I'll order some of those gauze and follow your procedure.
7 September 2021 5:25pm
Please feel free to reach out if you have questions.
Dogs & technology
27 August 2021 8:23am
27 August 2021 3:25pm
Dogs, in simple terms are a tool just like any other technology you use. There are advantages and limitations just like any other technologies. I like to tell people they need to survey in depth. This means you use as many technologies as needed to minimize any limitations in your survey. The dogs can cover most requirements but if there is a limitation that is deemed to exist in your particular situation then you bridge that limitation with technology if available.
Some surveys only require a dog team to meet the goal and some need a layered approach.
This is where a professional dog team’s advice is important. They can assist in the planning phase. You can matrix your limitations and then mitigate with the dog and if there are still gaps see if technology fits the requirements.
It should never be seen as the dog team is the final solution unless they mitigate all your limitations. Which is often, but not always, the case.
Also remembering that the human element in the dog team is just as important as the dog.
So, a simple scenario is in areas of high target concentration needing individual and exact locations. The dog may be confused by the spread of scents all over the area but give you an approximation of a location. Then the humans need to take over with, for instance at night, heat sensing technology. In this case the dog team can reduce the potential target areas by telling you there is nothing present and then give you a priority area when they say something is present. This area reduction is a huge advantage to survey large areas and reduce resources required.
Or passive cameras can be used to monitor an area for target traffic then once establish they are passing the camera the dog team can be brought in to follow up the trail or reduce the area of the potential target’s location.
Remembering also that dogs can be a platform for technology such as GPS of tracklines and waypoints of target alerts.
Rescue dogs follow their noses to protect rare species
26 August 2021 3:26am
Great Crested Newt Detection Dog (video)
22 July 2021 3:27am
Training and usage of detection dogs to better understand bumble bee nesting habitat
19 June 2021 6:12pm
Crop Protection Dogs: Advice Requested
27 May 2021 5:53am
7 June 2021 10:29am
Hi Antoine,
I have worked extensively with livestock guarding dogs (Anatolians) in the past. The effectiveness of this conflict mitigation method depends largely on how well the dog and the livestock bond to each other. It makes use of the pack instinct of the dogs, bonding to the livestock as his pack to defend from attackers (including other predators).
So the first question would be what typical dog behaviour do you want to exploit for your "crop protection dogs"? I would assume that you want to use territorial behaviour as the basis of the dogs protecting the croplands as "their" territory. So your training should focus on this (not sure how you would do it, though). The second issue could be that the dogs might not recognize elephants as intruders into their territory; i.e. they might be come used to the presence of crop-raiding elephants over time -- I really do not know dog-elephant interactions well enough to make a prediction on how this might play out.
A third potential issue that you need to think about, is exactly how effective the barking dogs will be as deterrents. Even if they warn the local farmers, will the farmers be able to drive the elephants away without danger to themselves? And will the dogs be effective in deterring the elephants, or rather be an irritant that makes the elephants (more) aggressive? I don't know. Will the dogs actually attack the elephants, or be scared of them (and maybe run away towards the village while being chased by the elephants)?
I think if you can address all of these points effectively, there is a good chance that this approach will succeed.
Cheers,
Chavoux
14 June 2021 11:21am
Dear Chavoux,
thank you for your reply, you perfectly summarize the challenges of this project. I will add another one: dog care, community in Congo are not used to take care of their dog and guarding dogs will probably have to be feed.
As you said, all the point have to be addressed.
In order to partially answer, I will give a story from one of the village around Odzala:
An old man in the village was using his dogs to protect his crops, it seems that the dogs were going to the crops each night and deter the elephant from it. This solution seems to have work during several years and elephant would prefer to go to other crops (displacement of the problem). Unfortunately, one day, the dogs disappear one by one, I don't have all the information yet, but this could be the results of elephant attack, neighbour's jealousy, limited dogs care?
So it seems possible to actively use dog to protect the crop from elephant.
Regarding farmers, for some of them, they are already guarding their crops, but it has a heavy impact on their live. Dogs could improve this situation by alerting the farmer sleeping in his house nearby. He could sleep properly and be awake only when there is a real threat.
All the best,
Antoine.
Conservation Dogs’ Are Sniffing Out Species Humans Can’t See
13 June 2021 4:07am
Wildlife Trafficking Detection Tools
16 May 2021 10:51pm
Getting Started with Conservation Dogs: An Interview with Paul Bunker

7 May 2021 12:00am
The Detection Dog Methodology - Rogue Detection Dogs - Video
4 May 2021 12:57am
How quoll-ified are northern and spotted-tailed quoll detection dogs?
3 April 2021 4:27am
14 April 2021 1:16pm
I just have to say that this is an absolutely brilliant title...bravo to those authors! :)
Scouring the Desert for a Seabird
12 April 2021 3:02am
Training methodology for canine scent detection of a critically endangered lagomorph: a conservation case study
6 April 2021 5:17pm
11 February 2023 2:51am
Hi Naomi,
Sounds like exciting work! I'm not a dog trainer but we did publish 2 articles on automating dog training, here about modifying the Treat and Train, and here.
All the best,
-harold