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?

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.

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. 

Please feel free to reach out if you have questions. 

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. 

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