A New Role for a Cocker Spaniel Puppy
A charity is on a mission to train a cocker spaniel puppy, named Goose, to become its first wildlife detection dog. At just five months old, Goose is expected to assist volunteers at Northumberland Wildlife Trust in locating species such as water voles and pine martens.
The Evolving Role of Scent Detection Dogs
Scent-trained dogs have a long history of being utilized to detect contraband, explosives, and missing persons. Recently, they have also been adapted for wildlife conservation efforts, helping to identify signs of endangered or rare species.
A Volunteer’s Insight
Goose’s owner, Ellesse Janda, who volunteers with the trust, shared the potential of these dogs: “They can find bats, squirrels, and birds and have even been used to sniff out invasive plants.” Ms. Janda dedicated four months to conducting water vole surveys in Kielder Forest, which followed a project that reintroduced 2,000 captively bred voles into the North Tyne catchment area.
The Inspiration Behind Training Goose
During her surveys, Ms. Janda noticed that signs of animal activity were often washed away or overlooked, including small indicators like droppings and burrows. This realization sparked the idea of training Goose to assist in the search.
Training in Progress
Goose is currently working with specialized trainers, with hopes that he will be ready to assist in a survey planned for 2025. “We’ve started with rabbit,” Ms. Janda explained. “But in time, we’ll introduce him to the droppings of a vole and train him to recognize that scent and bark when he finds it, earning him a game with his ball.”
Future Aspirations for Goose
In addition to water voles, Ms. Janda hopes Goose can be trained to detect pine martens, one of the UK’s rarest carnivores that is slowly regaining a foothold in Kielder Forest. “It’s baby steps for Goose, but who knows what other species he’ll add to his sniffing list in the future? At the moment, he’s just loving the attention.”