Whether you have a teething puppy with a rampant chewing problem or are just plain overwhelmed with the amount of dog toy options out there, the recent publication by Sonowal …
Science Saturday: Wildlife detection dogs effectively survey a terrestrial amphibian, but differ among individuals, weather and habitat
Like many endangered amphibians, the natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita) is particularly difficult to detect in terrestrial environments. Koch et al. (2025) compared the efficacy of using artificial cover boards (which …
How Can Detection Dogs Pair with Other Methods?
Conservation detection dogs are one of the most effective methods of non-invasive wildlife monitoring there is. In a 2021 review of 1,220 publications featuring wildlife detection dogs, dogs were found …
Science Saturday: The effect of arousal during and post-training on memory consolidation in detection dogs
New research finds that “everyone learns differently” applies to detection dogs too. Because the process of memory consolidation, the brain’s way of stabilizing learned information, is slow and influenced by …
Science Saturday: Evaluating the effectiveness of participatory science dog teams to detect devitalized Spotted Lanternfly egg masses
In a recently published proof-of-concept study, it was found that community scientists (trained volunteer dog handlers) and their canine companions (with previous experience in sport scent detection competition), were capable …
Science Saturday: Leaving Land: The Toxic Trade-offs of a Coastal Wolf Pack’s Shifting Diet
A new study by Dr. Gretchen Roffler and colleagues reveals a surprising consequence of adaptation: coastal Alaskan wolves that shifted their diet from deer to sea otters now carry some …
Detection Dogs and Non-Invasive Wildlife Monitoring
As our understanding of wildlife ethics advances, non-invasive methods of monitoring are becoming increasingly sought after. As part of this trend, conservation detection dogs are emerging as one of the …
We Can’t Do It All, We Can’t Do It Alone
We’ve been quiet for the past few months. Part of that is due to the natural lull in our fieldwork in the winter. But things have also been pretty crazy …
Niffler Has Heartworm
“Do you have time for the veterinarian to call you at noon today to discuss Niffler’s pre-dental bloodwork?” My heart sank. “Sure, is everything ok?” I tried to keep my …
How Does Heat Affect Detection Dogs?
When considering using conservation detection dogs for an upcoming project, you may be curious how the dogs work in higher temperatures. Can dogs work safely in the heat? Does the …