Lunas continuing her training in Pine Marten scat detection. Once fully trained Luna can be employed to help wildlife organisations and conservationists by offering a non biased and non invasive method of detection of scats. Scat Detection Dogs are also able to cover an increasingly larger area than a human search team currently can.
Wildlife detection dogs are another survey method, option, tool or supportive service that can help gain a fair and accurate reading of scat abundance and presence in any given area, regardless of the terrain and environment (such as thick foliage and dense bush).
We are training in wooded areas, with thick vegetation, branches and leaves littering the ground. We prepare Luna by placing her working harness on and focusing her prior to searching.
Luna is sent ahead of the handler and covers the area in a zigzag pattern. Once the area has been covered by Luna we move forward to cover the next section in the same way.
To ensure we train Luna to detect scats on any area and any height we are including tree branches when hiding Pine Marten Scats for Luna to find.
Luna already covers the ground effectively so we do this to increase the difficulty of her search as this improves her as a scenting dog, especially in difficult terrain.
Once Luna has located the scent source/target odour she "alerts" to the handler.
The handler then joins Luna at her location and once the Scat has been identified by a clear "alert" or "indication" Luna is then rewarded.
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We will keep you updated on Luna progression in her training for this exciting project.
keep up the good work.
ReplyDeletelove catching up on your new training blog.