Airports to Moors: Invasive Species Mitigation with Grant Blackley

In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Grant Blackley from Orkney Native Wildlife Project about transitioning from airport screening detection dogs to working with conservation detection dogs.

Science Highlight: Olfaction-based Detection Distance: A Quantitative Analysis of How Far Away Dogs Recognize Tortoise Odor and Follow It to Source

What is similar between airport detection and conservation detection?

• Dog care is the same; health checks, etc.


• Training foundations are similar


• Educating the public is the same for both

What things are different?

• Quick controlled rewards in the airport vs toy rewards for conservation


• Dogs on leash at all times in the airport, can be off leash for conservation


• Taught to speak a lot to airport detection dogs, but not for conservation


• Overall search styles are different


• Small differences in training elements


• All airport dogs are trained the same, conservation dogs trained individually


• Different hours of work, different work environment


• More human sided work with airport detection vs conservation


• There is more work and funding for airport detection

Links Mentioned in the Episode: None

Where to find Grant Blackley: Website | Facebook

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