(In)tangible Teamwork

Simple SummaryProfessional working dog teams perform a range of functions faster and more accurately than other methods. Therefore, these teams are highly valuable to our society. Whilst some information is available on the skills that are important for dog handlers to possess, this isn’t always sourced from the handlers themselves. As a result, information may be missing, or the provided information may not be relevant. Through questionnaires, we collected information on the skills that wildlife detection dog handlers believe to be important for working success. Handler personality evaluations were also completed to determine whether specific personalities are better suited to this unique working field. Knowledge and understanding of dog body language and behaviour were rated highly. The handlers’ personality profiles had large ranges, indicating that no personality is attracted to, or perhaps best suited for, working with wildlife detection dogs. Dog handler dedication, training, and the dog–handler relationship are likely more influential factors.Wildlife detection dog teams are employed internationally for environmental surveys, and their success often depends on the dog handler. Minimal research is available on the skills that dog handlers believe are important, and no research has been published on the personality profiles of wildlife detection dog handlers. This may reveal the skills that people should acquire to be successful at, or suitable for, this work. An online questionnaire was distributed to Australian and New Zealand wildlife detection dog handlers. This questionnaire provided a list of skills to be rated based on importance, and a personality assessment measured their five main personality domains (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness). A total of 35 questionnaires were collected, which represented over half of the estimated Australian wildlife detection dog handler population. The handlers had on average 7.2 years of dog handling experience, and 54% were female. More than half (57%) of the handlers stated that they were very emotionally attached to their dogs; however, 9% stated they were either not attached or mildly attached to their working dogs. The skill that was rated highest for importance was ‘ability to read dog body language’, and the lowest was ‘skilled in report writing’. On average, the handlers scored high in the Agreeableness domain, low in the Neuroticism domain, and average in the Extraversion, Conscientiousness, and Openness domains. However, all of the personality scores had large ranges. Therefore, a dog handler’s personality may not be as influential on their success as their training or their dog–handler bond. Further research would be beneficial regarding the direct impact that the dog–handler bond and the handler’s knowledge have on working team outcomes.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as an infectious organism of public health significance has evolved to a genetically distinct community-acquired MRSA with extended resistance to other than β-lactams. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 149 participants handling 446 animals (240 horses and 206 companion animals). The isolates were characterised as S. aureus and MRSA based on polymerase chain reaction detection of the nuc, mecA and mecC genes and the pvl gene for differentiation as community associated/livestock associated or hospital associated. The isolation rate of S. aureus from the human handlers' samples was 26 (17.4%) and 170 (38.1%) from the animal samples. The prevalence of MRSA among the isolates was 7 (4.7%) from the human handlers and 19 (4.3%) from the animals. Dogs and dog handlers had the highest isolation rates and were more likely to be colonized by S. aureus and MRSA compared with horses, cats and their handlers. The highest prevalence of MRSA was from horses (5.0%) and dog handlers (10.6%). This study has demonstrated a high prevalence of community associated MRSA in apparently healthy animals and their human handlers. This has important implications for antibiotic selection and use as well as infection control measures.

Wildlife can only be properly managed when populations are accurately monitored. Commonly used monitoring methods, including camera-trapping and visual surveys, are often costly, labour intensive, with low detection rates. To address these issues wildlife detection dogs are increasingly being used in ecological research. These dogs non-invasively locate live individuals, their scats, carcasses, and denning/nesting sites. The success of this method is dependent most notably on the dog and handler, and their training. Whilst incorrectly selecting dogs and handlers is costly and a welfare concern, selection is often based on personal preference rather than scientific evidence. Working dog selection remains focused on breeding programs that are financially expensive with highly varied success. Certain breeds are therefore commonly excluded during selection. Selecting unsuitable individuals, or incorrectly managing these teams, will not only reduce team performance but may also tarnish wildlife detection dogs’ reputation. There is currently minimal research on the selection, training and management of wildlife detection dog teams, especially in Australia. Given wildlife detection dogs have unique working requirements research on other working dog fields is often not comparable. Thus, to investigate factors important to detection dog and handler selection and management, I trained 12 dogs from three breeds at detection work, experimentally assessing their training times and odour discrimination ability. After reviewing the literature three breeds were selected. The breed with the greatest number of suitable behavioural and physical characteristics for wildlife detection (Border Collies); the breed with the least number of suitable characteristics (Greyhounds); and the breed used most commonly for detection work (Labrador Retrievers). These dogs were trained to detect Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) scat as it was a novel odour which they would not encounter outside training. Training sessions were filmed to determine the time required to achieve specific training competencies, and behaviour coded to record smelling times and behaviours related to the dogs’ true and false indications. Once the dogs achieved all training competencies their odour discrimination ability was assessed during single-blind trials, with both a familiar and unfamiliar handler.All Border Collies and Labrador Retrievers, and one Greyhound, completed training. Overall the Border Collies had the quickest training times and the highest accuracy scores. Individual variation was, however, significant within the breeds’ training times and accuracy. During training the dogs’ smelling times were significant factors influencing their indications, with specific behaviours (e.g. paw-lifting) being correlated more often with true, rather than false, positives. The only Greyhound to complete training had higher accuracy scores than half of the Labrador Retrievers during testing. There was therefore a weak correlation between the dogs’ training times and detection accuracy. During testing the dogs had significantly higher accuracy scores when handled by their familiar handler. With the unfamiliar handler the dogs performed significantly more stress-related behaviours and were distracted for a higher proportion of time, which was negatively correlated to detection accuracy.Important dog handler traits and skills were also determined through emailing questionnaires to Australian and New Zealand wildlife detection dog handlers. These questionnaires asked the handlers to complete personality assessments and rate handler skills based on importance for wildlife detection work. The handlers shared similar mean personality scores, however, these scores had large ranges. Handlers rated skills specific to their dog, such as understanding dog body language, as highly important for field success.Individual variation was prominent in all major findings. Due to the large range in the dog handlers’ personality scores, personality may not be as important as their training or dog–handler relationship. The large variation within the breeds training times and accuracy further suggests that a dog’s breed may not be the best predictor of their trainability or detection aptitude. These dogs’ accuracy was further impacted by changing handlers. Future research is required to determine if professional dogs are impacted similarly, and the best ways to manage dog-handler transitions. Lastly my research demonstrated that dogs’ smelling times and their associated behaviours can assist handlers discriminate between dogs’ true and false indications.My research challenges how working dogs are currently globally managed. Due to the level of individual variation among dogs suitable for working roles, dogs should not be excluded purely because of their breed. Individual team’s performances must also continue to be evaluated due to the highly site-specific nature of their effectiveness. Management strategies must also take into consideration how influential the dog-handler relationship is on team performance. Prior to my study no research had investigated how detrimental changing a dog’s handler is on their welfare and performance. It is therefore crucial to continue challenging and advancing best practises, not only for animal welfare but also for the success of the working dog industry. Continuing research on wildlife detection dogs, including best avenues to source dogs, is crucial for this emerging method and will ensure the greatest outcomes are achieved.

Maintaining long-term odor memory and detection performance in dogs

The use of sniffer dogs (K9) to assist the police in carrying out their duties in collecting evidence of narcotics crimes where investigators are allowed to use all means by applicable laws and regulations in assisting their duties in disclosing a criminal offense. This research uses normative and empirical juridical approaches. The results of research and discussion conclude that the Role of Investigators in Collecting Evidence Using Tracking Dogs (K9) includes normative, ideal, and factual roles. Factors inhibiting investigators from carrying out their role in collecting evidence using sniffer dogs (K9) are regulations regarding the use of sniffer dogs (K9), which are only limited to the Decree of the National Police Chief No. Pol: SKEP/251/IV/2004 and No.Pol: SKEP17/X/2011. There should be a legal basis that regulates the validity or use of the Law Law. In this case, the law enforcement apparatus factor is the lack of police officers who serve as dog handlers or K9s at Polda Lampung, and the infrastructure factor is still less than optimal health management of animal units, namely sniffer dogs (K9).

The endangered natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita) faces ongoing habitat loss, requiring effective conservation measures. Field surveys must therefore address its highly variable detectability in terrestrial habitats. We investigated the factors influencing capture success comparing two methods: artificial cover boards (ACBs) and wildlife detection dogs (WDDs). We first analysed environmental and training factors influencing toad detectability for four detection dogs with varying experience using a binomial generalized linear model (GLM). Then, we compared capture success of ACBs and WDD transects (deploying two dogs) considering weather and habitat type using negative binomial GLMs. Across 200 tests, each detection dog displayed a unique learning curve, with performance influenced mainly by dog behaviour, wind, test blindness and insect presence. Detection rates across dogs levelled off at 87.2% (75.7%–94.8%). Capture success of both methods under real‐deployment conditions was separately analysed for juvenile and (sub‐)adult toads by calculating a success rate. For juvenile toads, capture success was primarily influenced by capture method, habitat type and study year, while adult toads capture success mainly depended on habitat type and precipitation. Overall, WDDs (mean rate juvenile toads = 4.15, mean rate adult toads = 5.61) showed higher success rates than ACBs (mean rate juvenile toads = 0.51, mean rate adult toads = 4.73), particularly in dense and versatile habitats. Practical implication. This study provides practical guidance for the selection and implementation of survey methods for E. calamita, identifying critical factors to consider when designing a study to maximize survey success. Dog handlers should be able to adapt search and training strategies to their dogs' individual pace and limitations and keep environmental influences in mind. Both ACBs and WDDs are suitable methods for detecting E. calamita in terrestrial habitats; however, detection dogs are particularly useful in densely vegetated areas, for finding juveniles and for covering larger regions more efficiently. Success rates for adult toads increase in favourable habitat and climatic conditions, such as warmer temperatures and sufficient moisture. Our findings provide a framework that may be extended to the monitoring and conservation of other amphibian species.

Those Pig-Men Things

Despite their important role in security, little is known about the energy requirements of working dogs such as odor, explosive and human detection dogs. Previous researchers have evaluated the energy requirements of individual canine breeds as well as dogs in exercise roles such as sprint racing. This study is the first to evaluate the energy requirements of working dogs trained in odor, explosive and human detection. This retrospective study evaluated twenty adult dogs who maintained consistent body weights over a six month period. During this time, the average energy consumption was }{}136pm 38~mathrm{kcal}cdot {mathrm{BW}}_{mathrm{kg}}^{0.75} or two times the calculated resting energy requirement (}{}mathrm{RER}=70~mathrm{kcal}cdot {mathrm{BW}}_{mathrm{kg}}^{0.75}). No statistical differences were found between breeds, age or sex, but a statistically significant association (p = 0.0033, R-square = 0.0854) was seen between the number of searches a dog performs and their energy requirement. Based on this study’s population, it appears that working dogs have maintenance energy requirements similar to the 1974 National Research Council’s (NRC) maintenance energy requirement of }{}132~mathrm{kcal}cdot {mathrm{BW}}_{mathrm{kg}}^{0.75} (National Research Council (NRC), 1974) and the }{}139pm 42~mathrm{kcal}cdot {mathrm{BW}}_{mathrm{kg}}^{0.75} reported for young laboratory beagles (Rainbird & Kienzle, 1990). Additional research is needed to determine if these data can be applied to all odor, explosive and human detection dogs and to determine if other types of working dogs (tracking, search and rescue etc.) have similar energy requirements.

The use of detection dogs in conservation studies has expanded across species, conditions and habitats. However, it is incorrect to assume the potential associated with these surveys is automatically linked to the dog's sense of smell. Instead, an accurate detection dog rate is directly linked to many caveats in dog–handler training. Selecting a detection dog is directly linked to a clearly defined study design and must balance various factors, including: olfactory ability, physical structure, energy level, personality and social traits. Selection of training samples should ensure sufficient variation in target and nontarget species, independent of whether the goal is to locate evidence of the animal (e.g. scat, feather) or the physical animal. Just as not all dogs are appropriate, not all persons are suitable for this type of work, as the handler must be consistent and attentive to details with an incredible physical and mental endurance to sustain the time in the field. Testing in controlled and field situations can determine if the personalities of the dog and handler balance, with time needed for each to gain the ability to ‘read’ the other. Proper training for the dog and handler is essential, with special attention paid to the innate reactions of the latter. After training of the team is complete, testing trials should mimic field conditions. While there is no single model to becoming a handler in wildlife detection dog studies, incorporating these fundamental concepts with professional training can help optimize sample detection rate, minimize handler and dog frustration, and maximize overall success with this technique.

In a wide variety of disciplines, from English to Biology, attention to human– animal relations is challenging traditional definitions of the intellectual division of labour between the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences (Maturana and Varela, 1992). In anthropology, in some ways, the trend towards research that focuses on ‘‘multi-species ethnography’’ or the ‘‘anthropology of life’’ or ‘‘post-humanism’’ is creating new opportunities for thinking about the biological/social divisions within our own discipline. ‘‘Bringing the animals (and plants and microbes and tools)’’ back in is enlivening debates in diverse fields in anthropology and among cognate disciplines. This theme issue not only introduces some of these fields of research, but also attempts to take a critical perspective on the explosion of research on human–animal relations. What assumptions are being made that require deeper critical analysis? What are the political implications of attempting to develop ideas such as ‘‘more than human publics’’ or applying ideas of the cosmopolitan to multi-species analysis? (Blue and Rock, 2010; Latour, 2008). How should this kind of research modify our framing of the discipline of anthropology, our research practices, and our cooperation with scholars in other fields? Post-humanist approaches bring back a materialist perspective, but often through radically distinct kinds of materialisms that offer challenges to the assumptions underlying Marxist anthropological traditions. This set of papers addresses these questions in a variety of different ways which will hopefully stimulate debate about how to study post/humanity in the 21st century. Even the question of what to call this new, or revived, field of inquiry has yet to be settled. We have chosen to adopt the recently emerging emphasis on ‘‘multispecies ethnography’’ as part of the effort to destabilize the anthropocentrism that persists in the label of ‘‘human–animal relations’’ (Kirksey and Helmreich, 2010). Multispecies ethnography acknowledges that interactions between different non-human species is not necessarily mediated (only) through their interaction

Currently, demand for US-bred and born detector dogs exceeds available supply, while reliance on foreign-bred sources introduces many unnecessary and unwanted risks. With proper management of a domestic supply line, U.S. breeders can improve both health and behavior by applying scientific principles to breeding and raising of detector dogs. A cooperative national detector dog breeding and development program will mitigate the current shortage of domestic-bred dogs that meet the health and behavior standards required by government, military, and law enforcement agencies. To coordinate such a cooperative, we propose a Detector Dog Center of Excellence (DDCoE) led by representatives of academic canine science programs guided by an advisory board of stakeholders. As a non-governmental organization, the DDCoE will oversee selective breeding of dogs owned by breeders, purchase the resulting puppies, and its members will supervise puppy raising until dogs are of a suitable age to be purchased by government agencies or other working dog organizations. The DDCoE will serve as an approved vendor to facilitate the procurement process. Breeding decisions will be based on proven quantitative genetic methods implemented by a specialized database. A national working dog semen bank will ensure conservation of diverse genetic material and enhance selection response by providing numerous potential sires. As a data collection and genetic evaluation center, the DDCoE will lead research to define quantitative traits involved in odor detection, to understand how these traits develop, and methods to optimize training of dogs endowed with enhanced odor detection ability.

In this article, I employ "the Pacific" as a contact zone, method, and concept with which to examine the dynamic, shifting relationship between land and sea that allows indigenous literature in the transpacific context to engage all of its ecopoetic complexity. The Pacific is the largest oceanic divide on earth. In recent years, issues around global capitalism, national identity, community, and the ecology of the Pacific region have sparked intriguing and provoca- tive discussions. Research along these lines celebrates the networking and coalition activities of various groups of people in the Pacific, and highlights the circulation of ideas and cultures that I believe to be crucial to contem- porary ecological scholarship. It offers an oceanic perspective that serves as a counterweight to continental ways of thinking, and it supplements or challenges transnational approaches to imperialism, postcolonialism, indi- geneity, globalization, and ecology. 1 A recent special issue of the Contemporary Pacific titled "Native Pacific Cultural Studies on the Edge" examines uncharted spaces of the Pacific Islands and historicizes indigenous discourses about making landfall, showing how they have contested the production of new transoceanic environments. The articles in this special issue "explore notions of Pacific indigeneity as they circulate through geographical, cultural, political, and historical flows of people(s), things, knowledge, power—between islands and continents." 2 As the United States and China battle over this geographical space, the message from the indigenous Pacific can be inspiring: neighboring communities have always exchanged ideas and products, often across vast oceanic distances. It was a large world in which indigenous people intermingled along numerous interconnecting routes, unhindered by the boundaries erected much later by imperial powers. Indeed, the recent wave of research on transnational

OBJECTIVE To determine effects of oral administration of metronidazole or doxycycline on olfactory function in explosives detection (ED) dogs. ANIMALS 18 ED dogs. PROCEDURES Metronidazole was administered (25 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h for 10 days); the day prior to drug administration was designated day 0. Odor detection threshold was measured with a standard scent wheel and 3 explosives (ammonium nitrate, trinitrotoluene, and smokeless powder; weight, 1 to 500 mg) on days 0, 5, and 10. Lowest repeatable weight detected was recorded as the detection threshold. There was a 10-day washout period, and doxycycline was administered (5 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h for 10 days) and the testing protocol repeated. Degradation changes in the detection threshold for dogs were assessed. RESULTS Metronidazole administration resulted in degradation of the detection threshold for 2 of 3 explosives (ammonium nitrate and trinitrotoluene). Nine of 18 dogs had a degradation of performance in response to 1 or more explosives (5 dogs had degradation on day 5 or 10 and 4 dogs had degradation on both days 5 and 10). There was no significant degradation during doxycycline administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Degradation in the ability to detect odors of explosives during metronidazole administration at 25 mg/kg, PO, every 12 hours, indicated a potential risk for use of this drug in ED dogs. Additional studies will be needed to determine whether lower doses would have the same effect. Doxycycline administered at the tested dose appeared to be safe for use in ED dogs.

The Quixotic Quest for Objectivity in Observation

Simple SummaryDogs should display certain physical, behavioural, and cognitive characteristics to be suitable for training and deployment in a scent detection role. Identifying these characteristics is a vital first step to determine whether particular dogs will be suitable for selection and training. This study identified the behavioural traits that stakeholders consider relevant for dogs trained in biosecurity detection, and then assessed these traits in an active cohort of Australian biosecurity detector dogs. Our research revealed seven relevant traits: search motivation, emotional stability, search arousal, food motivation, play motivation, search independence, and search focus. Current biosecurity detector dogs had consistently high ratings from their handlers for search motivation, emotional stability, and food motivation, whereas other traits showed more variation. We found that dogs rated by handlers as high in search arousal and search motivation were more likely to also be rated highly for their overall detection performance. These findings will help to inform decisions about the selection and training of scent detection dogs. To perform their role effectively, scent detection dogs require certain characteristics. Identifying these characteristics will inform the selection of prospective dogs and preferred approaches to their training. The current study drew upon the perspectives of industry stakeholders to identify the behavioural traits considered relevant for detection dogs in biosecurity screening roles. Dog handlers, trainers, and supervisors (n = 25) in Australian biosecurity operations participated in focus group interviews to determine the perceived characteristics that, in their experience, influence detection performance. Their descriptions were used to create a questionnaire which was then administered to handlers to assess the working behaviours of current biosecurity dogs. Responses were collected for 88% of the operational dogs (n = 36). An exploratory factor analysis revealed seven tentative dimensions: search motivation, emotional stability, search arousal, food motivation, play motivation, search independence, and search focus. Search motivation and search arousal were both positively associated with handler ratings of detection performance (p ≤ 0.006). In general, biosecurity dogs were scored consistently high in ratings of search motivation, emotional stability, and food motivation. Our approach has advanced our understanding of the working behaviours and characteristic profile of biosecurity detector dogs and will be used to inform candidate selection processes.