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Detector Dogs
Introduction
Passive Response Program
Active Response Program
Training
Target odours
So, your dog wants to work for Quarantine?
What dogs does AQIS recruit?
Introduction
Quarantine detector dog teams at international airports, mail centers and private courier depots play a vital role in helping to protect Australia from exotic pests and diseases. The dogs are trained to sniff out more than 30 different items of quarantine concern.
In any month, a detector dog team at an airport will intercept about 33kg of fresh fruit and 9kg of meat. Other seizures include eggs, live plants and plant cuttings.
In a shift (four to six hours of actual sniffing time) each team will seize five to ten items, with four out of every five items seized being undeclared. About 60 per cent of seizures are of fruit, with meat and meat products making up close to 20 per cent.
Beagles were chosen by AQIS as the most suitable breed for 'friendly' detector dogs working around the public at international airports. They have joined the program from many backgrounds, including animal shelters and private homes. Beagle breed clubs throughout the country have been particularly helpful to AQIS.
Beagles have an extraordinary sense of smell—said to be at least 100 times more acute than our own. They are relatively small dogs and are co-operative and gentle with people, remaining calm even in the commotion of baggage collection areas.
Passive Response Program
AQIS has 'passive' response teams at international airports around Australia: 16 in Sydney, 10 in Perth, nine in Melbourne, 10 in Brisbane, four in Cairns, two in Adelaide and one in Darwin.
Domestic screening is also undertaken in Perth and Adelaide on behalf of state authorities.
The beagles are trained to simply sit when they detect a target odour, and await their food reward from their handler—the kind of passive response regarded as acceptable around passengers.
Active Response Program
'Active' response dogs are located in international mail centres and private courier depots——21 in Sydney, four in Perth, seven in Melbourne and three in Brisbane.
Active response dogs paw or nuzzle an item that contains a target odour (such as fruit, fresh plant material, seeds, canned or dried meats, eggs and vine cuttings) and are rewarded with a game of tug-of-war.
Active response dogs have to be agile. AQIS recruits dogs from animal shelters, with valuable assistance from the RSPCA and from members of the public.
Training
AQIS dog training begins in Sydney. Passive response training entails placing a target odour (for example an apple or plant cutting) in a cardboard box and encouraging the dog to sniff it—the dog is then told to sit and is rewarded with a piece of food.
When the trainer is certain the dog will respond to all target odours, irrespective of other odour source, the detector team progresses to the airport terminal at Sydney for training under field conditions. The dog then progresses to sniffing some boxes with the target odour in them, placed amongst empty boxes. Again the dog is encouraged to sniff each box, is told to sit next to the box with the target odour and is rewarded.
Active response dogs are initially taught to get into cardboard boxes to retrieve a dummy—a length of rolled fabric. Once the dog has developed a strong drive to retrieve the dummy, the targets are placed in selected boxes along with it. At the right stage of training the dummy is left out of the box and produced for a game when the dog has detected a target odour.
Target odours
All AQIS detector dogs are trained to detect:
- fresh fruit and vegetables
- meat, both fresh and processed, including canned meats
- plant material
- eggs
- birds
- reptiles
- bees
Active response dogs are also trained to detect soil, seeds, dried plant material and dairy products.
Cakes, chocolate, honey, alcohol, cigarettes or illicit drugs are not targeted by AQIS detector dogs.
So, your dog wants to work for Quarantine?
AQIS is always on the lookout for talented dogs that have what it takes to be a quarantine detector dog, but standards are high and not every dog qualifies to be part of the national team.
What dogs does AQIS recruit?
While many people are familiar with the AQIS beagles, we will also consider any dog of suitable age and temperament. We currently have operational detector dogs from a wide variety of breeds including beagles, labradors, border collies, pointers, terriers and several mixed breed dogs.
One thing all of these dogs have in common is that they possess extreme food and/or play drives.
As the animals work in public areas, they are also socially well adjusted.
The dogs AQIS looks for are generally either:
- fanatical about food (even after being fed) or;
- fanatical about play (tug of war/retrieves)
They must also be:
- friendly and outgoing (not upset by noisy and stressful environments)
- 1-3 years of age, and
- physically sound and healthy.
To help you judge if your dog has the required drives to become a Quarantine Detector Dog here are some simple tests you can try.
Does your dog have an extreme food drive?
Throw a handful of dry dog biscuits in the garden or long grass. A dog with good food drive will seek out all the biscuits and continue searching even after all the biscuits have been found.
Repeat the above exercise but this time at the local park where there are increased distractions such as other dogs, children playing, people on bikes etc…
Does your dog ignore these distractions and focus completely on finding the dog biscuits in amongst the grass? If the answer is yes, your dog may have the extreme food drive required to become a Quarantine Detector Dog.
Does your dog have an extreme play drive?
Pick up your dog's favourite tug toy or ball and walk around the yard. A dog with a good play drive will follow you everywhere and remain transfixed by the toy waiting for you to drop or throw it.
Repeat the above exercise but this time at the local park where there are distractions such as other dogs running, children playing, people on bikes etc…
Does your dog ignore these distractions completely and remain entirely focused on the toy in your hand? If the answer is yes, your dog may have the required play drive to become a quarantine detector dog.
My dog has extreme food and/or play drive—what next?
If your dog has successfully completed either the food drive or the play drive tests described above, AQIS would love to hear from you. Simply contact the Technical Supervisor of the Detector Dog Unit in your state and they will organise a full assessment of your dog.
There are 4 levels of assessment your dog must pass before being accepted for training as a quarantine detector dog:
1. Initial Assessment
This process is held at a quarantine detector dog workplace (Airport or Mail Centre) and takes approximately 10–15 mins. This is a preliminary assessment of the dog in an unfamiliar environment, including how it interacts with new people, as well as an assessment of its drives. It is important to understand at this stage that dogs may behave very differently when taken out of their 'normal' environment and results can vary greatly from your initial testing.
You are encouraged to be present when this assessment is performed and we will provide you with open and honest feedback in regards to the animal's suitability. We encourage you to ask questions throughout this process.
If your dog is sound in temperament and displays the required drives it will then progress to the next stage.
2. Formal Assessment
This formal assessment takes about an hour and is a standardised and more detailed review of the tests carried out during the initial assessment. The owner is not present for this assessment as it can create a significant distraction for the animal.
This assessment is videotaped and sent to the Technical Manager of the Detector Dog Program for review. You will be kept updated on your dog's performance and progress during the second assessment.
If your dog passes this test he or she will be provisionally accepted for training.
3. Provisional acceptance
This stage of the assessment requires that the dog spends 2-3 days in the quarantine detector dog kennel facility (we will need to view current vaccination certificates before entering this stage). During this time your dog will be introduced to the kennel environment and closely monitored to ensure it is coping with the transition to kennel life.
It is important to note that this is a provisional acceptance for training and your dog will be returned to you if we do not believe it will be happy in the kennel environment.
This has the added advantage of providing you with 1-2 days away from your dog to ensure you are comfortable with your decision to offer the dog to AQIS.
4. Notification
The Technical Manager makes the final decision on whether your dog has been successful in passing the assessment process. When this decision has been made, the Technical Supervisor in your state will advise you of the outcome.
If your dog is accepted into the Detector Dog Program
All quarantine detector dogs are given the best care and attention. They are assigned to a highly trained handler who is responsible for their welfare and work performance; they receive regular veterinary check ups throughout their career; and when they eventually retire from the program, AQIS guarantees to find them a good home (usually with their assigned handler).
You will be given the opportunity to inspect our kennel facilities and we are happy to discuss any concerns you may have regarding your dog's future.
The final stage is simply signing ownership of the dog over to AQIS. When this is complete, your dog will be entered into the next national training program—and be well on its way to a new career with quarantine!
For further information contact the AQIS Detector Dog Program or Phone: +61 2 6272 4992.