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conservationdogshawaii

Dog handler @michelle.reynolds.142 rewards Guinnes

Dog handler @michelle.reynolds.142 rewards Guinness for his find during a training session. G-man thinks the flirt pole is the best thing ever! We have less than a week before the big voyage to Johnston Atoll. The objective of the 3-week trip is to survey for invasive yellow crazy ants that had wreaked havoc on the resident seabirds for many years. YCA fortunately have not been seen on Johnston for the last few years. The K9 surveys along with the final visual surveys by CAST XX (Crazy Ant Strike Team 20) will provide added confidence that the target has truly been eliminated.
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Note: The YCA project is being conducted independently of CDH by our K9 trainer Kyoko but we will be sharing updates.
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#yellowcrazyants #anoplolepisgracilipes #invasiveants #johnstonatoll #flirtpole #gmanflyingnun

Last but certainly not least in our Fall 2020 Pet

Last but certainly not least in our Fall 2020 Pet Photography Campaign is Yogi.
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📸 @chipperton_photography
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Yogi is a 3-yr old Labrador Retriever who began participating in our Nose Work for Conservation program two years ago, including the devil weed and melon fly proof-of-concept projects. Not surprisingly, he is extremely food-motivated and has excelled in scent training. During his down time, Yogi is a live-in mascot and goodwill ambassador at historic @bayerestate in Hawai’i Kai. In addition to supporting our conservation cause, Yogi’s dog mom Sooz is interested in furthering the use of dogs for the early detection of cancer in humans.
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Please find the link to our Fall 2020 Pet Photography Campaign in our bio. Mahalo for your support! A portion of proceeds will be donated to CDH when you book a pet photo shoot with studio animal trainer and photographer Sue Chipperton - who also happens to be one of our dedicated volunteers. Sue’s animal coordinating credits include the "Lost Puppy" Super Bowl Budweiser commercial and police K9 @h50eddie from Hawai’i Five-0.
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#NW4C #VolunteerDog #LabradorsOfInstagram #petphotography #dogphotography #phodography

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response is hiring a can

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response is hiring a canine handler on O’ahu! @crbhawaii is a dedicated group of folks who work hard to mitigate the effects of this destructive pest.
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To find out more visit RCUH.com -> WORK -> Job Postings -> CRB Survey Canine Handler.
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Featured in this photo are dog handler Cody and K9 Bravo.
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#coconutrhinocerosbeetle #agriculturalpest #invasivespecies #conservationdog

Happy #TongueOutTuesday from all of us at CDH 😋

Happy #TongueOutTuesday from all of us at CDH 😋 Along with Ula from our previous post, K9s Brock and Toad joined our devil weed program a few months ago. Brock is a German Shepherd Malinois mix, and Toad is a Blue Heeler. Congratulations to both pups and their handler Sue Chipperton for recently passing their Odor Recognition Tests! Sue joined our team with decades of animal training experience including with marine mammals and studio/movie animals. We are stoked that she and her dogs found their way into the world of scent detection, and we look forward to their contribution to field surveys. 🙌

📸: @tailsticks

#conservationdogs #invasiveplants #devilweed #DemolishTheDevilWeed #NW4C #gsdsofinstagram #malinoisofinstagram #blueheelersofinstagram #australiancattledogsofinstagram

Introducing @julie.rivers.67 and her 5-yr old choc

Introducing @julie.rivers.67 and her 5-yr old chocolate Lab Ula, a new dog-handler team in our devil weed program. Ula detected his first wild devil weed plant during a field training this morning, 25 meters off of the main trail. He also pinpointed a few tiny seedlings in other locations that were barely visible to the human eye. Good job guys!
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Prior to devil weed detection, Ula and Julie trained in sport scent detection on O’ahu as well as truffle hunting in Italy. Julie is currently a conservation biologist for the Navy, and before that, worked for @oahudofaw ’s Nā Ala Hele trail crew, where she helped to restore native habitat and combat invasive species. She and Ula are also avid hikers so she thought the invasive plant detection would be a perfect fit. Welcome to the team Julie and Ula!
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#NW4C #DemolishTheDevilWeed #chromolaenaodorata #invasiveplants #invasivespecies #devilweed #siamweed #labradorsofinstagram #chocolatelab

Whenever we get a chance, we like to feature fello

Whenever we get a chance, we like to feature fellow wildlife detection dog teams in the Hawaiian islands. Emma is originally from California and started her working dog career as a seeing eye dog trainee. If you've met this wild pup, you'll understand that being a service dog was not her calling! She "career changed" to become an ecological detection dog. Emma has a fierce drive to work, so her new job was perfect for her. She, along with 2 other Labradors, were trained to sniff out avian and bat fatalities for the Habitat Conservation Plan of the Kahuku and Kawailoa wind farms on the North Shore of O’ahu.
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When the HCP transitioned from a high-intensity to low-intensity monitoring effort in 2015, Emma was adopted by her now handler @ninaalenabeatty. Emma and Nina are both grateful for the important work they do, which helps gather data and holds the wind farms accountable. Searching is not all fun, games and cookies though - it's often hot and strenuous, starting at first light to beat the heat, walking for miles and miles to ensure good area coverage, and remaining vigilant of the dog's changes of behavior and direction of the wind. But "nothing beats a hard day of work when you get your canine as your co-worker,” says Nina. Keep up the good work, island girls!
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#emma_jeanne_surf_queen #workingdog #labradorsofinstagram #ecodog

Sending you good vibes only on this post-election

Sending you good vibes only on this post-election Saturday! K9 @qanagator and handler @betabitzer pause for a photo op during their devil weed survey. A couple of our new team members Sue and Julie shadowed them and got practice differentiating between target vs non-target plants, as well as uprooting devil weed plants. Between all K9 and human team members, 53 plants were detected. Good job gang!
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#chromolaenaodorata #siamweed #devilweed #invasiveplants #invasivespecies #DemolishTheDevilWeed #NW4C #conservationdog #malinoisofinstagram #belgianmalinoisofinstagram #maligator

Coconut rhinoceros beetle is a major pest that dam

Coconut rhinoceros beetle is a major pest that damages coconut and oil palm trees, often leaving behind v-shaped cuts in the fronds and holes in the base of the fronds. On this Aloha Friday we are excited to feature @crbhawaii and their K9 teams:
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“CRB detection canines Rider (left) and Bravo (right), are working hard to identify breeding sites based on the scent of CRB larvae, along with their handlers Vanessa and Cody. When Rider or Bravo smells its target in a breeding site, they show a positive response by sitting.”
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“Rider and Bravo's detection work helps the CRB response crew to use their time and resources more efficiently: one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of CRB is early detection and treatment of breeding sites. The canine team is essential to the CRB Response's work to protect palms on Oahu!”
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We had the pleasure of meeting their team last week and we hope to help raise awareness about CRB. In future posts we will share more information about how you can prevent spread to new locations. Happy Aloha Friday!

#coconutrhinocerosbeetle #invasivespecies #invasiveinsect #conservationdogs

Gracie is an Australian Shepherd and the 4th featu

Gracie is an Australian Shepherd and the 4th feature of our Pet Photography Campaign. This island girl loves to hike, swim, and paddle-board, and is happiest when her whole family, or “herd,” is together. Gracie and her "mom" @mermaidinglauren are participating in the melon fly proof-of-concept project, which is currently on hold but is set to resume in the new year. Lauren works for @HMAR or Hawaii Marine Animal Response, and among her roles in their marine debris program are leading volunteers on clean-up dives around Oahu’s reefs, assisting with all boating operations for the organization, and responding to calls of concern regarding Hawaii’s protected marine species.
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Photo by @chipperton_photography
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About our Fall 2020 Pet Photography Campaign (link in bio): This year has been a tough year financially for everyone including non-profit organizations. In-person fundraising events are not possible due to the pandemic, which is why we came up with this campaign. It may seem like a luxury to get professional photos taken of your pet, but we also think that a photograph is a window into an animal's soul and something that can be cherished for a lifetime. We hope this campaign clicks with a few of you out there!
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#NW4C #AussieShepherdsofInstagram #petphotography #dogphotography #phodography

Hawai’i is the most isolated chain of islands in

Hawai’i is the most isolated chain of islands in the world. Many of the plants and animals that established themselves here millions of years ago lost their defenses against predators. Introduced rodents and mongooses have a hugely negative impact on Hawaii’s native species.
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CDH has discussed the idea of starting our own small mammal detection program for some time now. We are finally taking the leap with a proof-of-concept training project, following the pest detection program guidelines of @docgovtnz and the advice of @nzconservationdogs
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In Hawai’i there are many potential bio-security applications for this type of conservation dog. Because mongooses are not established on Kaua’i, ships and containers heading to Kaua’i could be screened for them. Boats delivering supplies to remote atolls could benefit from being screened for rodents to prevent accidental introductions to sensitive bird sanctuaries.
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Our proof of concept project includes terriers and non-terriers, and aims to have the dogs detect the live target animals as well as associated scents that indicate presence. We are only at the beginning of our journey but we look forward to giving you updates!
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#RootOutTheRodents #pestdetection #rodentdetection #nw4c #biosecurity
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Photo: K9 Henry and @calvinandsusie / Video: K9 @h50eddie and @tailsticks

A big mahalo to @kongcompany for sending a care pa

We had a fun group training session with the devil

We had a fun group training session with the devil weed teams today. The muggy conditions and light wind created some interesting challenges for the dogs. Mahalo to @hawaii_dlnr @oahudofaw for letting us train at their base yard. And big thanks to our dedicated volunteers and their dogs for the time and effort they put in to help detect and eradicate invasive species! @tailsticks @betabitzer @qanagator @sandi.sue1 and Julie
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#devilweed #chromolaenaodorata #invasiveplants #invasivespecies #conservationdogs #NW4C #demolishthedevilweed #womeninconservation

With rain, salt water, heat and red dirt being so

With rain, salt water, heat and red dirt being so prevalent in Hawai’i, it can be challenging to keep dog leashes clean. Leather tends to get moldy quickly, and nylon webbing can get stinky easily. Biothane has been a godsend for K9 fieldwork in the islands. In case you’re not familiar with the material, it’s polyester webbing with a rubber-like coating that makes it durable, waterproof and easy to clean.
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Below are some of the variations we appreciate for different applications:
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Super grip (photo 2) is a heavier weight leash with textured gripper beads. Great for working large or strong dogs on leash in wet environments and in locations with steep or uneven terrain where it’s essential to maintain control for safety reasons.
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The standard flat biothane (photo 3) comes in a variety of widths, thicknesses and colors. The flat material offers a certain amount of grip in most dry to semi-dry conditions, and is a great all-around leash.
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The rope (photo 4) is circular in shape and doesn’t offer much grip, but works well as a lightweight drag line on the beach or on a hike, especially if you get one without a handle.
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Featured in the main photo is volunteer dog handler @betabitzer with a 12-ft super grip leash on her devil weed detection dog @qanagator
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There are many vendors that sell biothane dog equipment but a few that we use regularly include Oahu-based Ruff Stuff and mainland-based @midatlantick9 and Palomine Lines.

Happy Aloha Friday and a Friday Fun Fact: the ques

Happy Aloha Friday and a Friday Fun Fact: the question of whether the Tyrannosaurus rex was an apex predator or pure scavenger was among the longest debates in paleontology. These days it’s accepted that the T-Rex was both an active predator as well as a scavenger. Sound familiar? 🐾😃
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📸 @tor.johnson.photography
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#alohafriday #apexpredatornotmonster #tyrannosaurusrex #wildwahineowaimea #sitpretty #labradorsofinstagram

Weimaraner Ruger is the OG of our devil weed progr

Weimaraner Ruger is the OG of our devil weed program and the 3rd feature of our Pet Photography Campaign. Please see details below and link in our bio.
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📸 @chipperton_photography
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Ruger will work all day to find his target odor in exchange for hot dogs, and he has zero interest in the occasional chicken, pig or even fellow dog that he encounters in the field. Ruger started his career in pet dog scent work classes but was recruited for field work due to his temperament, drive and physical fitness. In addition to being a dedicated detection partner to Ruger, his dog mom @sandi.sue1 is a wholesaler for @primalpetfoods raw dog foods and treats. We love how the photo of Ruger captures him “pointing” with a happy face!
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About our Fall 2020 Pet Photography Campaign: Arrange a pet photo shoot with @chipperton_photography and a portion of proceeds will be donated to our organization to help fund our programs, including the purchase of GPS collars for our devil weed dogs, and scent detection containers and training aid fruits for our melon fly dogs. Photographer Sue Chipperton is also a professional studio animal trainer with credits including the movies "Hobbs and Shaw" and "Jurassic World." You can be sure Sue will capture images of your pet that you will cherish for a lifetime.
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#NW4C #WeimaranersofInstagram #petphotography #dogphotography #phodography #devilweed #chromolaenaodorata #invasivespecies #conservationdog

One thing that may not be obvious at first glance

One thing that may not be obvious at first glance is that our non-profit organization Conservation Dogs of Hawai’i is run entirely by volunteers. The dogs involved in many of our proof-of-concept projects are pet dogs from the local scent work community. We hope to become a larger organization with paid full-time staff and a working dog kennel someday, but for now we are stoked to combine citizen science with canine scent detection.
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This video clip features scent discrimination tests for native plants ‘ākia, and training for devil weed ORT with: Ted and Weimaraner Flow; @4dogsandthe2cats and Chihuahua Zoe; Mary and Border Collie Annie; Kristine and @kaia_the_goldendoodle

Can you tell the trial ride aboard marine vessel “Imua” was a blast for Guinness? We don’t know if the motion sickness medication worked really well, or the dogs just don’t get seasick. Either way it was great to do a mini sea trial on the boat that will take these dogs and the Crazy Ant Strike Team to Johnston Atoll in December.
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The YCA project is being conducted independently of CDH by Country Canine but we will post updates and photos!
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📸 @tor.johnson.photography
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#mvimua #yellowcrazyant #anoplolepisgracilipes #johnstonatoll #boatdogs #gmanflyingnun #wilddogofwaialua

Kendo is the second feature of our Pet Photography

Kendo is the second feature of our Pet Photography Campaign (more details below or visit the link in our bio).

📸 @chipperton_photography

When CDH first contacted @oahuisc in 2018 to get their advice on a suitable target plant for our dogs, they suggested we try a proof-of-concept project on a native plant before training with an invasive plant, which comes with bio-security protocols to prevent spread. While it's already documented that dogs can sniff out certain plants, we had never done it ourselves. So we selected a native non-endangered plant called ‘ākia. We trained several dogs, including Kendo, the German Shepherd featured in this portrait. The ‘ākia proof-of-concept project was successful (scroll right to see a clip of Kendo's odor recognition test), and the rest is history. Shout out to @erinmcbish for her guidance with our invasive devil weed project over the last few years.
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About our Fall 2020 Pet Photography Campaign: Arrange a pet photo shoot with Chipperton Photography, and a portion of proceeds will be donated to our organization to help fund our programs. In addition to being a photographer, Sue Chipperton is a professional studio animal trainer with credits including the "Lost Puppy" Super Bowl Budweiser commercial with the puppy and horses. Pet animals that can be photographed include cats, horses, pigs, rats and more. You can be sure Sue will get your pet looking his or her best with her animal coordinating skills!
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#NW4C #VolunteerDog #GSDsofInstagram #petphotography #dogphotography #phodography

Like many conservation folks, we use tools to reco

Like many conservation folks, we use tools to record our survey tracks and targets so that we may analyze the data afterwards and submit them to collaborating agencies. Garmin has GPS collars made specifically for dogs, which allows for the recording of both dog and handler tracks. It’s useful when the dog is working off lead and ranging far from the handler. Professional devices can be a bit pricey but there are free apps out there that have similar functionality. The @alltrails app gives you access to over 100,000 trail maps and lets you record your hike. It can also turn your phone into a GPS tracker so you don’t get lost on the trail. What is your favorite device or app?
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📸 @tor.johnson.photography
#wildwahineowaimea #gpstracker #surveytool #datagathering

We are excited to announce our new campaign that w

We are excited to announce our new campaign that will showcase portraits of the dogs in our various programs through the amazing pet photography of @chipperton_photoraphy ~ Sue Chipperton has trained animals for Hollywood for over 20 years, including most recently @h50eddie the Lab in Hawaii Five-0 and @the_magnum_lads of Magnum P.I. With this campaign you can also arrange a photo shoot for your own pet, and a portion of proceeds will be donated to our non-profit organization. Please visit the link in our bio for more info. Mahalo for your support!

The first dog we'd like to introduce is Winnie, an active and enthusiastic 1-year old Border Collie that is part of the Melon Fly proof-of-concept scent detection project. We are lucky that Winnieʻs person @morgan_pugh approached us earlier this year to see if weʻd be interested in collaborating with her. Morgan is an entomology masters student at University of Hawai‘i Mānoa and describes how the project came about:

"During my undergraduate career at UHM, I became intrigued with biochemistry and how the whole natural world was built atom by atom, like real life legos. After getting a pup of my own who has become such a big part of my life, and seeing how other people are integrating dogs into their work, I wanted to find a way to get her involved with my studies. After lots of research and a few helping hands, I came up with the idea to use dogs to sniff out the volatile chemicals produced by plants in response to insect herbivory in order to locate agricultural pests."

We look forward to posting updates on this project, as well as more portraits of our volunteer dogs.

📸 @chipperton_photography
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#melonfly #BactroceraCucurbitae #agriculturalpest #plantvolatiles #mitigatethemelonflies #NW4C #caninesforconservationists #bordercolliesofinstagram #petphotography #dogphotography #phoDography

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