INSTAGRAM

conservationdogshawaii

FREE “RUNNIN’ WITH THE DEVIL WEED” STICKER A

FREE “RUNNIN’ WITH THE DEVIL WEED” STICKER AND T-SHIRT FOR MILITARY AND CAC HOLDERS WITH BASE ACCESS WHO VOLUNTEER!
🌱
As most of you know, CDH's dog teams have been surveying for invasive devil weed for the last 2 years. Recently, one of our dog teams, K9 Ula and handler Julie, discovered plants in an area in Halawa bordering Camp Smith that was thought to be devil weed-free. Another one of our teams, K9 Briar and David, discovered additional plants a few weeks later. Turns out there's an infestation area there. The Marine Corps is hosting a volunteer plant pulling event there on Saturday 12/11. Due to street parking being limited, we can't solicit the general public, but we’d be grateful if military folks and CAC holders (base access) on O`ahu would volunteer.
🌱
Anybody who participates will get a "Runnin' with the Devil Weed" devil dog sticker mailed to them in appreciation for the help. Just DM or email info@conservationdogshawaii.org with a photo of yourself holding a plant at the event, along with your mailing address. If you can get a family of 4 or more to participate, we will send you one t-shirt or tank top too! Scroll right to see the designs. Please also email dain.christensen@usmc.mil before 12/11 to RSVP so he has a head count (mention CDH).
🌱
The flowering season has begun, and the goal is to pull as many plants as possible before they start seeding.
🌱
MAHALO FOR YOUR HELP!

Another question we were asked recently is, How do

Another question we were asked recently is, How do you keep your dogs motivated during surveys?
🐾
In conservation work, the type of survey and target might require different levels of drive or search styles in the dogs. Selecting the right dog for the job can play a big part in keeping that dog motivated during a survey, as some dogs have the focus and inclination to do detailed or methodical searches in controlled environments, while other dogs thrive on free searches in natural environments.
🐾
Placing occasional training aids (or known hides) in the survey area for the dog to find is something that many dog handlers will do to give the dog a “win” in an otherwise unproductive search area. The training aid can also serve as a tool to help the dog handler assess current environmental conditions in the terrain.
🐾
Some dogs are not as concerned about a find as they are about the hunt itself. A dog’s “seeking system” is activated, and dopamine released, when it engages in behaviors it’s been bred for, such as herding or running. So while some dogs are mainly motivated to work for the find, which results in the reward of toy or food (chase, bite, consume), others may enjoy the hunt more. And of course there’s everything in between.
🐾
In our experience, if the surveys are conducted off lead in natural environments that the dogs thrive in, then a dog that enjoys physical activity requires less handler intervention to remain motivated. In more challenging surveys that require detailed sniffing, patterning or repetitive work such as screening packages and vehicles, it’s very helpful to put out hides for the dogs to find. But in either scenario it is important to keep survey lengths reasonable, and to give the dogs enough rest time and water breaks.
🐾
📸 by @tor.johnson.photography of K9 Solo conducting a seabird survey in the mountains. He was one of those dogs that would reliably find a target and alert, but couldn’t wait to be released to continue the hunt! RIP Solo the #wilddogofwaialua 2012-2021 💜
.
#conservationdog #labradorsofinstagram

Working Dog Wednesday - K9 Ruger was on fire today

Working Dog Wednesday - K9 Ruger was on fire today! The flowering season for Chromolaena odorata is in full bloom, and this was one of our last chances to find and uproot mature plants before they start dropping seeds. Winter time in Hawai`i can be quite rainy, so we have to get out there when there’s a weather window that is conducive for K9 surveys.
🌱
Scroll right to see the tallest plant that Ruger and his handler Sandi found today 😱 and another shot of the thick stumps on a mature plant. Fortunately devil weed is fairly easy to pull because the roots are shallow. Please be on the lookout for this invasive plant if you are out on a hike. 🙏
🌱
#workingdogwednesday #devilweed #chromolaenaodorata #DemolishTheDevilWeed #invasivespecies #invasiveplants #weimaranersofinstagram

How long do field surveys last, and how do you kee

How long do field surveys last, and how do you keep the dog motivated for the duration? We'll answer part 1 today and part 2 in another post. Various factors affect survey length, such as target species and corresponding odor availability, or terrain and environmental conditions.
🐾
At a wind farm, a dog team might survey for 3-4 hours in the cooler morning or evening hours, with breaks between turbines. With targets being fairly large and odiferous, the dogs are able to do a scan or free search, and switch to intensive sniffing only when they detect the target odor. At Hanalei NWR, the teams conduct 2-3 hour searches to cover their assigned areas, and our invasive plant surveys are 3 hours or so. Some jobs in remote locations require maximizing the time spent at the site, so both morning and afternoon surveys are conducted, while avoiding the mid-day heat.
🐾
With field surveys, there are lots of water breaks for both human and dog. We once had an old school police dog trainer tell us that we should withhold the "water reward" from the dog until the end of the search. We chuckled about that since it's not like we're doing short searches in air-conditioned buildings.
🐾
On the other end of the spectrum are dogs that do very detailed work involving intensive sniffing to ensure that tiny targets or those with low odor availability are not missed.
🐾
According to @crbhawaii the length of a K9 survey depends on the heat, as most work is done in the full sun. And because coconut rhinoceros beetles can be buried deep in mulch, and their odor not abundant, the dogs are required to carefully sniff almost every inch of the pile. A dog might search a mulch pile as big as 3 school buses or more, in which case they survey it in sections. Each search lasts about 10 minutes, with breaks between searches.
🐾
For @mussel_dogs whose K9s sniff out invasive mussels, each boat takes about a minute to screen. They often have a line of boats so they go from one to the next as they pull up. They avoid having the dogs waiting around in the sun as much as possible. If they are slammed, the rule is 45 minutes of searching and a full 15 minutes of rest.

📸 Captions in comment below

A question we recently received was: "How do you b

A question we recently received was: "How do you become a conservation dog handler?"
🐾
Many conservation dog trainers have previous experience in detection dog disciplines such as explosives, bed bugs, and SAR, and usually collaborate with ecologists on projects. Dog handlers on the other hand are a mixed bag. Some are ecologists who develop an interest in the detection dog method to address a conservation challenge. Others become dog handlers through a position with a government agency that manages wildlife conservation or agriculture. Those positions typically require a background in biology and field work but will train you for the K9 portion of the work. The use of conservation dogs is growing all over the world, but paid positions with conservation dog organizations are still few and far between.
🐾
Dog handlers in our invasive plant program were recruited from community scent work classes, which is an unusual model. While they (both dog and handler) were selected because they fit the criteria for intensive field work, it's important to note that even with their scent work background, physical fitness, and dogs having suitable drive, all teams required many months if not years of additional field training and experience to become effective in their operational surveys. We like to share their successes in our social media posts, but we don't mean to give the impression that it's easy to become or be a conservation dog handler!
🐾
There isn’t a simple answer to the original question but we hope this gives you some idea of how others became conservation dog handlers. For those with a K9 background who want to learn more about ecology, check out the latest episode of @k9.conservationists podcast where host Kayla Fratt interviews biologist Dr. Charles Van Rees @guloshots about types of data collection in wildlife conservation. We were excited to learn that he studied the endangered Hawaiian gallinule for his PhD and worked with our science advisor!
.
📸 by @tor.johnson.photography of biologist / conservation dog handler Michelle Reynolds with K9 Guinness at Johnston Atoll. Bonus point if you're not from Hawai‘i and can guess the bird species in the background

Happy Aloha Friday! Hope you’re getting slobbery

Happy Aloha Friday! Hope you’re getting slobbery kisses from your pup too. 😁

Have you heard the latest episode of the K9s Talki

Have you heard the latest episode of the K9s Talking Scents podcast? If not, check it out! In "Know Your Dog's Genetics and Purpose" host Cameron Ford chats with a couple of knowledgeable guests about the history of breeds commonly used for detection work, and why they do what they do. A question we get asked a lot is, "What breeds are best for your work?" With conservation dog applications being so varied, perhaps more so than any other detection dog field, the answer to that question is, "It depends!"
🐾
This topic doesn't get talked about much, either because it's something people don't think about, or because the topic of detection dog selection usually focuses on work ethic and reward motivation. But understanding breed tendencies can also make a huge difference in the success of a project, whether it helps to select the right dog for the job, or because it helps in training or working the dog in a way that jives with its instincts, instead of trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Regardless of mixed vs purebred dog, rescued vs breeder-sourced dog, and individual dog personalities, a little breed knowledge about our furry partners can go a long way.
🐾
Find episode guest Craig Koshyk’s podcast at:
@huntingdogconfidential
🐾
Find #k9stalkingscentspodcast Episode 52 with host
@cameronfordk9 at FordK9.com -> Podcast

📸 by @tor.johnson.photography : Labrador Retriever Solo instinctively swoops downwind of bushes and trees during a wide area survey for seabirds on Hawai‘i island. #wilddogofwaialua

Will somebody help Kaiao bury these corpses? He’

Will somebody help Kaiao bury these corpses? He’s quite athletic and strong but doesn’t have opposable thumbs.

👻 🦇 💀 🎃 🕷 🧛‍♂️

H A P P Y H A L L O W E E N

We had a whirlwind of a day with four dog-handler

We had a whirlwind of a day with four dog-handler teams conducting invasive plant surveys simultaneously in one of the priority areas on the island. The goal was to identify as many hot spots before the flowering season which starts in December. Mahalo to the volunteer trail navigators who came to assist the K9 teams, and to @pbshawaii who braved the elements in order to film and share our story.

📸1: K9 Ruger followed by handler Sandi and @kupuhawaii volunteer Taylor

📸2: Ruger poses for a shot while Sandi and Taylor look for seedlings in a spot where Ruger alerted.

📸3: Team Ruger and Team Ula

#devilweed #chromolaenaodorata #DemolishTheDevilWeed #invasivespecies #invasiveplants #weimaranersofinstagram

UPDATE: The Hell-bent design in this post is no lo

UPDATE: The Hell-bent design in this post is no longer available but we are working on a new version which will be available soon. Stay tuned!

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

We know it's not even Halloween yet...but we’re excited to launch our "Scent-work Slogans" stocking stuffer line of apparel and stickers, which celebrates the incredible olfactory abilities of canines, including sport nose work dogs, law enforcement K9s and conservation dogs.
🐾
Stickers and apparel may be purchased at our online stores (link in bio or on our FB post). All proceeds support our non-profit’s programs.
🐾
There are slight variations in designs between sticker and apparel so please be sure to check out both sticker and apparel stores. Mahalo for your support!
.
.
.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: The Sniff Long design was custom drawn by Hawai‘i island artist @bmarr.art - a wife, mother, registered nurse, massage therapist, death doula, and artist who enjoys the "strange and weird." Art provides a way for her to explore the many things that fill her head and hopefully give someone a giggle! The 3 other designs were a collaboration between CDH and @bonfire which offers fundraising opportunities for non-profits.
🐾
#nosework #scentwork #livelongandprosper #heavensent #keepcalmandcarryon #hellsangels #conservationdogs #snifferdogs #noseworkdogs #k9nosework

Happy Aloha Friday! We snapped this portrait of K9

Happy Aloha Friday! We snapped this portrait of K9 Xena and @kimsrogers during our last training visit to Hanalei. This team has actively been conducting botulism surveys at the refuge since June. In addition to sniffing for bird carcasses, Xena has also detected sick birds hiding in the bushes. We were so happy to hear that a baby coot that was brought to @saveourshearwaters for treatment, subsequently recovered and was released back into the Hanalei wetlands. Keep up the good work Team Xena, and big mahalo to Save our Shearwaters for all they do for Kaua`i’s birds.
.
.
.
#avianbotulism #australianshepherdsofinstagram #hanaleinationalwildliferefuge #conservationdog

Wildlife Wednesday - Check out these gorgeous `apa

Wildlife Wednesday - Check out these gorgeous `apapane we saw during the daily commute to our survey sites last month. This small crimson species of Hawaiian honeycreeper is endemic to the Hawaiian islands. They, along with i`iwi, are unfortunately quite susceptible to avian malaria. To read more about efforts to mitigate it, check out @birdsnotmosquitoes ❌🦟
.
.
📸 @tor.johnson.photography
#apapane #wildlifephotography #wildlifephotography #hawaiianhoneycreeper

Hope you had as good a Monday as Brock did! He and

Hope you had as good a Monday as Brock did! He and handler @tailsticks worked hard this morning to survey an area known for devil weed. Our teams have been identifying as many target areas as possible prior to a big volunteer plant-pulling day to be scheduled before flowering season.
.
.
.
#invasiveplants #devilweed #chromolaenaodorata #mondaymotivation #malinoismonday #modericonk9 #modericonk9gear #shepinoisofinstagram

Happy Aloha Friday and Happy National Wildlife Ref

Happy Aloha Friday and Happy National Wildlife Refuge Week! This is a flashback from 2020 when a couple of our dog teams were out at Johnston Atoll surveying for invasive yellow crazy ants. Formerly a military base and weapons testing site, Johnston is now a national wildlife refuge that provides habitat for a variety of seabirds and migratory birds.
.
.
#nationalwildliferefuge #nationalwildliferefugeweek #johnstonatoll #wilddogofwaialua #gmanflyingnun
.
.
📸 by @tor.johnson.photography of Michelle with K9 Solo and Kyoko with K9 Guinness

#ThursdayThought - Stopping the spread of invasive

#ThursdayThought - Stopping the spread of invasive species is everyone’s responsibility, not just the conservation agencies’. We can all do our part by learning what the priority pests in our areas are, and keeping an eye out for them. Are we preaching to the choir? 😅
🌱
You may have heard that devil weed (Chromolaena Odorata) has been detected in several locations on the Big Island. Scroll right to see what this plant looks like (toothed edges, three pronged pitchfork veins). There’s still a chance to eradicate it on Hawai`i island. Follow @bigislandinvasivespecies for updates and please contact them if you spot one!
🌱
🌱
📸 K9 Toad and handler Sue @tailsticks encounter devil weed on a trail
.
.
#devilweed #chromolaenaodorata #DemolishTheDevilWeed #invasivespecies #invasiveplants

It’s still Tuesday but we couldn’t wait to sha

It’s still Tuesday but we couldn’t wait to share this #WetDogWednesday photo 💦 One of the best things about Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge is the fresh water streams that the dogs can jump into to cool off. Here, dog handler Debra takes K9 Luna for a well-deserved dip after a couple hours of surveys.
🐾
And for those of you who’ve expressed interest in our Wildlife Wednesday virtual talk tomorrow but can’t make it, no problem. The talk will be recorded and we’ll share the link soon. 😃
.
.
.
#avianbotulism #australianshepherdsofinstagram #hanaleinationalwildliferefuge #conservationdog

Did you catch the informative presentation that Li

Did you catch the informative presentation that Lindsay of @pacificrimconservation gave last week to kick off Wildlife Wednesday Lunch and Learn virtual talks? Next Wednesday there’s another exciting talk about Hawaiian hoary bats. This week CDH will be the guest speaker, and we’ll give an overview of past, current and future projects, as well as provide information that might be helpful for natural resource managers, biologists and field techs who are interested in exploring the detection dog method to meet their conservation goal. Look forward to seeing you there!

Google “Hawaii Public Library Wildlife Wednesday” for the registration link or copy and paste the link below:

https://www.librarieshawaii.org/event/conservation-dogs-of-hawaii/

During our recent surveys on lava terrain, our dog

We’re stoked to be back in beautiful Hanalei Val

We’re stoked to be back in beautiful Hanalei Valley. Can you count how many ae`o (Hawaiian stilt) are in this wetland taro unit? You may have to zoom in!
🌿
While parts of Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge look like this, there are also areas that have much thicker vegetation (scroll right). The refuge biologist has strategically assigned those survey areas to the dog teams since the pups use their noses not their eyes.
🌿
📸2: K9 Luna and handler Debra Gochros
.
.
.
#hanaleinationalwildliferefuge #avianbotulism #aeo #hawaiianstilt

We are looking forward to visiting Hanalei Nationa

We are looking forward to visiting Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge again this week to train with the botulism surveillance dog-handler teams including K9 Xena, featured on the right in the photo by @kimsrogers (also a dog handler in the program). CDH was interviewed for this Audubon magazine article about the different ways that dogs are helping with bird conservation, including wind farm monitoring, biosecurity, and curbing avian disease. It’s an honor to be mentioned along with @roguedetectionteams and South Atlantic Biosecurity Detector Dogs.

https://www.audubon.org/magazine/fall-2021/these-dogs-are-birds-best-friend

Load More... Follow on Instagram