We are based in Yass Valley, NSW. Yes, travel can be discussed –Contact us here.
Anything that we train them to detect. Dogs can be trained to find scat (poo), live and dead targets, animals, plants, fungi, pathogens, and much much more.
A single dog can also have multiple different targets in its repertoire -the possibilities are endless! See our current target odours here.
This depends on numerous factors, such as the target itself and the target environment. Learning a new odour can take a dog only a few hours, but consolidation requires repeated exposure over many weeks to months.
It is the in situ training and familiarisation process that takes the most time. Especially if the final target odour differs from the training materials or if the environment/context is new to the dog.
In the past, we have been successfully operational on new targets within 1-2months.
If there are ripe truffles or almost ripe (a few weeks until fully ripe), the dogs will find them.
Once the dog indicates on a find, the handler decides on whether to harvest by the odour, and sometimes the appearance. We don’t want to disturb the truffle too much until it is fully ripe. We can mark the find and move on, or work beside you to dig up the truffle.
No. Our dogs are trained not to interact with the target by displaying a passive alert – this is either a freeze, down or sit, often with their nose pointed a few inches above the odour source.
This depends on the project and target odour. Please Contact us for a quote. Travel and accommodation costs depending on location.