Hi folks,

I just got an email about two short courses in "Scent Detection Dogs in Conservation Research." It looks like there's an online component and an optional field component in Maine, USA.

Here's a link to their webpage, the dog courses are a few rows down.

https://www.centerforwildlifestudies.org/courses

From the webpage:

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Scent detection dogs are increasingly being used in a variety of situations, from law enforcement to medicine. Their recent application in field programs is seen as a way to enhance conservation research success by improving the frequency or probability of finding focal organisms, including rare or cryptic species. This course uses a case-study approach featuring an ongoing field-based project as a means to introduce participants to some of the practical issues, considerations, and benefits of using tracking dogs in conservation. Taught by three instructors with complementary expertise, this course explores the intersection of field methodology, animal training, and the natural history of a target species. Participants will learn about field methods in herpetology, practical considerations of canine temperament and training, and discuss real-life study logistics in an online platform. Participants will gain a unique insight into what is involved in using scent detection dogs as well as the potential benefits of this approach.

*Following this 3-week online course, students have the option to take the additional 1-week field course (1-credit equivalent), which consists of in-person observations of research methods, training, and tracking in the field. Click here to learn more: Scent Detection Dogs in Conservation Research (Field Course).

PREREQUISITES: None

FORMAT: This course consists of online learning for three weeks, with an option to take the additional 1-week, in-person field course. Activities for the 3-week online course consist of pre-recorded lectures, synchronous and asynchronous discussions based on articles from the primary and secondary literature, and an independent project (e.g., proposal, report, or paper).

INSTRUCTORS: Dr. Matthew Chatfield, Conservation Biologist, Center for Wildlife Studies; Dr. Cheryl Frederick, Animal Behaviorist, Center for Wildlife Studies; Lindsay Ware, Science Dogs of New England

DATES: June 7 – June 25, 2021