Amphibian and Reptile Detection Dogs

Amphibian and Reptile Detection Dogs Ecologist, great crested newt detection dog handler and PhD student at the University of Salford

A fantastic day in Cambridge speaking at the UK Semiochemistry Network Meeting.I had the opportunity to present part of ...
03/06/2026

A fantastic day in Cambridge speaking at the UK Semiochemistry Network Meeting.

I had the opportunity to present part of my PhD research, looking at odour discrimination in amphibians and how detection dogs can differentiate between species. I also shared some exciting laboratory work undertaken in collaboration with the University of Wolverhampton, where we analysed amphibian scent samples using solid-phase microextraction, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.

The results identified compounds unique to great crested newts, compounds unique to anurans, and many that overlapped between species, providing fascinating insights into amphibian chemical ecology and the odours available to detection dogs.

I also thoroughly enjoyed listening to the other presentations. A huge thank you to Stefano Vaglio for inviting me to speak and for his support and collaboration throughout this chapter of my PhD. I’m looking forward to publishing these results in the future and sharing more about what we’ve discovered.

🦎🐾🔬

As temperatures rise, so does the importance of managing the welfare of our detection dogs. 🐾☀️At Wessex Water, the welf...
29/05/2026

As temperatures rise, so does the importance of managing the welfare of our detection dogs. 🐾☀️

At Wessex Water, the welfare of our dogs is always our top priority, and during periods of hot weather, we adapt how we work to ensure they remain safe, comfortable, and able to perform at their best.

This week has seen some very early starts, with alarms going off at 4am before heading down to Dorset for surveys. With a two-hour drive each way, we plan our days carefully and aim to complete searches by around 9am before temperatures begin to climb.

Some of the measures we put in place include:

🐾 Ensuring fresh water is always readily available
🐾 Rotating dogs regularly to prevent fatigue
🐾 Providing rest periods in our air-conditioned canine vehicle between searches
🐾 Continuously monitoring each dog’s condition and temperature
🐾 Assessing surfaces such as tarmac, manhole covers and other infrastructure that can heat up rapidly in urban environments
🐾 walking in shaded areas between searches

One of the most important things to remember is that every dog is different. Some dogs cope well with warmer conditions, while others reach their threshold much sooner. Understanding each dog’s individual needs and recognising the earliest signs of heat stress is a key part of responsible handling.

The dogs may love working, but it’s our responsibility to make the right decisions for them. Sometimes that means shorter searches, more breaks, earlier starts, or even postponing work altogether.

Working dogs can only do their job effectively when their welfare comes first, and that’s exactly how we approach every deployment. 🐶💙

What an incredible few days having our annual assessments with Conservation K9 Consultancy for my great crested newt det...
14/05/2026

What an incredible few days having our annual assessments with Conservation K9 Consultancy for my great crested newt detection dogs 🦎🐾

For those who know me know I’m a huge advocate for training, assessments, and continuous professional development to ensure we continue maintaining high professional standards. It’s how we’ve grown so much since I established the Wessex Water detection dog programme back in 2018.

Because I work quite independently, it’s especially important that both the dogs and I are continually assessed and supported. Finding the right trainer by your side is so important, someone who will support you, be honest, and provide constructive refinement and recommendations in a collaborative and supportive way.

Louise is a wealth of knowledge. She focuses on every aspect required for successful deployment, including handling techniques, fluidity, synergy, partnership, trust, health and welfare, arousal levels, and ensuring the dogs continue working with confidence and happiness, alongside considering their lifestyle and diet outside of work.

Every year brings new challenges, whether that’s changing project demands, adapting operational requirements, or natural behavioural changes as the dogs mature and develop. Having experienced trainers and assessors around you is invaluable for maintaining standards while also protecting the welfare and wellbeing of the dogs.

A massive thank you to Louise and Conservation K9 Consultancy for the continued support, guidance, and honest feedback. The dogs did me incredibly proud, and we are excited to continue operational deployment throughout 2026/27 on great crested newt odour.

We’ve come away with lots to reflect on, refine, and continue building on as a team 🐾

Happy 2nd birthday to our wastewater detection dogs, Bandit and Bluey 🐾These boys have been helping us keep our waterway...
27/04/2026

Happy 2nd birthday to our wastewater detection dogs, Bandit and Bluey 🐾

These boys have been helping us keep our waterways clean with their expert noses here at Wessex Water.

Their work has also contributed to us and our partners Cape SPC being finalists at the Water Industry Awards for Wastewater Programme of the Year and Pollution Mitigation Initiative, something we’re incredibly proud of.

Here’s to many more finds (and a few well-earned toys and chews along the way).

Let’s wish Bandit and Bluey a very happy 2nd birthday 🎉🐾

Happy National Newt Day everyone 🦎We’ve just returned from a newt search down in Dorset supporting an urgent repair sche...
24/04/2026

Happy National Newt Day everyone 🦎

We’ve just returned from a newt search down in Dorset supporting an urgent repair scheme. One of the greatest advantages of detection dogs is the time they save, allowing construction teams to commence works quickly and with confidence.

Last year alone, this approach delivered around £30k in savings and helped avoid up to two years of potential project delays.

Huge thank you to The National Nosework Association for inviting us to present at their awards weekend 🙌I loved sharing ...
11/04/2026

Huge thank you to The National Nosework Association for inviting us to present at their awards weekend 🙌

I loved sharing my journey into detection dog handling, my PhD research, and how we’ve built the detection dog programme at Wessex Water, from great crested newt conservation 🦎 to tackling wastewater issues 💩.

A special thank you to Louise Wilson for recommending me for the talk—I really appreciate the support! Big thank you to Tommy Blackwell for helping with the demo ☺️.

I also spoke about the importance of collaboration with experienced trainers in the field-working with Conservation K9 Consultancy on newt detection and Cape SPC on wastewater has been key to strengthening the programme. I’m a big advocate for professional training and continuous professional development in this space.

And of course… the dogs absolutely smashed their demos 🐶💪 So proud of them!

Only two more weeks until this thesis is finally submitted 😬 After six years of research, the end is finally in sight.Th...
06/03/2026

Only two more weeks until this thesis is finally submitted 😬 After six years of research, the end is finally in sight.

The last few months have been incredibly challenging. Alongside writing up the final stages of the thesis, I’ve been working full time running two detection dog programmes simultaneously with five detection dogs. My days have been filled with fieldwork, training, data collection, lecturing at university, preparing abstracts for conferences, and delivering presentations and demonstrations, followed by long evenings behind a laptop trying to bring everything together.

📈 Across the research we’ve now completed 750 trials, with results ranging between 80–100% accuracy, and at least four chapters containing publishable data.

💩 💦 Despite the pressure of the final write-up, the dogs have continued doing what they do best. Bluey and Bandit have been identifying multiple misconnections across the Wessex region, which have since been investigated and resolved by our brilliant internal stream clean team. Their ability to rapidly narrow down large catchment areas for further investigation has proven incredibly valuable. By covering around 60–100 lids per day, the dogs allow us to efficiently move through the network and assess the health of the surface water system.

🦎 With newt season ramping up again, we’ve also been carrying out precautionary and risk-based searches at sewage treatment works ahead of capital schemes, as well as rescuing several toads and smooth newts trapped in tanks and installing amphibian ladders.

It’s been exhausting, but we’re on the final stretch now. Two more weeks… 🐾

🎉What a year 2025 has been…💦🐕I setup first detection dog unit within a water company in the UK as the primary detection ...
31/12/2025

🎉What a year 2025 has been…

💦🐕I setup first detection dog unit within a water company in the UK as the primary detection dog handler

🤝Collaborated with the wonderful to train Bandit and Bluey

✅Bandit and Bluey passed their assessments becoming fully fledged operational detection dogs

📖 Put together Wessex Waters detection dog directive to ensure the dogs welfare is prioritised throughout their working career and beyond

💵 Bandit and Bluey contributed to a £1.2 million saving on their first reactive job

🎉I completed my last ever research trial for my PhD

🦎Obi passed all of his assessments becoming my third operational great crested newt detection dog. Big thank you to for years of support, training and mentoring.

🐶 🐶🐶🐶🐶I now have a total of 5 operational detection dogs working for Wessex Water…hoping to expand the team next year with more handlers and dogs

💰Great crested newt detection dogs saved £30,000 and saved over 2 years of project delays

🦎Obi, Newky and Freya found over 70 great crested newts this year.

🎂 Freya turned 10 in August 😱 but still no sign of slowing down and continues to love doing her job!

Looking forward to what 2026 will bring…hopefully a finished thesis and a new title 👀🤞🎓

Happy New Year everyone 🍾🎊🎉🥳🐶

What a year! I couldn’t be prouder of my incredible four-legged team. And when you have the best job EVER, working on Ch...
24/12/2025

What a year! I couldn’t be prouder of my incredible four-legged team. And when you have the best job EVER, working on Christmas Eve isn’t something to complain about. Merry Christmas, everyone 🎄🐾

31/10/2025

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been carrying out great crested newt detection work for the Wessex Water ecology team. This has included precautionary searches and detailed inspections along fence lines before their removal following project completion.

This video really showcases Newky’s strength in the field, each of my dogs has their own unique skill, but this one is definitely Newky’s! 👌 Watch as he methodically works the fence line, even through dense foliage, demonstrating his focus and determination.






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