Defining the Characteristics of Successful Biosecurity Scent Detection Dogs

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Dogs should display certain physical, behavioural, and cognitive characteristics to be suitable for training and deployment in a scent detection role. Identifying these characteristics is a vital first step to determine whether particular dogs will be suitable for selection and training. This study identified the behavioural traits that stakeholders consider relevant for dogs trained in biosecurity detection, and then assessed these traits in an active cohort of Australian biosecurity detector dogs. Our research revealed seven relevant traits: search motivation, emotional stability, search arousal, food motivation, play motivation, search independence, and search focus. Current biosecurity detector dogs had consistently high ratings from their handlers for search motivation, emotional stability, and food motivation, whereas other traits showed more variation. We found that dogs rated by handlers as high in search arousal and search motivation were more likely to also be rated highly for their overall detection performance. These findings will help to inform decisions about the selection and training of scent detection dogs. ABSTRACT: To perform their role effectively, scent detection dogs require certain characteristics. Identifying these characteristics will inform the selection of prospective dogs and preferred approaches to their training. The current study drew upon the perspectives of industry stakeholders to identify the behavioural traits considered relevant for detection dogs in biosecurity screening roles. Dog handlers, trainers, and supervisors (n = 25) in Australian biosecurity operations participated in focus group interviews to determine the perceived characteristics that, in their experience, influence detection performance. Their descriptions were used to create a questionnaire which was then administered to handlers to assess the working behaviours of current biosecurity dogs. Responses were collected for 88% of the operational dogs (n = 36). An exploratory factor analysis revealed seven tentative dimensions: search motivation, emotional stability, search arousal, food motivation, play motivation, search independence, and search focus. Search motivation and search arousal were both positively associated with handler ratings of detection performance (p ≤ 0.006). In general, biosecurity dogs were scored consistently high in ratings of search motivation, emotional stability, and food motivation. Our approach has advanced our understanding of the working behaviours and characteristic profile of biosecurity detector dogs and will be used to inform candidate selection processes.