Rescued dogs sniff out crime

To some they are just unwanted mongrels, but Whangarei SPCA staff can recognise a good dog when they see one, especially one that's got the nose for sniffing out illegal activity.

Last year a stray dog named Brutus, found and looked after by Whangarei SPCA staff, was chosen to sniff out bombs in some of the world's war-torn danger spots after his talent for sniffing things was recognised by SPCA staff. And now another pooch rescued by the SPCA is on his way to becoming a top drug-sniffing dog.

Buddy was only six months old when his owner handed him in to the SPCA because his barking was sparking complaints in the city about six months ago. But the SPCA staff immediately recognised that he could have what it takes to become a detector dog.

Whangarei SPCA trainer Ani van Sinten said Helena Sweeting, who discovered Brutus' skills, saw the same talent in Buddy.

"He had the same almost obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) behaviour that Brutus had and I could see in him straight away that he had what New Zealand Detector Dogs (which trains the country's sniffer dogs) wanted, so we got in touch with them again," Ms van Sinten said.

"It's really, really rewarding to do this. Most of our dogs go to family homes and it's quite amazing for a rescue dog to be doing something so good that helps everybody."

New Zealand Detector Dogs managing director Janet Williams said Buddy was well ahead of where she thought he would be so early in his training.

"He is really meeting the grade - and in most cases he is exceeding what a dog would normally do at this stage. He is now confident at sniffing out most of the targets and planting his little bum down and not moving until he gets rewarded. He has also learned that the longer you stay and show interest in the box, the more biscuits you get."

She said last week he made a big breakthrough, learning that if he takes her back to a box with cannabis in it he also gets biscuits.

"The great thing is that when the dogs have the wit and confidence to take their handler back to a box, the next step is that they then start taking them forward to one with cannabis - which is where the real training starts. Sometimes dogs don't get this until they have done at least 20-25 days of training and some even longer. He certainly is a sharp little dude and grows in confidence each day," Ms Williams said.

"While it is early days yet he is well and truly on his way to becoming a good little drug dog and nothing seems to bother him much."