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Dogs at work: Fire Investigation Dogs
Aggression in dogs
False Pregancy in Dogs
Prize winners!
Dogs at work: Fire Investigation Dogs
The Association of Fire Investigation Dog Handlers (AFIDH) was set up in 2001 to promote the use of Fire Investigation Dogs in the UK by the Forensic Science Service, Police Services and Fire & Rescue Services. Dogs are a valuable resource in fire investigations as they can sniff out ignitable liquid residues left behind at the scene of a fire in cases of suspected arson. In England and Wales alone, it has been estimated that over 40% of all large fires are started deliberately, costing the economy around £53 million each week.
Once the fire of a suspected arson attack has been put out and the scene is cold, a Fire Investigation Dog can quickly help to detect the vapour from an ignitable liquid (such as petrol, diesel, paraffin, white spirit, cigarette or barbecue lighter fuel), and indicate (usually by stopping, staring, and pointing their nose at a particular spot) the location in which they can smell the greatest concentration of vapour. A sample from the area that the dog has located can then be taken and examined in the laboratory. The dog is rewarded by their handler for their find, often by playing with a tennis ball. Dogs and their handlers undergo specialist training and much of the success of the dog and handler team is due to the bond, trust and respect between them.
The benefits of using dogs for fire investigation are that dogs can pin-point the presence of ignitable liquids more quickly and effectively than electronic field equipment due to their exceptional sense of smell. Dogs can even tell the difference between the hydrocarbons introduced in fires started illegally, and the natural hydrocarbons produced during combustion. Dogs can also gain access to confined spaces which may otherwise be more difficult to access. They wear special protective boots to make sure they don’t cut or injure their paws when searching a scene. By using dogs to investigate fires, the time spent on excavations and debris sampling is reduced, as is the number of samples that need to be tested forensically, therefore lowering costs. Dogs can also be used to search the property, vehicle or clothing of victim or a suspect.
The AFIDH also takes part in Community Fire Safety initiatives around the UK, for example in schools, at Young Offenders’ courses, and at county shows. These initiatives aim to discourage potential arsonists from starting fires as it is believed that the use of dogs may deter those thinking about arson, and reduce the incidence of deliberate fire setting.
When dogs are off duty they live with their handler, and when they retire, they remain in the care of their handler. To find out more about Fire Investigation Dogs, please click here: http://www.fidogs.co.uk/.
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Aggression in dogs
In 2012, a study conducted by the University of Bristol estimated the prevalence of aggressive behaviours in dogs using a cross sectional population of different breeds. Nearly four thousand dog owners were sent a questionnaire in which they detailed information about their dog’s training and behaviour (including aggression towards other dogs and people).
Aggressive behaviours (such as growling or biting) towards unfamiliar dogs were reported by 22% of owners, and 8% of owners reported them in their dog towards other dogs in their household. There was a much lower level of concurrent aggression towards humans (i.e. at the same time as it was displayed towards other dogs). Interestingly, the older owners were, the less likely they were to have a dog showing aggression to other unfamiliar dogs, which could be a reflection of differences in how much time they spend walking their dogs or socialising with them. Conversely, the risk of aggression to other dogs, both inside and outside the household, increased as dogs got older, but of course this could have been simply because they had more time to encounter a threat. Terrier and pastoral dog breeds were more likely to show aggression towards other dogs they were not familiar with, and gundogs were less likely.
Contrary to what might have been expected, going to puppy socialisation classes did not affect the likelihood of a dog showing aggression towards dogs they were unfamiliar with, although it was not clear why. Dogs originating from rescue centres were more likely to show aggression to dogs they were unfamiliar with, compared to dogs originating from a breeder, which was unsurprising given that some dogs could have been rehomed for this problem in the first place.
Although a number of risk factors were found for dogs displaying aggressive behaviours, these were considered relatively minor factors, and most of the aggressive behaviours could not be explained by the factors they assessed. So much work still needs to be done to determine the other presently unknown risks for dog aggression.
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False Pregancy in Dogs
False pregnancy (also called pseudopregnacy) in dogs is a normal process that occurs in some dogs after they have had a season, which results in them developing behaviours and clinical signs suggestive of them being pregnant when they are not. It develops because of normal hormonal changes in the blood stream approximately six to eight weeks after a season. This results in the increase of the hormone prolactin, which produces the clinical signs observed in affected bitches. Physical signs include mammary enlargement and milk production, and behavioural signs include nesting, unusually aggressive behaviours and, sometimes, the mothering of toys.
When false pregnancies occur, reducing the triggers for some of the behaviours (such as taking away toys or placing Elizabethan collars on to prevent the bitch self-nursing) may shorten the duration of the false pregnancy. In most cases the false pregnancy will resolve itself with time, although drug treatments are available which can reduce the severity of the clinical signs. If a false pregnancy lasts a particularly long period of time then other diseases (affecting the liver or thyroid gland) may be prolonging the condition, and may need to be investigated.
Although false pregnancies are a normal process, it can sometimes be triggered in dogs if they are spayed near to the end of their season, so the likelihood of it occurring can be reduced by spaying bitches at least two months after the end of their last season. Spaying will prevent the false pregnancy occurring again.
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Prize winners!
Congratulations to June’s prize winners! The following Dogslife members have each won £10 of Pets at Home vouchers: Mrs F from North Yorkshire, Miss L from Norfolk, Mrs G from Cleveland, Mrs B from Essex, Mrs B from Hertfordshire, Miss M from West Midlands, Mrs C from Kent, Mrs D from East Sussex, Miss H from Suffolk, and Mr D from Bedfordshire. We hope you enjoy spending the vouchers!
If you haven’t won a prize this time, don’t worry! By keeping your dog’s record up to date, you will automatically be entered into the next prize draw which takes place in September.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support the Dogslife project, we greatly appreciate your time and help with the study.
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