Trained dogs detect invasive plants in Germany with 75 percent accuracy

Research team trains volunteers

Scientists at Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research conducted a feasibility evaluation of a training program. The project involved working with 31 dogs and their owners from 2021 through 2023. Researchers focused on three specific invasive plant species during the initial instruction phase.

Field tests show high success

Twelve teams completed a final field test to check their ability to find targets in the wild. Eleven of those twelve groups passed the evaluation, achieving an average detection rate of 75 percent. The remaining team did not meet the required standards for the study.

Recommendations improve future projects

The authors created a set of suggestions to help similar initiatives succeed later on. These guidelines address volunteer selection, coordination efforts, and how to deploy dogs initially. The pilot project aims to make early detection methods more accessible for ecologists.