Meet a talented trio of highly specialised detection dogs, who focus on UK’s most  invasive plant, the notoriously tough Japanese knotweed.

Nica the springer spaniel, Nettle the working cocker spaniel and Phoenix the Dutch shepherd devote their entire working lives and considerable skill on finding Japanese Knotweed.

Together with their talented handler, Kat Janczur of Canine Detection Solutions, they work with knotweed eradication companies, landowners and developers to survey construction sites, highways, railroads and individual properties. 

Japanese Knotweed is the UK’s most invasive plant.  Over two metres high in full bloom, it has evolved to withstand volcanic eruptions and seismic events, and can lie dormant for years, waiting to regerminate once conditions are favourable.  It’s a very, very tough plant, which means that it’s almost impossible to eradicate, and a constant fight to keep it down.

Nica, Nettle and Phoenix can detect even tiny bits of knotweed, as well as the underground rhizomes, which humans cannot see. This which makes them the most effective way to check sites, all year round. Kat explains how she keeps the team physically fit and mentally at the top of their game for this high stakes detection work. She explains some of the techniques she uses to keep her dogs independent, and to avoid handler bias when it comes to detection work.

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Barley the conservation detection dog and his international projects

Do you work your dog or dogs?

Contact me, Kate Fairweather if you would be interested in coming on the show, at team@shineradio.uk.© & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2024