Can pet dogs sniff out an invasive species? with Melissa McCue-McGrath

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Can pet dogs use their nose to find the eggs of an invasive species, the spotted lanternfly--and what was it like taking part in citizen science to find out? Zazie and Kristi are joined by dog trainer and author Melissa McCue-McGrath to learn all about this fun project. We also learn about Melissa's book, Misadventures of the World's Okayest Dog Trainer.

We talk about:

• the nose work classes that Melissa teaches
• why the spotted lanternfly is such a problem
• why Melissa wanted to take part in citizen science
• the real life issues that affected the project
• the training that they did with the dogs
• the field trials at the end of the project
• the real world applications and why it was fun to be part of it
• what Melissa would say to someone considering signing up for a citizen science project with their dog
• why Melissa wrote her new book and what it's about

Misadventures of the World's Okayest Dog Trainer is available wherever books are sold. 

Also mentioned:

• BewilderBeasts podcast
• Melissa's interview on DogCast radio
• The Accidental Veterinarian by Philipp Schott
• Tell Me Where it Hurts by Nick Trout
• Bark! Fest with Philipp Schott
• Victoria Stilwell Academy

The books that Melissa recommended are Away To Me by Patricia McConnell and The Discworld Series by Terry Pratchett.

Melissa McCue-McGrath is a professional dog trainer and behaviour consultant. She is a faculty advisor for the Victoria Stilwell Academy and she is the first non-UK person to be accredited with PACT. She’s the author of Considerations for the City Dog, and her new book, Misadventures of the World’s Okayest Dog Trainer, is just out now.

If you liked this, you might also like:

• Why you and your dog will love nose work wi

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About the co-hosts:

Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of, and now on staff with, the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers and has her PCBC-A from the Pet Professional Accreditation Board. She lives in beautiful northern British Columbia, where she helps dog guardians through online classes. She is also a northern anthropologist.

Kristi Benson's website  Facebook  

Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy. She is the creator of the popular blog, Companion Animal Psychology, and has a column at Psychology Today. She lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, a dog and a cat. 

Instagram  BlueSky