Trust me, I’m a dog-tor! Charity training dogs to spot diseases introduces first specially-bred pups qualified to sniff out illnesses including Covid
- Charity launched new breeding scheme to create litter of Bio Detection Dogs
- Trained to find the odour of diseases in samples such as urine, breath and sweat
- Able to detect cancer and other life-threatening diseases including Parkinson’s
- Medical Detection Dogs have revealed their first set of specially bred puppies
A charity training dogs to sniff out life-threatening diseases has revealed the first pups to come out of its specialist breeding scheme.
Buckinghamshire-based charity Medical Detection Dogs have been working to create Bio Detection Dogs, trained to detect diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s, since 2008.
The charity, who have since trained their incredible dogs to detect the odour of Covid, launched its first ever breeding scheme last year when Labrador Leia, gave birth to three boys and three girls just before Christmas.
The six adorable puppies will save lives with their training, with four set to remain as Bio Detection Dogs at MMD in Milton Keynes, while Hershey and Max will be re-homed at other UK assistance dog charities.
Buckinghamshire-based charity Medical Detection Dogs has revealed the first pups to come out of their specialist breeding scheme training pooches to detect life-threatening diseases. Volunteer Carolyne Mollon is pictured with two of the scheme’s pups
Pictured, L-R: Alf, Poppy, Coco, Hershey, Imperial, Max from Medical Detection Dogs’ new breeding scheme
Puppy Supply and Training Manager, Chris Allen, said: ‘Sourcing puppies has been challenging during the pandemic.
‘Starting our own breeding scheme will allow us to supplement our current dog supply routes.
‘It won’t be our only source and we continue to gratefully accept donations and train dogs from rescue but it will allow us to continue training a steady supply of dogs to save lives.
‘The puppies are absolutely gorgeous and real characters already. We’ve got a confident one, a sensible one and a cheeky one – much like with all siblings!’
The charity launched it’s first ever breeding scheme last year when Labrador Leia (pictured), gave birth to three boys and three girls just before Christmas
The six adorable puppies, pictured shortly after birth, will save lives with their training, with four set to remain as Bio Detection Dogs at MMD in Milton Keynes and two set to be re-homed at other UK assistance dog charities
Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to save lives using their amazing sense of smell , with Bio Detection Dogs learning the odour of diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s and malaria in the charity’s training room.
Medical Alert Assistance Dogs work with individuals with complex conditions such as Type 1 diabetes, PoTS and severe allergies to warn them when a medical emergency is about to happen.
Recently, the charity has been training dogs to detect the odour of COVID-19 and they are now screening people in real-life settings as part of their training.
Research from the charity in 2014 suggested the dogs can sniff out odours of around one part per trillion – the equivalent of one teaspoon of sugar in two Olympic sized swimming pools.
Meet the dogs! The puppies threatening out life-threatening diseases
Hershey
Hershey is a cute, pretty girl with a slightly mottled yellow coat and like her name suggests – very sweet!
She is very sociable and eager to please and can’t fail to draw attention with her expressive face and long eyelashes.
Coco
From an early age Coco was always up front and always first to investigate new things. Very like her Mum in looks and expressions. As a tiny pup she kept going long after the others had crashed.
She loves a game of tug of war and is little more vocal than the others and extremely lovable. The pup with endless energy!
Imperial (Impy)
As a neonate if he appeared to be missing, it was because he was hiding under Mum’s tail and you couldn’t distinguish him from her.
He is the smallest in stature with a fluffier coat, but he’s no ‘Mummy’s boy’ now and has heaps of spirit and enthusiasm and can certainly hold his own. Like Coco, he too would not be fazed by new things.
Poppy
A pretty pale yellow pup with very expressive, sometimes hang-dog eyes, she often would be last to wake up and the first to fall asleep after playtime, often in Mummy’s bed.
Although happy to be part of the gang, she watches goings on from afar, contemplating. Quiet but cheeky- Poppy is a thinker!
Alf
Alf was one of those always first at the milk bar and would go into a food.
He would often leave his sisters to get on with the action but as the weeks passed proved to be a clever boy who easily picked up the rudiments of toilet training and is a sociable and chunky, happy chappy.
Max
Equally chunky he enjoys the rough and tumble with his brother Alf. He often falls into a deep sleep on his back, snoring. He’s always in ‘the thick of it.’ The action man!
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