Scent detection dog services in conservation, biosecurity and truffle industries.
Happy 1st Birthday Alfie!!!
I feel so lucky to have this cheeky little butt in my life. He can make me laugh no matter my mood, motivates me with his very (very!) persistent determination and shares his whole heart every day.
He is already living up to his pedigree name: "Alfred The Great".
Happy International Dog Day from a superstar in the making! 🌟
While Alfie is still only at the beginning of his training, he has started joining the team for half surveys.
And this has already proved beneficial after he found a feather spot by himself today.
So proud of my little man and very excited for his future 🤩
New skill acquired: Tour Guide.
Over the past few weeks, Kingston has hunted truffles with an audience. This was a new experience for him, and he surprised me by taking it all in his stride.
Thank you to for having us. It was fantastic to see that King works so well around a crowd, and we loved learning more about how truffles are farmed.
The Goof
Alfie is certainly growing into himself both physically and psychologically.
He's full of life, cheeky and a happy go lucky lad. He's the class clown for sure. And this photo captures him perfectly.
I love my silly little butt ❤️
📷: Tiffany Chapple
Enjoying the view after a job well done
🙊
Young Alfred is growing into a little man!
You know your dog best. If you think there is something wrong, don't be afraid to push for help, to get a second opinion, to go somewhere else.
This is what a dog in a lot of pain looks like.
This is what a dog with a foreign body in her intestines looks like.
Just because a dog can brighten up when doing things they love or they are excited at the vets does not mean they are not in pain.
This is a picture of Nettle a year ago, after not eating for days, being really quiet and not herself.
She still run and retrieved toys and I was told she is “too full of beans” to be really unwell.
Please do advocate for your dog if you think something is wrong and do investigate if you have a suspicion they are in pain.
You can now vote for me in the Young Achiever Awards People's Choice! 🤩
https://awardsaustralia.app.do/2024-7news-young-achiever-awards-nswact-people-s-choice
🌟 Rachel Charles 🌟
Awards Australia Career Achievement Award
Rachel Charles of Yass Valley is propelling conservation efforts forward. Rachel founded King & Co Detection, a groundbreaking endeavour, to harness the power of detection dogs. Using this innovative and non-invasive approach, she safeguards endangered species and their ecosystems. Her journey from animal shelters to ecological consultancy showcases resilience and entrepreneurial spirit. She mentors aspiring conservationists, instilling values of compassion and integrity. Rachel also empowers her community by volunteering with rescue groups and shaping industry guidelines for canine welfare. She is a member of the ‘Australasian Conservation Dog Network’ Canine Welfare Group, which provides specific guidance for conservation dogs.
🗳️ Vote here: https://awardsaustralia.app.do/2024-7news-young-achiever-awards-nswact-people-s-choice
Kingston didn't believe me at first that I wanted him to search with a bag on his head 😂
Thanks to the OutFox Field Guard, we can survey in areas with grass seeds and baits without stress of another expensive vet visit.
Shout out to for shipping in less than 1 hour from order placement. Absolute legends.
(Not a paid sponsorship, just sharing an awesome piece of equipment)
HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY MR KING!
My superstar, my sweet baby angel, my best friend. Kingston has been with me from the very start of this journey. King & Co literally wouldn't have been established without him.
He enjoyed an early morning wind farm survey, a nap on the couch (he likes being big spoon), and a very special lunch: apple and banana pancakes topped with pear and berry sauce, strawberries and sardines 😋
Do you think Marie knows it's not her turn next...? 🤔
While it isn't always easy working with dogs, they always make me laugh and I wouldn't trade them for anything.
I love that they are so expressive, both in their faces and actions. Who's ever heard their dog huff and sigh after you tell them it's too early for dinner?
They've got emotions and wants and needs. They are conscious beings capable of so much understanding. And I am grateful that I get to see this every day... even if it is through Marie scowling at me 😅
6 weeks vs 25 weeks
Alfie with his sister, Gen.
Spotlight on Marie.
I am so proud of the incredible working dog that Marie is growing into.
She is still young and has lots to learn but she is tenacious and eager. These past few months, she has really stepped up and I am excited to see how she continues to progress.
Marie is literally saving lives with her job.
🌱GRASS SEED WARNING REMINDER TO ALL OUR FRIENDS🌱
Our dear hard-working Kingston had an emergency this morning when he inhaled a large grass seed up his nose while surveying on a wind farm.
It's common for seeds to get stuck in fur and between the toes, but they can also lodge themselves in ears, eyes, and noses. I was very lucky to actually see the pesky seed go up Kingston's nostrils.
King was rushed into surgery to check whether it was still hiding up there. A huge thank you to the team at for seeing King at short notice. Your kindness and support during such an uncertain time was very much appreciated.
Remember:
🐕 Be aware of your dog at all times during a survey.
👀 Check your dog thoroughly once finished, especially in unusual places.
👩⚕️If you're unsure, stop and see a vet.
It's much better to seek care for something that turns out to be nothing than to wait for something that turns out to be life-threatening.
Kingston is doing well. He is back home and sleeping in his favourite hole 🥰😂
Cheeky little grin!
Kingston is a hero!
While conducting our normal carcass surveys, Kingston showed interest in something under a pallet. I looked underneath and assumed it was a typical bat carcass.
But Kingston knew something was different and alerted me to a special discovery...
It was still alive!
Without Kingston, I would never have known that the little bat was hidden and in need of help.
He is now safe with a WIRES carer who is providing urgent medical treatment. We hope that he recovers well so that he can be released back into his home area and return to his family colony.
Note: Kingston is trained to indicate at a safe distance for this exact scenario. This is an important aspect to consider when training a conservation dog.
We have some beautiful flowers blooming in our yard 🌺🪻💐
Welfare Always Wins
Kingston's work outfit looks a little different here 🤔 He usually wears a harness -this signals 'work'. But it's been rubbing his fur off lately. Maybe it needs to be refitted, maybe he needs a different design, maybe he needs time without one.
And that's ok.
👷♀️The harness is only one of many cues that tell him its time to work. There is also the GPS collar, the word "Seek", the environment context of being under turbines, my outfit, and I'm sure lots more that he quietly picks up on.
💪I am a big supporter of having a 'work harness' for your dogs, but not at the expense of their welfare. It is not worth forcing your dog to wear it if something is wrong. It's only a small part of a much bigger picture that our dogs use to get into the zone.
🩰You may also notice Kingston's snazzy legwarmers. He has been getting cuts and scrapes on his ankles from the rocky terrain we work in. Conservation detection involves being creative to problem solve, and doing as much as possible for best welfare. He now wears 'vet wrap', which is a self-adhesive bandage for animals that is usually used to hold compression bandages in place. It works as a barrier to prevent any scrapes, and as a bonus it helps keep out the grass seeds that were forever burying into his back heels!
Ready for the new year together.
I am so very grateful for all the support, advice and encouragement that I have received this past year.
King & Co has taken off thanks to a lot of special people, but most importantly thanks to my wonderful dogs. They are my true partners in this endeavour and I wouldn't be where I am today without them.
We look towards the future as a team, and are very excited for what is to come ❤️
📷:
Before vs after telling Alfie he's on the website now.
https://www.kingandcodetection.com.au/dogs/
🎵 It's raining, it's pouring
Alfie's the only one snoring
We worked for hours
To search the towers
And returned home all in the morning 🎵
Perspective.
Sometimes stepping back is the best way to get it.
There's a silver lining to everything.
I'm not a fan of getting up before the crack of dawn. But it's necessary to avoid the dangers this time of year brings. And in return, we get to enjoy beautiful sunrises 😍
For everyone experiencing a heatwave like us, be extra vigilant and take it easy.
Kingston says he's a sweet baby angel and had absolutely nothing to do with the newly dug hole 🤔 And he most definitely did not encourage Alfie to join in...
Note: He didn't get in trouble -a perfect backyard in my mind is one that the dogs enjoy.
Let dogs be dogs.
Yass, NSW
2582
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Happy 2nd Birthday Marie! Marie had a special day visiting some of her favourite places and picking some treats. She got to ride up front in the van as an extra special surprise. She played fetch, frisbee, and wrestled with the boys (and me!). And got a yummy dinner 🤤 I try to make my dogs feel loved and happy every day, but its always nice to go the extra mile on a birthday to really show my appreciation ❤️ #happybirthday #birthdaygirl #birthdaydog #specialday
Kingston can always be counted on to find something good 🤤 When our friends at Hidden Valley Truffles unexpectedly lost their beloved truffle dog, we stepped up to lend a helping hand. A truffle farm relies heavily on trained dogs to find the bulk of their gems. While some truffles can be spotted on the surface, most are hidden below ground where we humans have little chance of finding on our own. Thank you Frank for allowing us to contribute to your farm this season. 📷: @oz_farm_adventure #truffles #truffledog #hiddenvalleytruffles #workingdog #labrador
🌟 Adventure Day 🌟 I schedule fun activities in between our work commitments every month. It gives us all enrichment and helps us de-stress as a team. Today, we went on a nature walk 🐶🐶🐶 💪 We make sure to exercise between surveys to keep our muscle tone and fitness up ❤️ Walking altogether as a pack builds and deepens our relationship bonds 🌱 The chance to enjoy being in nature without the pressure of working 🏞 We choose quiet, isolated areas where we are unlikely to bump into others, allowing the dogs freedom to run, play, swim, and sniff without having to constantly obey cues/commands. This gives them the opportunity to fully release stress and empowers their independence After a big morning of fun, we spent the afternoon napping on the couch in a dog pile 😴 #hiking #hikingwithdogs #labrador #workingdog #conservationdog #dayoff #naturewalk
⛱️🌞🌊🐕 We love going on adventures during our time off work 🥰 It's easy to get caught up in constant work and training, so planning fun outings can be a fantastic way for us all to de-stress and recharge. We recommend giving your dogs the time and space to just "be dogs." The flow on effects will benefit their work ethic in the long run, and also... they deserve it! #beachdog #beachtrip #summer #labrador #workingdog #detectiondog #workandplay #adventure
Making new friends! We were out walking and these cows came over to check us out. They were very inquisitive and one even gave Marie a kiss on the nose. Safe, supervised, and calm interactions with livestock and wildlife is super important for conservation detection dogs. We need to ensure that the animals around us are safe and happy in our presence. Usually this would involve a heavily planned training session. So it was a helpful gift for these cows to offer us some practice. As you can see, Kingston and Marie were curious (the livestock don't usually come running up to say hello!) but remained calm and at times lost interest. After this, we continued on our walk with no backward glances. A successful and productive chance meeting. #conservation #detectiondog #workingdog #livestock #cows #hellofriends
Kingston's happy dance! 🥰 #labrador #detectiondog #truffledog #workingdog #happy #happydance #kingandcodetection
