It’s early to rise and early to bed, with lots of jam-packed activity in between, for the 9-month-old pup, Raven, the newest in-training member of the K9 pangolin counter-poaching unit, part of the African Pangolin Working Group (APWG).
It was last year that just over R85,000 was raised and donated during Hill’s Pet Nutrition webinar series from their veterinary health care clients to help obtain and train Raven as a pangolin dedicated detection dog.
She is fueled exclusively by Hill’s Science Plan Large Breed Puppy and MSD Animal Health takes care of her needs for the treatment and prevention of tick, flea, and mite infestations. What is very important for dogs in training is nutrition. Preparing Raven for operating under challenging circumstances – and keeping her in top shape – requires a comprehensive plan for her care, with what she eats contributing to her stamina and boosting her keen sense of smell. ‘A food that works with the pet’s biology is vital for dogs training at Raven’s level, as they can expend up to four times as much energy as usual when they’re on the job – panting, excitement, stress, and the need to cover long distances at speed, burn huge amounts of calories,’ explains Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s veterinary advisor, Dr Guy Fyvie.
‘Hill’s is the perfect complement for a well-rounded working counter-poaching K9,’ Glen adds. He also explains how important downtime and playtime are for Raven. ‘After the morning training session, we play together in the afternoon; this is extremely important to keep her drive up and enforce our bond. In her downtime, she runs around the camp, spends time with me on the couch while I watch TV, and loves to play in water; much like any other 9-month-old pup, really, just with quite a lot more gusto.’
Raven is well into her socialisation and detection training and should soon be an integral part of the APWG counter-poaching initiative. In the meantime, her days are very busy. ‘We’re up and at it by 6:30 on most days, right on time to meet at the training kennels where we are instructed on the various disciplines we have to accomplish for the day,’ explains Glen Thompson, Counter-Poaching Manager, and Raven’s trainer.
Operation Days start even earlier. ‘Raven and I meet up with the South African Police Service and various other units at a scheduled point for an operation briefing. Right now, while Raven and I are in training, she comes along for exposure to the environment. Then, depending on the operation, she will be used to assist with locating a pangolin or assisting with a fleeing suspect.’
It’s all in a day’s work for both Raven and Glen, as training to stop poachers in their tracks is no easy feat. Known as the ‘wise old man’ of the African bush, pangolins are said to be a symbol of good luck and the ‘bringer of rain.’ Sadly, this enigmatic creature, holding the secret of 85 million years of evolution, is currently the most poached mammal on the planet, and it takes a strong skill set, many hours of training, and tough determination for the front-line battle.
Raven, born in July 2020, is a Dutch Shepherd. However, as Glen points out, when it comes to dogs with jobs it’s not always the breed that is their most important trait. ‘The effectiveness of dogs’ detection or tracking skills often comes down to their inherent drive, the training methods we use, and the time and effort we dedicate to their training. Just like with athletes, a great trainer will adjust their methods to suit the trainee’s needs, rather than only working for the trainer.’
‘Over the years, I have seen some mixed-breed dogs work much more effectively than a pure-breed dog. In my experience, it’s the time and effort invested into each dog that brings results in the field,’ says Dr Guy Fyvie.
PICTURE: Supplied
