Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

44.7K
The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
44.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Social Capital and Pets in Retirement Villages.

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI·2026
Same author

Parental Identity and Subjective Well-Being in Older Women: The Moderating Role of the Human-Dog Bond.

Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

Companion Dogs in Vietnam: Exploring Characteristics of Owned and Ideal Dogs.

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI·2026
Same author

Commentary on MacKechnie-Guire et al. Measuring Noseband Tightness on the Lateral Aspect of the Horse's Face. <i>Animals</i> 2015, <i>15</i>, 537.

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI·2026
Same author

The Cat Is Already Out of the Bag: Humane and Pragmatic Solutions for Cats on Dairy Farms. Reply to Calver et al. It's Premature to Encourage Working Cats for Rodent Control on Australian Dairy Farms.

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI·2026
Same author

COMPASS Guidelines for Conducting Welfare-Focused Research into Behaviour Modification of Animals.

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 10, 2025

Sampling and Analysis of Animal Scent Signals
14:59

Sampling and Analysis of Animal Scent Signals

Published on: February 13, 2021

4.8K

Defining the Characteristics of Successful Biosecurity Scent Detection Dogs.

Ariella Y Moser1, Wendy Y Brown1, Pauleen Bennett2

  • 1School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia.

Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|February 11, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Identifying key traits in scent detection dogs is crucial for effective biosecurity screening. This study highlights search motivation and arousal as vital for optimal performance in detection dogs.

Keywords:
behavioursdetector dogdrivefocus grouppersonalityselectionsniffer dogsurveytraitsworking dog

More Related Videos

Using Insect Electroantennogram Sensors on Autonomous Robots for Olfactory Searches
07:23

Using Insect Electroantennogram Sensors on Autonomous Robots for Olfactory Searches

Published on: August 4, 2014

23.1K
Controlled Odor Mimic Permeation Systems for Olfactory Training and Field Testing
05:54

Controlled Odor Mimic Permeation Systems for Olfactory Training and Field Testing

Published on: January 28, 2021

4.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 10, 2025

Sampling and Analysis of Animal Scent Signals
14:59

Sampling and Analysis of Animal Scent Signals

Published on: February 13, 2021

4.8K
Using Insect Electroantennogram Sensors on Autonomous Robots for Olfactory Searches
07:23

Using Insect Electroantennogram Sensors on Autonomous Robots for Olfactory Searches

Published on: August 4, 2014

23.1K
Controlled Odor Mimic Permeation Systems for Olfactory Training and Field Testing
05:54

Controlled Odor Mimic Permeation Systems for Olfactory Training and Field Testing

Published on: January 28, 2021

4.7K

Area of Science:

  • Animal Behavior
  • Veterinary Science
  • Applied Animal Behavior

Background:

  • Effective performance of scent detection dogs in biosecurity relies on specific behavioral traits.
  • Understanding these characteristics is essential for optimizing dog selection and training protocols.
  • Industry stakeholders' insights are valuable for identifying relevant traits in operational settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize the key behavioral traits influencing the detection performance of biosecurity screening dogs.
  • To inform the selection and training processes for biosecurity detection dogs based on empirical evidence.

Main Methods:

  • Focus group interviews were conducted with 25 Australian biosecurity dog handlers, trainers, and supervisors.
  • A questionnaire was developed based on interview findings and administered to assess the working behaviors of 36 operational biosecurity dogs.
  • Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify underlying dimensions of working behaviors.

Main Results:

  • Seven tentative dimensions of working behaviors were identified: search motivation, emotional stability, search arousal, food motivation, play motivation, search independence, and search focus.
  • Search motivation and search arousal were significantly positively associated with handler-rated detection performance.
  • Biosecurity dogs generally received high ratings for search motivation, emotional stability, and food motivation.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides a deeper understanding of the behavioral profiles of biosecurity detector dogs.
  • Identified traits, particularly search motivation and arousal, are critical for effective biosecurity detection.
  • Findings will guide the development of more effective candidate selection and training programs for biosecurity dogs.