Dogs sniff out bugs to help wine growers combat crop-destroying bugs
10:25 a.m. Wednesday, November 29, 2006
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There is an approaching menace in California's wine country: a tiny little bug with a penchant for destroying vineyards.
To stay ahead of a potentially expensive infestation, growers have funded a research program with the Assistance Dog Institute in Santa Rosa, Calif.
Canines already use their sense of smell to find bombs, narcotics, even cancer. So, why not this new pest, as well?
The dogs are trained by introducing puppies to the scent of mealy bug pheromones at feeding time.
They then are asked to find the scent among the vines.
Autumn, a golden retriever used in the program, has a keen sense of smell. Her owner estimates that about one third of her brain is dedicated to the sense of smell.
"They say humans, when they smell stew cooking, smell stew. Dogs smell carrots, onions. They have the ability to detect everything out here," said Dog Trainer Rick Yount.
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