Brief history

Starting off as a kennel assistant in a renowned specialist detection dog company, Rachael soon progressed to training and handling within the company. 

She was fortunate enough to train and handle a variety of dogs of varying temperaments and in a multitude of disciplines, including explosives, tobacco, cash, quarantine, smuggled animals and conservation.

During this time, she was one of only two individuals (the other being Aran Clyne) who trained Rocky, 'the world's first scientifically proven great crested newt detection dog'. 

Rocky was then quickly followed by Arnie, who went through the same vigorous testing.

Rachael and Aran together have trained and produced many dogs that are now successfully operational in various disciplines. These included conservation dogs who detect ivory, cheetah skin, pangolin scales, pine martin scat, bat and bird carcass, GCN, live animals and meat. 

This area of work is definitely a team effort. Dogs may show subtle changes in behaviour that may not be noticeable to an inexperienced handler, as opposed to a clear indication. This is why it is important to be in tune with your dogs... there will always be something new to learn. 

You are a team.

Paws For Conservation is extremely experienced in this field of dog handling and detection. Over the years combined, Rachael alongside Aran have had the pleasure of training, producing and handling dogs to an extremely high standard. Including:-  

• Worlds' first ever Scientifically proven Great Crested Newt dogs:- Rocky & Arnie

• Multiple operational Bat and Bird carcass detection dogs

• Passive and proactive search dogs produced for Hong Kong customs:- Smuggled meat and live animals

• Pine Martin Scat detection dogs

• Ivory and Pangolin Scales detection dogs

Whilst Paws For Conservation is still in it's infancy, our first two bat carcass seasons saw us survey over 900 turbines.  Our experience combined over the years makes us one of the most experienced within this field for operational work and training.