Rottweilers, Shepherds, Labradors - dogs that will be trained to detect coronavirus in Austria
In early June, the Austrian Armed Forces began a trial phase of training service dogs to detect coronavirus infection in humans, even with asymptomatic illness.
“The fact that our service dogs can detect various substances is not a novelty. In addition to dogs that detect weapons, we also have dogs for detecting drugs, dogs can detect explosives or drugs by smell. We are now in the testing phase of a coronavirus bloodhound dog. . It should "sniff out" diseases in people, "- said the head of the Austrian defense department.
The trial phase is to show whether this special training will become part of the program of the Army Service Dog Training Center in Kaisersteinbruch. So far, classes on the new program are being held with one Belgian Shepherd.
Nowadays, the dog is trained in a playful way using a special tube containing molecules with the smell of coronavirus. When a tube is found, it is rewarded. Testing with an infected face shield will begin next week. To ensure the safety of people and dogs, the tube, as well as the mask, are treated with ultraviolet radiation, which deactivates viruses.
It is expected that the trial phase of the training of service dogs for the detection of coronavirus infection in humans will continue until the end of July, after which the results will be announced.
There are now 166 service dogs in the Austrian Federal Army - Rottweilers, Shepherds, Labradors and Hunting Dogs, which are used to perform tasks both in the country and on missions abroad.
“The fact that our service dogs can detect various substances is not a novelty. In addition to dogs that detect weapons, we also have dogs for detecting drugs, dogs can detect explosives or drugs by smell. We are now in the testing phase of a coronavirus bloodhound dog. . It should "sniff out" diseases in people, "- said the head of the Austrian defense department.
The trial phase is to show whether this special training will become part of the program of the Army Service Dog Training Center in Kaisersteinbruch. So far, classes on the new program are being held with one Belgian Shepherd.
Nowadays, the dog is trained in a playful way using a special tube containing molecules with the smell of coronavirus. When a tube is found, it is rewarded. Testing with an infected face shield will begin next week. To ensure the safety of people and dogs, the tube, as well as the mask, are treated with ultraviolet radiation, which deactivates viruses.
It is expected that the trial phase of the training of service dogs for the detection of coronavirus infection in humans will continue until the end of July, after which the results will be announced.
There are now 166 service dogs in the Austrian Federal Army - Rottweilers, Shepherds, Labradors and Hunting Dogs, which are used to perform tasks both in the country and on missions abroad.
