Working Dog Conference

Dave Kontny, Acting Deputy Director, Protective Security Coordination Division, Department of Homeland Security

Mr. Kontny will present his vision on selecting working dogs for the next century.  He will share his experiences from nearly 30 years in the explosives detection canine community on the scientific advances he has seen help the working dog and ones he would like to see occur in the near future.

My research investigates the breed development of the Alaskan sled dog, a breed created solely for their athletic performance.  It identifies purebred breed contribution in the enhancement of particular athletic attributes characterized in the Alaskan sled dog.

We recently discovered a mutation in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene of dogs with degenerative myelopathy which closely resembles amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS – Lou Gehrig’s disease). This presentation will provide an update of the clinical spectrum of DM and summarize work establish biomarkers for a better understanding of the pathophysiology and potential for translation of therapeutic strategies.

The discovery of the genetic basis of disease in different dog breeds, benefits dogs, through development of genetic testing and prediction, and benefits humans, in identifying novel genes governing the traits. This presentation will focus on the recent findings in canine genetics. Dr. Andre’ will also highlight their research programs and aims for the canine community as well as expected outcomes in human medicine. She will end the presentation by a reflection on the applications and interests of these genetic research projects for working dogs, from their actual benefits to their limits.

A breeding program intended to produce a large number of high-quality working dogs must be goal oriented and highly organized. In this paper, Dr. Leighton will describe the approach taken by The Seeing Eye to produce about 600 puppies per year using a goal-oriented approach. Over nine generations of selection, hip quality has been improved while also improving the ability of the dogs to work as guides. Proof of these claims will be presented.

This presentation will concentrate on some of the newest methods of assisted reproductive techniques in dogs while considering techniques on the horizon, as well as the challenge to select for dogs that excel both in service and in the whelping box.

Standards for evaluating candidate dogs for scent discrimination tasks, much like the use of dogs to provide forensic evidence, has achieved an almost mythological status.  In fact, only a limited amount of validation has been derived from empirical study. Development of rigorous and standardized selection methodology for working dogs is not possible without comprehensive review of the scientific literature.

A brief and general description of epigenetics.  This will include a description of the history of the term, our current understanding of what it means, and some examples of epigenetic modifications known to be important in healthy and disease states.

The experience of Puppies Behind Bars will be presented. What has been learned in 12 years of raising working dogs in prison, in terms of what kinds of puppies do well in the prison environment as well as what the puppies need, in general, in order to make them well-rounded enough to become working dogs.

This presentation will summarize the findings of ongoing research on the measurement of behavior in five different populations of guide/service dogs, and on the ability of these measures to predict success in training and in overall working performance.

In this talk, I will describe our recent efforts to develop high-resolution maps of structural variation and to identify targets of artificial selection in dogs. In addition, I will provide examples of how these data can be used as a powerful resource to inform the genetic basis of canine phenotypic variation.

Emphasis will be on the complexity of the nasal cavity, olfactory receptor neuron, protection of the nasal cavity.  In addition the overall health aspect of the canine detector with regards to gait analysis (selection, training and rehab medicine) will be addressed.

Nutrigenomics is the study of how individual nutrients or their metabolites interact with an animal’s genome to regulate the structure or expression of genes. This relatively new discipline provides for a molecular understanding of how common nutritional components influence health by altering expression of an individual’s genetic make-up.  This session will cover the basic principles of nutrigenomics and how they are being applied to the pet food industry.

Many working dogs rely upon the sense of smell to accomplish their tasks. Increasingly, as the genome underlying olfaction becomes more revealing, the olfactory process per se is more fully understood. Recent advancements in the initial steps in mammalian olfaction, viz., potential receptor/ligand interactions, will be reviewed and discussed.

In this lecture, Dr. Zink will provide practical information on how to design an individualized fitness for your working dog that balances strength and endurance training in addition to stretching, body awareness and skill training.

Hip dysplasia is a highly prevalent osteoarthritic disease of the hip that causes pain and reduced working longevity in dogs used for service.  This presentation will describe prerequisites of hip screening critical to making genetic progress toward better hips.  Popular hip screening methods will be examined against these prerequisites for the potential to improve hips via appropriate selection of candidate breeders.

Successful treatment of osteoarthritis requires a comprehensive approach which includes preventative measures and a multimodal treatment program. This session will cover how nutrigenomic principles have been applied to the management of osteoarthritis and obesity in dogs.

The Detection Dog must be able to maintain its skill level each day it is working to fulfill its function.  Our goal should be to optimize the ability of the dog to perform the selected activities while minimizing any performance detractors and inhibitors.  Creating a preeminent detection dog program begins with selecting dogs that are best bred to handle these tasks.