Today we’d like to introduce you to Louise Wilson
Hi Louise, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am a Specialist Detection dog trainer, teacher and handler and founder of Conservation K9 Consultancy.
After studying at Chester University, Part of Liverpool University DipHE Animal Behaviour and Welfare I was searching for animal based work- I never dreamed of being and doing what I do now.
I started in this specialist arena over 22 years ago by volunteering for a specialist detection dog company whom was training explosive dogs for deployment overseas. I was lucky to then work my way into a paid position of Kennel maid, there were just two of us then and with only 2 dogs, then I worked my way up to training assistant and then after 12 years Head of training a dog section of 60 dogs and company director with 30 staff.
In this time I was – a trainer. Handler and instructor of dogs trained for :
-Explosives
-Drugs
-Cash
-Tobacco
-Cadaver
-Live Body
-SAR
-Wildlife Crime
-Wildlife Signs
After moving from the UK to South Africa to start a family, I retuned to the UK In 2015 I started my own Venture –
” Conservation K9 Consultancy”, created from my dream and own passion, to provide unrivalled expertise in training detection dogs for wildlife and conservation.
I pride myself on Offering the best support, mentoring, handler training, project management, specialist dog training and also offering our specialist dog team services of our own wildlife detection dogs such as;
-Water Vole Detection
-Hedgehog Detection
-Bird Carcass Detection
-Bat Carcass Detection
-Otter Detection
-Biosecurity Detection
-Mink Detection
-Pine Marten Scat Detection
-Wildlife Crime Detection
with more projects in the pipe line.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As a female starting in specialist detection dog industry 22 years ago, without military or police background it was and has been full of many barriers and struggles. Having to “prove” yourself and your ability time and time again to be accepted, or listened to or even acknowledged. This has been a huge challenge, but I feel I have stepped up to the challenge and proved myself my ability my skill and my grit, its not an easy career path and I never expected it to be.
With now 22 years experience in this arena I am honoured to have been able to work and train with thousands of dogs trained in different disciplines, and work with hundreds of amazing handlers from over the world wanting to improve their skill, their ability and there communication style with their k9 colleague.
One of the new challenges now we are facing is potential il- trained, inexperienced and unethical dog teams , unknowingly entering this arena with enthusiasm and gusto but without the knowledge to do the work effectively or ethically for the dogs and the species. I want to help those people so they can get it right- not to be any dog handler, you want to be the best dog handler- you owe it to your dogs and to conservation. This is what brought me to Baltimore, As a speaker at The Wildlife Society Annual conference and the amazing dog symposium that was arranged by a dedicated team – Julia Nawrocki, Abby Smith, and Collette Yee
We’ve been impressed with CONSERVATION K9 CONSULTANCY, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Louise Wilson Director
Conservation K9 Consultancy (Conservation K9 Consultancy Trading Name of LEV International Ltd)
Louise has over 22 years of domestic and international experience as a dog handler, trainer, instructor and project manager.
She is the founder of Conservation K9 Consultancy, and now has over 15 years’ experience in the use of detection dogs for conservation and ecology.
Prior to this Louise trained and handled hundreds of dogs in various specialist disciplines, including explosive detection, live body detection, cash, tobacco and drug detection. She has worked, for agencies as diverse as UK border control, police forces in both the UK and abroad, HMRC, and trading standards.
Louise has trained dogs, handler, dog teams and handled dogs for a wide variety of domestic and international wildlife detection roles, including:
• Pine marten scat detection
• Dormouse nest detection
• Great crested newt detection
• Water vole detection
• Bat carcass detection at wind turbine sites
• Amphibian carcass detection
• Hedgehog detection
• Biosecurity training
• Cheetah scat detection
• Ivory, lion skin and pangolin scale detection
With a Diploma in Higher Education in animal behaviour and welfare, over 22 years’ experience of working and training specialist search dogs, and a genuine passion for animal welfare, conservation and wildlife, Louise is perfectly placed to provide a service that can offer a ‘Total Wildlife Solution’.
This can include the supply of her own search dog teams for wildlife monitoring projects, the bespoke training of handlers and their dogs, or the full project management of various conservation projects. She also provides courses and mentoring to all ranges and abilities, from novices to experts.
Louise can provide specially trained wildlife detection dogs and handlers to conservationists, ecologists, wildlife crime officers and wildlife organisations to help with wildlife detection through a quick, efficient, non-invasive and non-biased method of surveying.
The first ever company to train dogs to work in a conservation role in the UK was started and handled by Louise and it is her belief that her dogs can detect any substance, in any environment, regardless of any distraction, given the right positive training and her enthusiasm, experience and total belief in her canine colleagues.
As well as her interests in wildlife conservation, Louise continues to promote the welfare of working dogs through education and training.
She has trained dogs and dog teams, and provided consultancy to organisations in many countries, including South Africa, Gabon, Tanzania, Mozambique, USA, Poland, Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Australia, Costa Rica, Seychelles and the Falkland Islands.
As an international speaker and instructor at many Detection Conferences, Wildlife Symposiums and conservation k9 courses Louise is always happy to face a new detection challenge. Louise has been a speaker at International Conferences in Borneo, Australia, Montana, UK and Baltimore.
Species Detection training projects Louise has been Involved in: –
Bear scat, wolf scat, Lynx scat, pine marten scat, water vole latrines, Dormouse nest, bat carcass, bird carcass, live hedgehog detection, Japanese beetle, koala, dragon, great crested newt, pool frog, salamander, invasive plants, field hamster, otter spraint, mammal carcass, and many more …
Louise is also a Co-Author of Three (soon to be four) peered reviewed research papers and has been involved in many more:
Research Papers
• Comparing non-invasive surveying techniques for elusive, nocturnal mammals: a case study of the West European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) | 23rd December 2020
https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-vertebrate-biology/volume-69/issue-3/jvb.20075/Comparing-non-invasive-surveying-techniques-for-elusive-nocturnal-mammals/10.25225/jvb.20075.full
• Back to the basics with conservation detection dogs: fundamentals for success | 18th September 2019
https://bioone.org/journals/wildlife-biology/volume-2019/issue-1/wlb.00584/Back-to-the-basics-with-conservation-detection-dogs–fundamentals/10.2981/wlb.00584.full
-An experimental assessment of detection dog ability to locate great crested newts (Triturus cristatus) at distance and through soil. (June 2023) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371370822_An_experimental_assessment_of_detection_dog_ability_to_locate_great_crested_newts_Triturus_cristatus_at_distance_and_through_soil
Louise offers unravelled experience in the area of conservation dogs in ecology and research and can offer a bespoke training plan and search methodology criteria and guidance. She offers a selection of workshops and training events, demonstrations and presentations (both UK and worldwide), to increase the awareness of dogs working in conservation and to help stop wildlife crime, improve working dog welfare and dog and handler wellbeing and success:
• Conservation K9 Consultancy (CK9C) offers unique specialist accredited conservation dog handler courses, and other detection courses, with UK Rural Skills accreditation and newly accredited by Wrexham Glyndwr University.
• CK9C is working in Partnership with Wrexham Glyndwr University to help bring better education and teaching to this fast emerging world of conservation detection dog use.
• CK9C runs a range of courses, consultancy, mentoring and Training in the UK at her training base and HQ where she is in partnership with National Trust Erddig North Wales UK.
Louise Wilson -Director
Conservation K9 Consultancy
07746410976
www.conservationk9consultancy.com
louise@conservationk9consultancy.com
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I use to think , ohhh I was lucky to get these opportunities and to be where I am now and do what I do.
BUT its not been about luck, its about hard work, determination, grit, and never giving up. I’m my working carrier I have had lots of bad luck in deed, and I have had to pick up and restart many many times again. I have had to sacrifice so many things in my life and family to be a specialist dog handler, blood sweat and tears IT hasn’t been easy. It definitely isn’t Luck.
BAD LUCK – One of the reasons I am where I am today, was when my world came crashing down, After moving to South Africa to start a family and create a new life, it soon was realised that wasn’t going to happen in that way and I had to return home to the UK. After leaving my previous role (of 12 years) I was always assured that I would always have a job back in the UK if that was needed, But on my return to the UK my previous company reneged on their promise. This is when I had to rebuild my life my career and my world. I was devastated, It was a very hard time indeed, but I wouldn’t be where I am now if this terribly bad luck hadn’t have happened.
I am in a place I would never have dreamed of, being international trainer for world wide dog teams and have a strong multi detection dog company with so many UK based species projects- working from a dog centred ethical ethos- its perfect. Things happen for a reason,
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.conservationk9consultancy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conservationk9uk/profilecard/?igsh=c2pla3NlaGRtbG1p
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Conservationk9consultancy/about
- Other: https://linktr.ee/conservationk9s
