Barking mad! Sniffer dog trained to detect disease in trees

Dogs aren't JUST a mans best friend

A sniffer dog has been successfully trained to sniff out a type of disease in trees.

Ivor, the six-year-old cocker spaniel Labrador cross, was trained as part of a "groundbreaking" project to help protect the UK's woodlands.

Experts taught her how to sniff out a virus which can be highly destructive to trees.

The project is the first time sniffer dogs have been used to detect this specific virus - called Phytophthora ramorum - in trees in the UK.

What is Phytophthora ramorum and why is it bad for trees?

After being trained, Ivor had a 89% success rate in detecting the virus

Phytophthora ramorum is a fungal-like organism that can kill trees - its name translates to 'the plant-destroyer'.

The virus has been responsible for some of the biggest plant disease epidemics in history - for example the Irish Potato Famine in the 1800s.

In trials, led by the UK Government's Forest Research organisation and Canine Assisted Pest Eradication, Ivor achieved a 89% success rate in detecting the virus first time.

There is a lot of potential for sniffer dogs to help

Luke Jones, the director of the Canine Assisted Pest Eradication programme, said: "We believe that innovation drives progress. We're passionate about discovering the potential of detection dogs, who are one of nature's 'super-computers'."

Good job Ivor! Time for a treat or two.