The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Fife dog trainer enlists help of search and recovery expert
World leader in training of dogs to host a programme to help animals with scent detection work and other vital skills
One of the world’s most in-demand search and recovery dog trainers is heading to Scotland after accepting an invitation from a Fife supporter.
John Miskelly, who runs K9 Scent & Search Scotland from his home in Falkland, will host a three-day training event at Kinghorn Loch in November with the help of renowned search and recovery expert David Jones.
John Miskelly will host a three-day training event at Kinghorn Loch in Fife. Widely regarded as the world leader in his field, David and his dogs have been involved in some of the most high-profile criminal investigations and recovery operations around the world in recent years. John said his visit was a real coup for Fife.
He first contacted David, who is head instructor at UK K9 Training For Excellence in Wales, seeking his advice on how he could improve his own dogs’ training and was astounded when he offered to come up to meet them.
The pair spent a weekend working with John’s two spaniels, three-year-old Bracken and two-year-old Bramble.
“What transpired was nothing short of a revelation,” said John.
“David can train dogs to find corpses and remains, not only hidden on land, but also in water and over a multitude of other terrains and building locations.”
He said the animals could be trained to locate a body or remains hidden in water 30 metres deep.
Working with Bracken and Bramble, he and David conducted training methods which included how to conduct meticulous inch-by-inch searches of wide areas.
“These skills can be called upon in the detection of explosives, drugs, missing persons as well as in criminal investigations and in the relief efforts after earthquakes and other natural disasters,” he added.
John, who now uses his own dogs to help train other owners across Scotland in scent detection work, said he was looking forward to helping David share his skills with other handlers in Fife.
“David and his dogs have been working extensively on investigations in Ireland in recent months and only this week returned from specialist training in Poland,” he said.
“He’s flying out to Spain on Monday and is in-demand right around the world so we are delighted to have him accept our invite to come to Fife.”
Details on how take part in the weekend training sessions which will take place from November 8-10 can be found on the K9 Scent And Search Scotland Facebook page.