The Transition: From Beagles to Labradors

Casey Baines:

Hello everybody and welcome once again to Detect and Protect, the Australian biosecurity podcast. I am your guest host today; Casey Baines. Today is our final episode in our special series celebrating last year’s 30th anniversary of the biosecurity detector dog program.

The program plays a vital role in the interception of biosecurity risks in the airport, mail, and cargo environments. The detector dog’s excellent agility and super noses make them one our most effective and loveable detection methods.

Our final guest for the podcast series is Leanne Kendra.

Leanne joined the detector dog program at a very interesting time in 2009, when the program was transitioning from beagles to Labradors. She outlines some of the differences between the breeds discussing both pro’s and con’s.

Leanne also talks about the special bond she had with her detector dog Sage. She was one of the very few handlers who have transitioned a detector dog from their initial training and worked them all the way to retirement.

At present Leanne is a technical supervisor for the Sydney detector dog team, and in the episode, she shares some of the skills from the program that has assisted her in professional development.

How you join the detector program where you are and what dog you work with now?

Leanne Kendra:

Ok, well, my names, Leanne, I started with the detector dog unit in 2009 as a passive handler at the airport. So I came in when it was the time of the beagles.

Casey Baines:

2009 was that was when we first got our Labrador first Labrador, I think, but then we took eight years to crossover.

Leanne Kendra:

Yeah, it was just before. So yeah. Yeah, I was on the. I was on the transition. So yeah, I was the last of the beagles, the first of the MPD Labradors.

Casey Baines:

All right, that would have been a pretty interesting experience.

Leanne Kendra:

Oh, definitely, definitely. It was a whole new ball game.

Casey Baines:

So if you start with a Beagle, did you work with one specific dog, and did they have any traits that were unique to them?

Leanne Kendra:

Yeah. Yeah. So when I started, I had a 9kg Beagle called Onyx. So she was a tiny. She was a tiny little math dog, but she made-up in, in work.

Casey Baines:

Yeah, always eager to get out and sniff things, I guess.

Leanne Kendra:

Oh definitely, definitely really nice little dog. And then I also transitioned across to the actives cause it was still two split teams were passive and active. Then I came across to the active dogs and I worked detector dog Ivan.

Casey Baines:

Oh ok. And what breed was Ivan? Was that when we still had mixed breeds in the active dogs?

Leanne Kendra:

And Ivan was a Labrador, so he was a Labrador. And then going forward after that, I then received my first MPD, so multipurpose detection dog and her name was Sage. And I was really fortunate with Sage. I was one of the last handlers to work a dog from the time they came in the field to the time they retired. So I had her from 18 months old until she was eight when she retired.

Casey Baines:

Oh that's amazing.

Leanne Kendra:

Yeah. So she is my standout dog because I was able to work with her, her whole career. We had a really special bond.

Casey Baines:

So then obviously a lot of our detector dogs retire with their handlers, did Sage go home with you?

Leanne Kendra:

Yes, she did, and she is still at home. She's she is very grey. She's more Gray than black these days. Umm yeah, but she's still getting around a lot slower, but still plays with the other two dogs at home.

Casey Baines:

Well, that's good. Nice. So when do you joined the detector dog program was there something specific that interested you or drew towards it?

Leanne Kendra:

Uh, well, my love of dogs, obviously. Yeah. The love of dogs really brought me into it and having the opportunity to come to work everyday and work with a dog. But not only that, obviously we have a really important role as a biosecurity officer, so. Two in mind like dog detection capabilities and finding those concealments, it's yeah.

Casey Baines:

Yeah, very much so. And when you find something, it's almost like instant gratitude. You say, well, I've done the hard work. My dogs done the hard work, and you can see what might have gone through when you find something like that.

Leanne Kendra:

And that's the thing it it's for me as a handler. There's so much gratification when you see the hard work that you've put into maintain your proficiency of your dog and see its capabilities in the workforce, knowing that, you know, there's a lot of things that no human, no other detection tool can actually find like plant or concealed seeds or you know those kind of concealments it's incredible. It's gratifying when you see your dog come through on a find like that.

Casey Baines:

Yes very true. So did you have any dog handling experience before, or was it just the draw of the program that brought you in?

Leanne Kendra:

No, no detection, no detection experience. I had a bit of obedience doing obedience outside, but no detection work as such.

Casey Baines:

Umm. And I guess we've talked, talked about now there are a few dogs that you work with now at the airport yourself or.

Leanne Kendra:

Yeah. At the moment, well. Did you want to know how many dogs and what I've done?

Casey Baines:

Well sure yeah, if there’s a big list off the top of your head.

Leanne Kendra:

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So obviously, like I had sage and then retired. But since then we've moved to multi handling. So our dogs don't stay with us for the whole period of their working life. So we do move around quite a bit. I've had the opportunity since retiring Sage. I've had the opportunity to bring on five, five dogs out of the training sheds, so to transition them into the work environment. Umm, which has been really good from a training perspective, not just a handler but being a dog trainer.

Umm it's a real important part, being able to transition them out of that that shed environment into the working environment.

Casey Baines:

Yeah, it's really interesting because obviously we're trained our dogs in in just a single shed where their handler is usually the only person or one of very few people around them. And then they get placed into either an airport where they could have thousands of people walking out them at once or a mail centre where they could have thousands of parcels and conveyors going around them. Do you find that when you get your transitional dogs, they struggle with distractions?

Leanne Kendra:

Oh in the beginning well, definitely focus is a thing at the moment. I've got a very green dog. He came out of the training shed into the work environment in June. And he's a very he's a young male who came out at 17 months. He's a he's a big boy. So focus for him, a typical, you know, typical male dog, you know. That, like a little bit hard to focus but has much is, is really maturing into a really nice dog. So it's just making sure that you know the handler sticks at their task. Yes, you got to make the work lots of fun and lots of variety, but you got to have your dog focused to do that.

Casey Baines:

Yeah, and can you elaborate on that a little bit more because people might externally perceive that you just standing there next to the dog and the dog does all the work, but it's really a team effort, isn't it?

Leanne Kendra:

I'll definitely it is a. It's a real team effort. So you build that, you build that bond with your dog and the dog needs to trust you as well. So there's a big trust and respect thing. Because the work and the maintenance that you put into that dog, you're trusting that dog's ability to detect that biosecurity risk.

Casey Baines:

Yeah, definitely, yeah.

Leanne Kendra:

And the ongoing maintenance, it's not just bringing the dog in one day, it's the ongoing maintenance for the whole of their career.

Casey Baines:

Yeah, for sure. And the trust is a big thing, right? Because a lot of the time that there could be things that could be concealed that you would never think is in the lining of the bag or wrapped within a parcel within a panel or something. But that doesn't stop the dogs from sniffing it out.

Leanne Kendra:

That's exactly right. So you do need to do that training and that maintenance training and trust your dog. Always follow. Yeah. You've got to always follow up on that on that change in behaviour.

Casey Baines:

Yeah, that was one of the things we talked to Bob, who was the program manager at the inception of the program and that was the thing that he just drilled into all of the handlers, that was trust your, trust your dog always.

Leanne Kendra:

Yeah, yeah. And it is. And you really do need to trust your dog and your dog needs to trust you. You need to be that positive leader for them as well because it goes both ways. They have to have trust in you for the confidence. So if you're a good, strong leader, they'll have the confidence to do the work they need to do so. Yeah, it's there's lots of skills learnt from the dog and the handler.

Casey Baines:

Yes, for sure. And so when you look at that back at your years as a handler, do you have one go to story or one thing that that you tell people when they ask you about an interesting time as a handler?

Leanne Kendra:

There's not one. There's not one particular thing I talk about. I talk about like the job in general. How lucky I have been to have the opportunities that I've had. I've been able to do special clearances. I've been able to go to Canberra and clear diplomats on a tarmac, I've been able to clear returning Olympic teams. I've been able to do you know that there's a whole wide range of things that opportunities that I've been able to do, I've been able to go to Canberra and do demonstrations for industry forums and yeah, so.

Casey Baines:

Oh, cool. Nice.

Leanne Kendra:

So yeah, you can really put yourself into work and get lots of opportunities. It's not just about, you know, doing one thing you can really put yourself out there, yeah.

Casey Baines:

I guess definitely you saying that you have lots of opportunities. Do you think being a detector dog handler prepares you well for, for all of those, and then for also, maybe developing your career, I saw that you're a team leader at the moment, so.

Leanne Kendra:

Yes, yes I am currently acting. Oh definitely, because you work in a small group. Not just a small group but you’re across so many different areas. So you’re working in the airport environment you’re working in the mail environment you could also be in meetings with our pathway capability. So communication is a big thing. So communication skills, leadership skills, definitely. And your growth as a technical dog trainer, you grow as a trainer. You're not just a handler, you're a trainer.

Casey Baines:

Yeah. And that's really interesting. A lot of the past handlers that I've talked to have said it's one of those jobs that every single day you will look at something new.

Leanne Kendra:

Everyday is a new day.

Casey Baines:

Or pick up something, some small percievement from your dog or something like that. Yeah. Always keeps you on your toes.

Leanne Kendra:

Yeah. And that and that's very true. Every day you come to work is a different day. So you're learning something from your dog. Whether it be a change in behaviour, a mannerism, the environment that you're working in. Every day is a new day, and even to the point where some every run is a different run. So you get your dog out to deploy your dog. It's a different thing every time you come out. You've got to keep it interesting for the dogs as well. So the dog needs to come to work thinking it's a day in the dog park. But they're actually working. So fun and variety but professional. They're not pets they are working dogs and that's we have to make that really clear. Yes. You're having fun with your dog, but your dog will love you through its work if you give it enough variety.

Casey Baines:

Oh definitely, yeah.

Leanne Kendra:

Yeah, yeah, there's special. There are special detection tool.

Casey Baines:

Oh for sure. Then there's not really anything else that can sort of compare to the way that dogs work as a detection tool for us. Then I definitely unique. Could you maybe run through what a single work day looks like for you, working as a handler?

Leanne Kendra:

Yes, certainly. So normally we will get to work. I'll say the first day of shift, we'll prepare training for the day. Now depending you could be working on odor thresholds presentation. So you'll set your training around the environment. And then you will either if you're in the airport environment, you'll be running in the SEA, so the secondary baggage inspection area, or now we're now deploying back out around the carousels, which is really exciting. The dogs are loving that variety. So yeah, so you set you're training up, you'll do your training. You could either do it as a training sequence on its own or you can do it within the live environment depending on what you're working on at the time.

Casey Baines:

And then then, once you've gone through that training, I assume you run as passengers come through?

Leanne Kendra:

Yep, Yep. So you're deploying passengers that's and you're deploying your dogs over passengers. You're also doing, remember, you're biosecurity officer as well. So you're doing baggage inspections, you're doing your non compliance. So it's the full picture.

Casey Baines:

Yeah exactly. And you mentioned that we're deploying back around carousels now. Has that been a challenge to try and get dogs to focus again? Because currently the way we screen, we line passengers up for them and they run along in a line, right whereas. You know, how are you experiencing at the carousel?

Leanne Kendra:

And every dog adapts to environments differently, and we've put in the training. So we've put training in place to get them focused and redirect around to that kind of deploying. That and that's a skill that the handler really needs to have is to be able to change for your environment, you need to be able to change the way that you train and change the way that you deploy your dog because you do deploy your dog differently in the SEA compared to the carousel.

Casey Baines:

Can you think of one really interesting find or a few maybe that that you've had a dog sniff something out that's but turned out to be something new for you?

Leanne Kendra:

Uh, yeah, one of my detector dogs, Juno, that I was working on the SMS, sorry, EMS belts at the mail facility. She responded to a box. And upon inspection, inspecting officer opened the box up and went “No, no, can't see anything.” Then they took the whole box. Then they started to take the whole box apart. They pulled out some Pringles containers. You know, the chip containers. Inside of the four Pringle containers were concealed salami.

Casey Baines:

Right. Ok, wow.

Leanne Kendra:

So, so that was an interesting one because just at first glance like it looked perfect. Until the inspecting officer. And that was, you know, and that's the main thing as well. People that are inspecting our responses really need to look beyond that. They really need to take it apart because our dogs can find a flower in a wallet. Like and that has happened recently like we've had dogs find around the carousel, a small fresh flower inside a gentlemen's wallet. So the you know and no one would have found that other than a dog.

Casey Baines:

Yeah, exactly. Yeah.

Leanne Kendra:

And that and that's the beauty. Each detection capability, whether it be dog, human or X-ray, they all have their pros and cons, yeah.

Casey Baines:

Uh, yeah, for sure. And, but that's probably the biggest one.

Leanne Kendra:

But all work together nicely. Yeah, when they all put together, they work nice together.

Casey Baines:

Yeah for sure. I was talking to one of our old handlers and she was telling me the story about one of the beagles that crossed the entire baggage hall to find a single leaf that was stuck in someone's shoe.

Leanne Kendra:

Yes.

Casey Baines:

The amazing how small and it doesn't matter if it's a giant chunk of meat or something really small like a leaf, and the dogs will sniff it out.

Leanne Kendra:

Well, that's it. Even like my little Beagle, we found flowers like flower in her hair and the way that she used to indicate that she'd just, like, pirouette on her back, like for something was up high because she was so small. She would pair a wet and just, like, dance around. And. Yeah, because she was like, trying to get up so high.

Yeah.

Casey Baines:

Trying to smell the scent.

Leanne Kendra:

Yeah. Yeah. So I've had had lots of, yeah. Interesting finds over the years, yeah.

Casey Baines:

Umm. And obviously the department's just done a big recruitment round. Can you think of attributes or advice that you might give to handlers that are just starting to join, Join our team of handlers now?

Leanne Kendra:

Ok, so you're looking for someone that's wanting to join the dog unit. Is that the question?

Leanne Kendra:

If you're already in the department, I say come and speak to the dog unit because perception, a lot of people just think we walk around the airport with the dog. There's a lot more that goes into being a dog handler. I say approached the dog handlers have a conversation. If you have the opportunity to come and join and be a dog assist, a canine assist and work with the dog so you can actually see what's going on and you're there on the spot watching it for a shift. And if your people from outside. You know, if you're traveling through the airport. Don't be scared to say “oh hey, I'm interested in working dogs.” You know, approach people. The best thing to do is approach people. I know myself. When I first started in, I started with the department back in 2006. And I start the reason I came in is because I wanted to work the dogs. So back then it took a while to actually get into the dog unit. It was very, it was a niche thing. But my aim was to get in and that's what I did. I actually spent time with the dog unit, I used to rove around the carousels with them and assist them.

Casey Baines:

Right, yeah.

Leanne Kendra:

So yeah, I kind of made myself known to the dog unit. This is what I want, yeah.

Casey Baines:

Yeah. Who's well? Good on you. And the unit. The program itself is so lucky to have you.

Casey Baines:

And then I'm thinking about people external or there any sort of attributes or experiences that might benefit them if they were going to apply? Specifically because we've just done an external working run for the dogs.

Leanne Kendra:

Yeah. Well, from the outside, I’d definitely be doing my homework. I'd be looking into our website for sure. Going on and seeing what the dogs do. There's information on our website so that that's one place I would definitely be going doing a little bit of homework and research on what we do.

Casey Baines:

Umm so I'm starting to get to it was the end of my questions. But one of the big ones that we had for you particularly was this is our 30th anniversary. If you had a big picture idea of what the detector program looked like for the 40th anniversary. What would you think would look like in the future?

Leanne Kendra:

Is it what I would like or what I think it will be like?

Casey Baines:

But we can do 2 scenarios, one or the other.

Leanne Kendra:

Ok. No, I think at this point based on what's happening today, our unit size will grow. I believe that our unit size will definitely grow in both dogs and handlers, and I'd like to think that would be deploying across more areas as well as our capabilities grow.

Casey Baines:

Right. Ok. So more pathways, more, yeah.

Leanne Kendra:

Yeah, more pathways, definitely.

Casey Baines:

Right. Ok. And then your big picture idea that might be slightly different?

Leanne Kendra:

My big picture idea. It's probably really the same. We do need the we need the handlers and we're getting them. They're recruiting them. So we need the dogs. They're recruiting them. It's just I think if we can get some more variety definitely and our capabilities, we're just scratching on the surface of the capabilities of detection dogs.

Casey Baines:

Oh for sure. Yeah, that's the biggest. Biggest trade is how versatile they are as well. So yeah.

Leanne Kendra:

That's it. So yeah, the more places that we can actually deploy our dogs, I think would be great.

Casey Baines:

Yeah, for sure. Umm, is there anything else that you'd like to share?

Leanne Kendra:

I don’t think so? I could probably sit here forever, but no, I think. Yeah. No, I think that's probably it for today.

Casey Baines:

Yeah. Ok.

Leanne Kendra:

I hope I've given you something to work with. No, definitely. And I've definitely enjoyed talking to you. I guess one more thing I might ask is, you’ve got one dog at home, do you have any other detector dogs that have come home with you in in those last few years or do you have a big dog family of your own that she's gone home and joined?

Leanne Kendra:

No, I've got a full house at the moment, so I've got my old detector dog. Plus I've got another Labrador as well, and a pug that thinks he's a Labrador.

Casey Baines:

It's always like that, isn't it? The cat with two dogs. The cat thinks it's a dog. The pug thinks it’s a big dog.

Leanne Kendra:

And of course, the little dogs, the boss.

Casey Baines:

Oh very much so. Yeah, that's always the way.

Leanne Kendra:

Always the way, but that's generally what happens is obviously with our dogs, our work dogs where possible. When they're retiring, it's nice if the handler can take them home.

Leanne Kendra:

We like to keep him in the family.

Casey Baines:

Having them retire and spend the rest of their years with someone they know is definitely a better, better option. I think that than sending me out or whether or not it's a loving home. Be always make sure that the welfare of the dog is utmost importance to us though.

Leanne Kendra:

Oh for sure, for sure and it doesn't always mean when they go home, they'll be. My old girl, when she retired, I thought she'd come home and she'd be just me. But she's unfaithful. She loves my husband.

Casey Baines:

The rest of the family yep.

Casey Baines:

Always the way. You were, the one that had to work her. Now she's back, kicking back and relaxing, enjoying someone's company.

Leanne Kendra:

That's right. That's right. So, yeah, yeah. But no. And look, like I said I was very lucky to have her whole career. So she was. She's my stand out and it's not always for her. Like, I've worked much more drivier dogs since her. But because I was like, had that whole time with her, it was a very different relationship.

Casey Baines:

Yeah. One more question before we do there, you mentioned these started with beagles, are there big differences between mannerisms that beagles and Labradors have? Or is that just the way that you adapt as a handler?

Leanne Kendra:

Well, that too. So the adapting. But be beagles are very belligerent. They just want to keep on going. Labradors just want to please you.

Casey Baines:

Alright, Ok.

Leanne Kendra:

Yeah. Beagles. Yeah, they it didn't matter who was on the end of the lead with the Beagle.

Casey Baines:

They go and sniff out everything, right?

Leanne Kendra:

Yeah, yeah, they both have pros and cons. Like I love the beagles love the Labradors. We work very differently now, and Labradors are what suits our current climate.

Casey Baines:

Ok well, thank you very much for spending your Friday afternoon with me Leanne. I hope the rest of your shift go as well.

Leanne Kendra:

Not a problem. Not a problem, and I think I've sent through some photos.

Casey Baines:

Yes, I did get a couple of you and?

Leanne Kendra:

Wyatt

Casey Baines:

Wyatt, I was going to say Gordi. Wyatt yep.

Leanne Kendra:

Yeah, he's naughty. He's naughty, but naughty in a good way.

Casey Baines:

He's always looking for something new again, is he? Well, well, that's the thing. In a detection dog, it's nice to have a little bit of naughtiness because it just gives them a good attitude to work. They really they're inquisitive.

Casey Baines:

Yeah, that that's one of the best things about a dog you, but usually not just sitting back. And they always want to see if something’s new out.

Leanne Kendra:

Yeah. Yeah. From the time they from the time that he gets to work, he's nose is going constantly.

Yeah, yeah. He has a very good work ethic. So he starts and finishes the same way.

Casey Baines:

Wow good on him.

Casey Baines:

Ok. Well, thank you so much, Leanne. Have a good weekend. See you later. Bye.

Leanne Kendra:

Thank you. You too. See you later. Bye. Bye.

Casey Baines:

Thank you for listening to our special podcast series, we have been extremely excited to share the biosecurity detector dog program with you as part of last year’s 30th anniversary. We are eagerly anticipating the leaps and bounds the program will make in its future.

I hope you have enjoyed today’s episode of Detect and Protect. You can find our more information on the department's website or by visiting biosecurity.gov.au. Make sure you subscribe to our podcast series to get updates on future topics and learn more about Australian biosecurity. Also be sure to follow us on our social media pages. Thanks very much for listening everybody. And we will catch you on the next episode of Detect and Protect.