Working dogs research project
Temporary accommodation of working dogs in transport boxes
TCRH, BRH Federal Association of Rescue Dogs, Hunting Dog Association (JGHV) and the Federal Police have started an interdisciplinary research project. From June 2023 to 2026, the temporary accommodation of working dogs from official areas such as cadaver detection dogs (finding fallen game as part of animal disease control), hunting dogs, rescue dogs and police service dogs in transport boxes will be carried out in cooperation with the Hamburg University of Applied Science (HAW Hamburg) and the Free University of Berlin examined.
Research objectives
Official working dogs perform important tasks for our society in various areas: they save people, track down game, solve crimes, detect sources of danger or carry out protective tasks. To do this, they must be transported and temporarily stored in boxes.
As part of the interdisciplinary research project, scientific data will be collected and analyzed to examine the effects of the temporary accommodation of working dogs from the areas ASF cadaver experiments, hunting, volunteer rescue dog and police work in transport boxes to examine the well-being of the animals.
Specifically, it is about the stress these dogs experience in various operational or training situations, during transport and when temporarily staying in transport boxes. The aim is to determine how working dogs react to a transport box and which general conditions must be adhered to when temporarily using transport boxes by working dogs. In addition, it can be determined what kind of stress the dogs can expect.
To date, there is no or only insufficient scientifically valid knowledge on the questions formulated.
Scientific mission
The focus is on an interdisciplinary research approach from the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW) and the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the Free University of Berlin. The topic will be examined in detail from the perspective of veterinary medicine, behavioral research and biomechanics with up to four doctorates.
Strong partners
The project partners and their four-legged emergency services represent the most representative area of official working dog species:
Hamburg University of Applied Science (HAW Hamburg):
Northern Germany's leading university when it comes to reflected practice. It is one of seven research-oriented German universities of applied sciences.
www.haw-hamburg.de
Department of Veterinary Medicine at the Free University of Berlin
The Department of Veterinary Medicine at the Free University of Berlin looks back on a long, successful and traditional history of veterinary training since 1790. As one of five German training centers for veterinary medicine, the department is a renowned center for veterinary training, research and veterinary services. The Institute for Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science is involved nationally and internationally in numerous collaborations and third-party funded projects in the area of animal behavior and animal welfare.
https://www.vetmed.fu-berlin.de/
BRH Federal Association of Rescue Dogs e.V. (BRH)
Since its founding in 1974, the BRH Federal Association of Rescue Dogs (BRH) has developed into the largest global rescue dog organization with its 94 rescue dog teams, more than 2.200 members and over 1.200 dogs.
Under the motto “Dogs save people”, the dogs are trained to search for buried or missing people in rubble or areas and are used at home and abroad. The foreign missions are carried out under the umbrella of the BRH partner organization I.S.A.R Germany. In addition to a UN-certified USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) team, a WHO-certified EMT (Emergency Medical Team) team is also provided.
The teams are available to work around the clock upon request. All members work on a voluntary basis and the missions are free of charge for those affected, their relatives and those requesting them.
The BRH operates three training centers in Germany for disaster prevention, civil protection, internal and external security.
www.bundesverband-rettungshunde.de
Hunting Dog Association (JGHV)
The JGHV is the world's largest hunting cynological association.
As an umbrella organization for the entire German hunting dog industry, the Hunting Dog Association (JGHV) brings together clubs that contribute to the provision of usable hunting dogs through testing, breeding and training activities and thus support appropriate hunting in accordance with the statutes.
It represents over 300 clubs and associations with around 180.000 members.
www.jghv.de
Federal Police, Federal Police Headquarters, Unit 65 Research and Testing
The Federal Police has 491 protection and explosives detection dogs, which are deployed at airports and train stations, among other places, and runs two service dog schools in Germany.
TCRH Training Center Rescue and Help (TCRH)
On behalf of the Ministry of Food, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection Baden-Württemberg (MLR BW), the TCRH is the world's largest education and training center for carcass search teams (trapped game search, biological location) and drone pilots (technical location) to combat the African swine fever. As part of the program, numerous aspects of occupational safety in the human sector as well as animal welfare are examined. The TCRH is a company of the BRH Federal Association of Rescue Dogs e.V.
asp.tcrh.de
Division of tasks between the project partners
All direct and indirect project partners work together to ensure the implementation and financing of this multi-year project. The project partners also provide the working dogs for carrying out the numerous surveys.
The TCRH Training Center Rescue and Help in Mosbach is responsible for project management and coordination.
Press information
Further information
- TCRH: Education, Continuing Education, Education & Training
- Animal Protection Act
- Animal protection dog regulations
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