Dogs are widely used for scent detection work, assisting in searches for, among other things, missing persons, explosives, and even cancers. They are also increasingly used in conservation settings, being deployed for a range of diverse purposes. Although scent detecting dogs have been used in conservation roles for over 100 years, it is only recently that the scientific literature has begun to document their effectiveness and, importantly, how suitable dogs should initially be selected by organizations wanting to develop a detection program. In this paper, we review this literature, with the aim of extracting information that might be of value to conservation groups considering whether to invest in the use of dogs. We conclude that selection of appropriate dogs is no easy task. While olfactory ability is critical, so also are a range of other characteristics. These include biological, psychological, and social traits. At present, no validated selection tools have been published. Existing organizations have adapted selection instruments from other contexts for their use, but very little published information is available regarding the effectiveness of these instruments in a conservation setting. In the absence of clear guidelines, we urge those wanting to invest in one or more dogs for conservation purposes to proceed with extreme caution and, preferably, under the watchful eyes of an experienced professional.

Current intelligence community analytic standards encourage the use of structured analytic techniques; these are taught in training programs and supported by analytic tradecraft cells. Yet resources are scarce, timely personalized help is not available to all when it is most needed, and conditions for the improper selection and misapplication of these techniques prevail. The Structured Analytic Technique Advisor (SAnTA) is an electronic interactive job aid that recommends structured analytic techniques to analysts, based on the current state of their analysis and on the synthesized expertise of tradecraft staff. SAnTA is undergoing formative evaluation and iterative development. When released, SAnTA will provide individualized support to a large number of analysts every day.