Bug-sniffing dogs to work in California vineyards

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Mar 3rd 2006 at 6:01PM

I've heard of bomb-sniffing and drug-sniffing dogs before but now Decanter reports that bug-sniffing dogs are being used by California winemakers. Golden retrievers are being trained to sniff out the vine mealybug which causes massive grape vine destruction. Vinters have raised $33,000 to train puppies at the Assistance Dog Institute. The dogs will bark where they detect the mealybug sex pheromone.

Tags: california, grapes, helper dogs, vinters, wine, winemakers