Meet The Team
Lindsey – Director and Primary Handler
My lifelong connection with dogs and the outdoors has been integral to my journey, starting from my childhood in the Highlands of Scotland to my current role as an operational conservation dog handler on a large invasive species eradication. I am Lantra certified in both area searching and tracking dogs in the field of ecology.
Growing up in the Cairngorm National Park meant every part of my childhood was spent hillwalking, camping, and volunteering at my local nature reserves. This naturally led me towards a degree in Biology and Psychology, covering my love of the outdoors, wildlife, and animal behavior. Pursuing a career in ecology has provided opportunities to work with some amazing species, including standout experiences, such as studying the mountain ringlet butterfly high up in the mountains, lapwing nest and chick survival, and working in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa, to research meerkats.
Throughout this time, I owned many rescue dogs and spent time volunteering at my local rescue center. My love of dogs led me to pursue a position as a dog handler in conservation. I have spent the past 3 years as a primary dog handler, working and developing search methodology while employed on a large stoat eradication in the north of Scotland. I handled dogs searching over large areas of ground, scenting for scat, and also a tracking dog, who would track the path of the stoat. This unique background has enabled me to train my own dogs, selecting breeds with specific skill sets to align with the various survey methodologies required for different species and terrains.
I am also pleased to serve on the board of the Ecology Detection Dogs Britain and Ireland Working Group, advocating for the use of dogs in conservation. Committed to continuous improvement, I regularly engage in networking and training with conservation dog handlers across the UK and participate in ongoing CPD training.
Growing up in the Cairngorm National Park meant every part of my childhood was spent hillwalking, camping, and volunteering at my local nature reserves. This naturally led me towards a degree in Biology and Psychology, covering my love of the outdoors, wildlife, and animal behavior. Pursuing a career in ecology has provided opportunities to work with some amazing species, including standout experiences, such as studying the mountain ringlet butterfly high up in the mountains, lapwing nest and chick survival, and working in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa, to research meerkats.
Throughout this time, I owned many rescue dogs and spent time volunteering at my local rescue center. My love of dogs led me to pursue a position as a dog handler in conservation. I have spent the past 3 years as a primary dog handler, working and developing search methodology while employed on a large stoat eradication in the north of Scotland. I handled dogs searching over large areas of ground, scenting for scat, and also a tracking dog, who would track the path of the stoat. This unique background has enabled me to train my own dogs, selecting breeds with specific skill sets to align with the various survey methodologies required for different species and terrains.
I am also pleased to serve on the board of the Ecology Detection Dogs Britain and Ireland Working Group, advocating for the use of dogs in conservation. Committed to continuous improvement, I regularly engage in networking and training with conservation dog handlers across the UK and participate in ongoing CPD training.
Molly – Springer Spaniel
Molly exhibits a meticulous and thoughtful search style, making her a joy to train. She effortlessly covers ground and navigates rough terrain with ease. Molly has been imprinted on bat and bird carcasses and is open to further imprinting on additional odours. Upon successfully locating her target, Molly’s preferred reward is indulging in belly rubs while maintaining possession of her cherished ball. Her proficiency, adaptability, and response to rewards make Molly a standout performer in training and a valuable asset to any operational or search scenario.
Kizz – Cocker Spaniel
Kizz is a whirlwind of energy, confidence, and determination who has excelled all the way through her training. She is now following in Molly’s footsteps as an operational conservation search dog, imprinted on bird and bat carcasses. Kizz is incredibly fast to pick up new scents and has the capacity to be imprinted on other scents in the future. Her favourite reward after finding her target is to run in circles with her ball before eventually asking for some play.
Duke – Hungarian Vizsla
Duke is a very typical Vizsla: intelligent, driven, and with a mischievous demeanor that prevails when he’s not engrossed in training. He presents a unique training experience, with a very different personality from that of the spaniels, often taking time to assess and contemplate his role diligently. This individualistic approach contributes to Duke’s distinct style and strengths.
Duke’s remarkable agility, attributed to his long legs, renders rough terrain inconsequential, allowing him to navigate and cover ground swiftly and effectively. Notably, Duke exhibits a natural aptitude for tracking, a skill set that I intend to further cultivate in his training journey.
His favorite reward is engaging in play with a preferred toy, emphasizing the importance of tailoring rewards to individual preferences. Because of his varied strengths, Duke adds an important dimension to the Skerry Conservation dog’s team.
Duke’s remarkable agility, attributed to his long legs, renders rough terrain inconsequential, allowing him to navigate and cover ground swiftly and effectively. Notably, Duke exhibits a natural aptitude for tracking, a skill set that I intend to further cultivate in his training journey.
His favorite reward is engaging in play with a preferred toy, emphasizing the importance of tailoring rewards to individual preferences. Because of his varied strengths, Duke adds an important dimension to the Skerry Conservation dog’s team.