For most labradors, a sharp nose leads to snacks. For Uisge, it leads to invasive marine pests.

Uisge, pronounced “oosh-ka” and named after the Gaelic word for water, is a detection dog in Scotland trained to sniff out Didemnum vexillum, a species of sea squirt also known as “sea vomit”.

According to Fauna & Flora, the species is native to Japan but has colonised coastlines across the United Kingdom, often transported on the hulls of ships. It forms large patches, can spread rapidly, and is able to clone itself and blanket entire areas of coastline.

The species harms vulnerable native animals such as mussels and oysters. Fauna & Flora says it also affects the local fishing industry.

Uisge works with handler Dr Texa Sim, a marine biologist who worked with the Community Association of Lochs and Sounds on Scotland’s Morvern peninsula. Sim has worked to restore native European oyster populations and regenerate local marine habitats.

Sim started Conservation Detection Dogs Scotland, where she works with Uisge and another dog, Sgiath, to support coastal restoration work.

“She has extensive experience in training and handling dogs to undertake detection work in high-pressure and time-critical situations,” Conservation Detection Dogs Scotland says on its website.

“Holding a Doctorate in Marine Ecology, Texa brings the scientific process to dog training and handling, ensuring a thorough approach and requiring high standards from both herself and her dogs.”

Sim converted her home garage into a training space, installing a wall of scent bricks for the dogs to practise with. She hides samples of target invasive species inside the bricks, and the dogs are rewarded when they find the right smell.

“With their incredible noses, dogs are able to pinpoint targets much more effectively than humans, making them powerful allies in efforts to support species and conserve ecosystems,” Sim wrote on an Instagram page for the dogs.

“We have some exciting projects in the works, with some novel target species that are pushing the boundaries of dogs’ scenting abilities,” she continued.

“We are developing the world’s first American slipper limpet and carpet sea-squirt detection dogs, showing that dogs can be vital even in the marine environment.”

Alongside sea vomit, Uisge is also training to detect slipper limpet, another invasive marine species. She is also learning to detect dead bats that may be killed in collisions with wind farms.

“This dog… full labrador but with the brain of a spaniel and the drive of a Malinois,” Sim wrote in a LinkedIn post.

“She is the best of both worlds; sweet-natured but with enough drive for three dogs, which makes her excellent to both work and live with.”

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