# What Can a Dog Really Smell? – The Incredible World of… > Could a dog uncover a hidden problem on your property that the human eye can’t see? In Episode 10 of The Healthy House, we’re joined by Kat to explore the fascinating world of detection dogs and their role in finding Japanese knotweed, supporting property surveys and protecting… *Source: https://www.thehealthyhousepodcast.co.uk/episodes/what-can-a-dog-really-smell-the-incredible-world-of-detectio* [Open in Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Ww0LeQYbJNcIlYYj5GZJK)[Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV7AZA_Xk7U)[Listen in any app](https://pod.link/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8xMTUxNGZmNDQvcG9kY2FzdC9yc3M/episode/NTUxOWMzNmMtMTA3MS00YTUwLWFlNWEtYmU4NTVhMmQzNjQ3) ## The short version - Detection dogs can be trained to recognise the scent of Japanese knotweed and to locate its rhizomes underground, which makes them useful where a visual inspection cannot see the problem. - In a case in Wales discussed on the episode, detection dogs helped identify 44 confirmed locations of knotweed after visual inspections and exploratory digging had struggled to find it. - Japanese knotweed can remain a problem beneath the surface, so a clear-looking garden or site is not proof that the plant is not there. - Detection dogs work alongside surveyors rather than replacing them, and no survey of this kind should promise 100% accuracy. - Checking soil and machinery can help stop knotweed being spread from one place to another during construction projects. - Scent detection is not limited to knotweed: the episode also covers dogs searching for rare waxcap fungi, and the potential for dogs to find bedbugs, water leaks and hidden dry rot. - If you suspect knotweed, the guest's advice is to know whether it is in your area, to recognise the warning signs and to seek specialist advice before trying to tackle it yourself. ## What this episode covers Could a dog find a problem on your property that you cannot see? In episode ten of The Healthy House Podcast, a guest introduced only as Kat talks about the work of detection dogs: how they are trained to recognise a specific scent, how they find Japanese knotweed rhizomes underground, and how they work alongside surveyors to investigate problems that do not show on the surface. It is a long conversation, about an hour and a quarter. ## Finding what the eye cannot see Japanese knotweed is one of the problems that can make a property purchase stressful, partly because the part you can see is only some of it. The episode discusses why knotweed can remain a problem beneath the surface, and how dogs can be used where visual inspection and exploratory digging have not been enough. Kat shares a case in Wales where her dogs helped identify 44 confirmed locations of knotweed after visual inspections and digging had struggled to find it. The conversation also covers how detection dogs are trained, and how their abilities are tested. ## Property purchases, construction and spreading The episode looks at the role detection dogs can play in property purchases and construction projects, and how checking soil and machinery can help prevent knotweed being spread from one site to another. It is also honest about limits. The discussion covers the limitations of detection dogs and why no survey should promise 100% accuracy, which is a useful thing to hear before you rely on any single method. ## Beyond knotweed Scent detection reaches well beyond one plant. Kat and Aaron talk about using dogs to search for rare waxcap fungi and to help protect biodiversity, about detecting bedbugs and water leaks, and about the potential for dogs to help locate hidden dry rot in buildings. Along the way, Kat tells the story of her rescued Dutch shepherd, who went from being terrified in a pound to working on a conservation project. ## Kat’s Healthy House Checklist Kat’s checklist covers being aware of knotweed in your area, recognising potential warning signs, and seeking specialist advice before trying to tackle it yourself. ## Who should listen Homeowners and anyone buying a house will get a clearer idea of what knotweed detection involves and what it can and cannot promise. Surveyors and developers will find the discussion of working alongside dogs and of controlling spread on site useful. And if you simply like dogs, the rescue story is worth the time. ## Questions this episode answers ### Can a dog really find Japanese knotweed? Yes. Episode 10 explains that dogs can be trained to recognise the scent of knotweed and to locate its rhizomes underground. In a Wales case discussed on the show, the dogs helped identify 44 confirmed locations after visual inspections and exploratory digging had struggled to find it. ### Why is Japanese knotweed hard to spot when buying a house? Because much of the problem can sit beneath the surface, where you cannot see it. Episode 10 discusses how knotweed can remain an issue underground even when a visual inspection finds little, which is why detection dogs are used alongside surveyors. ### Are knotweed detection dogs 100% accurate? No, and the episode is clear on this. It covers the limitations of detection dogs and says no survey should promise 100% accuracy. They are a tool that works with surveyors, not a guarantee. ### Should I try to get rid of Japanese knotweed myself? The guest's advice in Episode 10 is to seek specialist advice before trying to tackle it yourself. Her Healthy House Checklist also suggests knowing whether knotweed is present in your area and learning to recognise the potential warning signs. ### How can knotweed be stopped from spreading during building work? Episode 10 discusses checking soil and machinery as a way to help prevent knotweed spreading. Material that carries knotweed from one place to another is how a problem on one site can become a problem on another. ### Can dogs detect other problems in a home, like dry rot or leaks? The episode explores the wider possibilities of scent detection, including bedbugs, water leaks and dry rot. It describes the potential for dogs to help locate hidden dry rot in buildings, rather than presenting it as a routine service. ## Go deeper [Buying a Home](https://www.thehealthyhousepodcast.co.uk/topics/buying-a-home)[Damp and Mould](https://www.thehealthyhousepodcast.co.uk/topics/damp-and-mould) ## Share this episode [Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthyhousepodcast.co.uk%2Fepisodes%2Fwhat-can-a-dog-really-smell-the-incredible-world-of-detectio)[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=What%20Can%20a%20Dog%20Really%20Smell%3F%20%E2%80%93%20The%20Incredible%20World%20of%20Detection%20Dogs%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Healthy%20House%20Podcast%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthyhousepodcast.co.uk%2Fepisodes%2Fwhat-can-a-dog-really-smell-the-incredible-world-of-detectio)[Email a link](mailto:?subject=What%20Can%20a%20Dog%20Really%20Smell%3F%20%E2%80%93%20The%20Incredible%20World%20of%20Detection%20Dogs%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Healthy%20House%20Podcast&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthyhousepodcast.co.uk%2Fepisodes%2Fwhat-can-a-dog-really-smell-the-incredible-world-of-detectio) ### Follow the show - - - - - -