Can dogs detect COVID-19? The latest on detection dogs in 2025
COVID-19 remains a global concern, prompting innovative methods for early detection. One such promising approach is the use of dogs capable of detecting COVID-19 through their extraordinary sense of smell. With studies from UK organisations like Medical Detection Dogs showing rapid and accurate identification, could dogs become part of our screening arsenal?
How do dogs detect illness?
Dogs have a highly advanced olfactory system, possessing hundreds of millions of scent receptors—vastly outnumbering the human 5–6 million. This biological advantage allows them to detect minute concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by changes in the body caused by illnesses and infections such as COVID-19. These chemical biomarkers produce unique odours that dogs can distinguish.
Cockapoo puppies and other dogs trained as bio-sensors use this skill to identify a range of conditions, including cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, and now COVID-19.
Is the ability to detect diseases innate or trained?
While dogs naturally have a superb sense of smell and can differentiate many scents, identifying a specific illness like COVID-19 requires targeted training. Trainers introduce them to samples — such as sweat or clothing from infected individuals — reinforcing correct identification with rewards. This builds the meaningful connection between the scent and the detection alert they give their handler.
Training dogs to detect COVID-19: Best practices
Sample collection and handling: Trainers collect sweat or respiratory samples from confirmed COVID-19 positive and negative individuals, ensuring safe and contamination-free storage and transport.
Initial familiarisation: Dogs are exposed to both positive and negative samples, learning to pause for several seconds on a positive scent, followed by reward-based reinforcement.
Training intensity: Sessions often involve multiple sample sniffs, with dogs screening approximately 50 samples in 3 minutes. Training is rigorous and spans several weeks in controlled environments before field tests.
Blind testing: Double-blind trials ensure dogs and handlers don't know sample status, validating scent-based identification accuracy with sensitivity and specificity regularly surpassing 90%.
Field deployment preparation: Dogs and handlers are gradually introduced to real-life settings where environmental distractions may occur, maintaining ethical care and welfare standards.
Handlers receive comprehensive training on dog commands, behaviour, and reward methods, ensuring consistent and reliable detection outcomes.
Scientific evidence from UK studies
UK research collaborations involving Medical Detection Dogs and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine report that trained dogs can detect COVID-19 with up to 94.3% sensitivity and 92% specificity, comparable or better than many conventional tests. Dogs rapidly identify positive samples, often within 5 to 10 seconds, and can detect multiple COVID-19 variants without retraining. Remarkably, dogs may identify infected individuals even before symptoms arise or conventional tests turn positive, potentially aiding early isolation and reducing spread.
Why use COVID-19 detection dogs?
- Rapid screening: Dogs can screen large numbers of people quickly in airports, train stations, and public events.
- Non-invasive: Dogs sniff samples or screen people without contact, lowering infection risk and improving acceptance.
- Resource optimisation: Dogs flag suspected cases for formal testing, helping prioritise lab resources and speed diagnosis.
- Future adaptability: The skills developed for COVID-19 detection can be adapted to other diseases, enhancing public health preparedness.
Limitations and challenges
Despite high accuracy in controlled settings, environmental distractions during live screening may reduce performance. Odour persistence varies, lasting longer in adults than children, which could affect younger population screening. Widespread deployment requires extensive handler training, regulatory approval, and public education to ensure reliability, safety, and ethical treatment of dogs.
Comparison with standard COVID-19 tests
| Test Method | Sensitivity | Specificity | Turnaround | Sample Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCR | ∼97.2% | ∼99%+ | Hours to days | Nasopharyngeal swab |
| Lateral Flow | 58-77% | ∼99%+ | 15-30 minutes | Nasal or throat swab |
| Detection Dogs | 94-96% | 92-96% | 5-10 seconds | Sweat or clothing |
Summary
Dogs possess an extraordinary natural ability to detect diseases via smell. Through dedicated training and scientific study, they have proven effective at detecting COVID-19 infections rapidly and non-invasively. Their use could transform mass screening in busy public spaces with minimal discomfort and improved speed. Ongoing UK research aims to resolve challenges and make COVID-19 detection dogs a practical tool for public health.
For those considering finding a Cockapoo puppy or any dog as a potential medical detection partner, it is vital to ensure responsible ownership and secure from reputable breeders who prioritise health and temperament.
