Dogs In Vineyards
BARKINGUP the right vine M ost vineyards have a resident dog or two. And they have work to do. From security to disease detection, canine roles are transforming beyond companionship. Having dogs on farms is not a new concept. They assist with many roles. Long before
security alarms, canines sounded the alarm of a non-invited guest seeking to steal expensive equipment or do harm to precious berries. In a province with a long-standing farming history, Manitoba farmers understand the tradition of protecting the farm with our canine counterparts. From monitoring dangerous wildlife to undertaking uninvited pest patrol, dogs do an excellent job of naturally mitigating threats to the farmers and the farm itself. This form of control is considered by many vineyards as indispensable. Vineyards — even many of Bordeaux’s finest with lovely chateaux — are farms. If you have gone on a wine tour, you’ve experienced the farm and dog relationship first- hand — dogs are typically your first greeters. Their role, however, is evolving. For over a decade, reports have revealed that dogs have been trained to find diseases or infestations in vines. The fruit farming industry is now relying on trained dogs to use their strong scent-detection abilities to discover diseases that, to the naked human eye, are undetectable.
38 SAVOUR MANITOBA | FALL 24
Powered by FlippingBook