Dog Avian Aversion Training 30th May 2010

Sunday saw another successful Avian Aversion Training on Hinemoa Street in Whakatane. Louiese had dogs booked in all day which will greatly help with keeping our kiwi alive.

All dogs love the smell of kiwi and because kiwi can't fly, dogs find them easy to attack and kill.

Dogs need to be trained to leave kiwi alone. This is called avian aversion and awareness training. It is for hunting dogs and any other dogs that work or live around kiwi habitat.

The dogs are trained by getting an electric shock every time they go near kiwi feathers and poos. After some time the dog has learnt that kiwi give you a nasty shock, so they learn to stay away from them. Training takes ten minutes and costs $10 per dog.

Ohope, Kohi Point and Mokorua Scenic Reserves are all no dog zones under Whakatane District Council bylaws. People found to have dogs in one of these reserves will face prosecution and a $300 fine per dog.