Ethnographic explorations of games and bricolage in detection dog teams’ training

Authors

  • Jirka Vierimaa Tampere University

Keywords:

bricolage, detection dogs, co-becoming, professional development

Abstract

In this article, I examine how dyadic communication between the service dog and the human unfolds through play and games. The prevalent view of nonhuman animals’ entanglement in work frames them as mere resources or tools to serve the anthropocentric purpose of their use, rendering them as mere representatives of their species without acknowledging their distinct personalities. In my attempt to challenge this, the article describes the reciprocity and co-becoming of canine teams by tracing how state authorities’ professional development intertwines with and depends on the cultivation of dogs’ sensory abilities and an emphasis on communication with them. My analysis draws on participant observation of canine teams at the beginning of their training, supplemented by the course curriculum and the materials on which their teaching relies. Bridging curricular knowledge with the pursuit of excellence combines the behavioristic and animal rights perspectives in detection dog training for use by Eurozone state authorities. All in all, the article provides novel insights into how human-dog working dyads play games in their efforts to become the state of the art of professional canine teams in safety-producing work.

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Published

2026-05-05

Issue

Section

Articles (peer-reviewed)

How to Cite

Vierimaa, J. (2026). Ethnographic explorations of games and bricolage in detection dog teams’ training. TRACE ∴ Journal for Human-Animal Studies, 13, 28-50. https://trace.journal.fi/article/view/160839