INFLUENCE OF BRAZILIAN BIOMES ON WORKING DOG OPERATIONS (K9): MICROCLIMATIC, PHYSIOLOGICAL, AND TACTICAL CHALLENGES

Abstract

The use of working dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) in search and rescue, detection, and patrol operations in Brazil faces unique challenges due to the country's ecological and climatic diversity. Each of Brazil's six biomes (Amazon, Caatinga, Cerrado, Atlantic Forest, Pantanal, and Pampa) has specific environmental factors — like temperature, humidity, terrain, vegetation, and wildlife — that directly affect the dog's thermoregulation, sense of smell, and physical endurance. This article looks at how operational dogs handle the olfactory and physiological demands of each biome and suggests tactical mitigation protocols based on solid theoretical background.