It’s natural to worry about the safety of mold detection dogs, especially when you consider the risks that mold can pose to people. Fortunately, mold dogs are not exposed to the same level of risk as humans for a few key reasons. First, these dogs are trained to detect MVOCs in the air—gaseous compounds released by living mold—not the mold itself. That means they don’t need to dig, sniff closely, or remain in mold-contaminated areas for long periods.

Handlers are trained to minimize the dog’s exposure by limiting the time spent in potentially hazardous environments. A mold dog doesn’t need to breathe in large quantities of air to detect MVOCs—they can pick up the scent with just a quick pass through a room. Handlers also monitor their dogs closely for signs of fatigue, overexertion, or stress and will remove them from a space if any concern arises.

Additionally, dogs generally have stronger and more resilient immune systems when it comes to airborne contaminants. Working dogs in other fields—such as disaster response, law enforcement, and agriculture—regularly operate in rugged or high-risk environments with minimal harm. Mold detection dogs are no different: they are chosen for their physical durability, stamina, and ability to work safely in a range of settings.