Four-legged experts at Sweco: Meet Anton and Fibi

At Sweco, species protection is not only carried out by experienced environmental specialists. We also have two particularly keen-nosed colleagues on the team: the detection dogs Anton and Fibi. Together with their handlers, they help locate protected animal species in areas where new infrastructure is planned – work that would otherwise be time-consuming or even impossible for humans alone.

Anton was the first to join Sweco and has already supported several projects. Soon, he will be joined by Fibi, who will become Sweco’s second certified species detection dog. While both dogs share the same mission, their paths into species protection and their working styles are uniquely their own.

Anton – a pioneer in species detection at Sweco

Alongside many two-legged species protection assessors, a certified species detection dog has been working for Sweco for some time. Anton, an Italian water dog (Lagotto Romagnolo), accompanies Sweco’s animal ecologist and environmental consultant Patrick Leopold on assignments across Germany. As a team, they help identify protected species such as lizards, smooth snakes and breeding trees of the stag beetle, making surveys faster and more reliable.

When Anton makes a find, he is rewarded with praise, affection and often a treat. He learned to indicate protected species through a specialised training programme, and in April the Anton–Patrick team successfully completed its annual certification for the second time.

“The motto of our trainer team is: I smell something you don’t see,”

– Patrick Leopold explained.

This captures the essence of Anton’s work. Detection dogs can locate rare or hidden species far more efficiently than humans, especially in complex environments.

Anton’s path into species detection began when Patrick’s family decided to get a dog that was both practical and active. The Lagotto Romagnolo, traditionally used as a truffle dog, turned out to be a perfect match. After several years of training and certification, Anton is now a valued part of Sweco’s species protection work.

Detection dogs help Sweco identify protected species faster in infrastructure projects

Since 2023, Anton has supported Sweco on multiple assignments, including residential developments and railway projects. He has also helped assess so-called CEF sites, where he located sand lizard clutches that would have taken a long time to find without canine assistance.

“Working with a detection dog is a team effort, and the training never really ends,”

Patrick said.

Outside of work, Anton still enjoys truffle hunting – and, according to Patrick, his favourite moment remains his first Christmas with a real tree brought indoors just for him.

Fibi – a new colleague in training

Soon, Anton will be joined by Fibi, a female mixed-breed detection dog, who will become Sweco’s second certified species detection dog.

Fibi is handled by Eila Brunke, a landscape ecologist at Sweco in Germany. Inspired by following Anton and Patrick (who she reports to at Sweco) on assignments, Eila decided to train her own dog. After structured training combining practical scent work and theoretical education, Fibi is expected to be certified in March.

“When we have two dogs, we’ll be able to work on many more projects than before,” Elia said in an interview with Dagens Industri.

Fibi is expected to support infrastructure projects by locating protected reptiles and, in the future, habitats of species such as bats and hazel dormice. With her arrival, Sweco’s species protection team will gain another highly skilled – and four-legged – colleague.

*The information about Fibi is based on an article originally published in Swedish financial newspaper Dagens Industri on Jan. 20, 2026.