Resources

The Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State has provided a comprehensive website for rural disaster preparedness.
http://www.prep4agthreats.org

What inspired the formation of the Working Dog Center (WDC)?

The WDC was originally founded in 2007 to address the research and education needs of the working dog community. The inspiration came from the experiences of founder and Director, Dr. Cindy Otto, working with FEMA Urban Search and Rescue (SAR) dogs, specifically those on Pennsylvania Task Force One. Caring for and monitoring SAR dogs through training and deployments (including hurricane Floyd and 9/11), Dr. Otto saw the importance of these dogs and the need for more knowledge to ensure their optimal health and performance. The vision expanded to include other working dogs including those in the military and police. Recognizing the national shortage of high quality detection dogs and the reliance on foreign suppliers, the WDC opened its Puppy Foundation Training Program (PFTP) on September 11, 2012 as a legacy to those dogs who served at the 9/11 disaster sites.

What breeds of dogs do you select for the WDC Puppy Foundation Training Program (PFTP)?

We select dogs not based on the breed but based on the health and performance history of their pedigree. We do have a majority of Labradors because there are many excellent kennels in the United States that are producing high drive dogs with certified healthy parents.

Why does the WDC not use shelter dogs?

We recognize that there are many dogs that need homes and some of those dogs need jobs. We also recognize that the type of work we are asking our dogs to do is highly specialized and the combination of top performance and health both have strong genetic influences. We are pleased to know and work with programs that screen dogs from shelters for various working roles, we also know how hard they have to look and how few dogs actually succeed in programs (current estimates suggest 1000 shelter dogs are screened for every one that is successful). There is a large demand for working dogs and not enough dogs available for all of the jobs. Currently the majority of working dogs in this country are imported from breeding programs in Europe. We believe that we can identify and select for better and healthier dogs with a breeding program in this country, similar to what is done with many of the service dog organizations. We also hope that the research we are doing in the genetics and training aspects will help other organizations be more successful in identifying those shelter dogs that will excel in working roles.

What are you training the WDC dogs to find?

Our program is a foundation program, which means we are teaching the dogs the basic skills necessary for a successful career in detection. We like to think of it as a liberal arts degree that will prepare them to go on to the advanced training that best suits their physical and behavioral strengths. Our dogs currently search for their favorite toy or for a concealed person (any hidden person). When they graduate from our program they will learn to apply their search skills to their specified target odor (i.e., explosives, drugs, cancer).

How do your dogs search?

To ensure they will succeed in any detection program, our dogs learn to confidently search independently (off leash) as well as on leash. They use “air scenting” to identify the slightest trace of odor and follow it to the source.

How does the dog alert you when they find the source of the odor?

We typically start by teaching an active alert (e.g., scratch or bark) and may progress to a passive alert (sit or down). The final alert will be determined by what odor the dog is trained to detect. We also take advantage of a dog’s natural tendency to respond, so if a dog spontaneously offers a passive alert (sit) when they identify an odor, we will develop and reward that response.

When does training start?

Puppies start training from the day they join the program at 8 weeks. They spend at least 8 hours a day Monday through Friday in the WDC to learn the basics of search, agility, fitness, impulse control, obedience and drive.

How is your program supported?

Our program is entirely funded by private donations and grants.

What makes the WDC program unique?

Our program is the only detection dog training program that combines the rigors of intensive daily training (conducted at the WDC) with the socialization benefits of family living (dogs stay with their foster families in the evenings and on weekends).

Our dogs are placed in a detection field that best utilize their physical and behavioral traits and meet the national demand.

Our robust Volunteer Corps regularly interact with the dogs, providing invaluable socialization for the dogs and meaningful engagement for the volunteers.

As part of Penn Vet and the University of Pennsylvania, the WDC is bolstered by the world class talents of Penn clinicians, scientists and students.

Research and data collection are embedded in every phase of the training program, ensuring that the profession and all dogs will benefit from our work.

One of the first days back on campus for my senior year at Penn, I saw two women walking the most adorable little puppies. Being a dog lover, I obviously had to stop by to say hello. Pat and Sarah introduced me to PApa Bear and Bretagne, two extremely sweet and friendly little dogs. They were handing out baseball cards with descriptions of their dogs and the program they were starting up just over the bridge: Penn Vet Working Dog Center. They told me to come by and see if I wanted to volunteer. Busy with my full schedule, job search and other leadership positions on campus, I knew I would have a lot on my plate but these dogs had already taken my heart.

Walking over the bridge onto Gray’s Ferry, I did not know what to expect. I had never really ventured this way in my four years here. But, I walked in the door and knew that this is where I wanted to spend as much of my time as possible this year. The puppies were so small, so cute and so excited to see me even though we had never met. I was thrown right into volunteer work: taking the dogs on walks, learning the proper commands, working with the veterinary students, giving baths – anything you could think of in a dog training facility, I did right off the bat. The more in-depth search and rescue training came along as the puppies grew. I would hide, waiting for the pup to rescue me from a closet or a cabinet. It has been incredible to watch their progress in searches, agility, obedience and more. While working here a few times a week, I started to build stronger relationships with these future working dogs.

It’s been just about eight months now. The class has grown from seven to twelve active trainees. With only two short weeks left, I can’t even imagine what my life is going to be like when I go home. I won’t be able to take a break from school work and be showered with love from twelve talented and delightful puppies. I won’t be able to watch how quickly Socks retrieves her hide or how Jake is improving on the agility course. I will miss even more the way Morgan lays down when I walk in for a belly rub. And I will miss the amazing people I have met here, the committed trainers who are working on such a noble and exciting project. It has been an unbelievable experience here. Penn Vet Working Dog Center – thank you for a great way to end my four years at Penn. I look forward to coming back and hearing all the remarkable things the graduated puppies have accomplished. I am happy to know that I had a hand in their development and eventual success. Every day has been different and unexpected but I always leave with a smile on my face.

This site is sponsored by the Veterinary Cancer Society (VCS) and was originally created by the Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group (VCOG).  VCOG promotes collaborative investigations through the establishment of common goals and endpoints for the purpose of benefiting both animals and people affected by cancer.

This site was designed for use by everyone who participates in the treatment of pet animals with cancer, including pet owners, general practice veterinarians, and oncologists and other specialty veterinarians. Information is provided to inform both private practice and academic veterinarians, and to promote accrual for the timely completion of clinical trials while providing state-of-the-art treatment options for pets with cancer.

Visit the site to find cancer trails http://www.vetcancertrials.org/

Part of being prepared to care for your canine in a medical emergency is having access to a useful tool able to provide vital sign references and canine specific drug doses. Each of the cards provided below are designed to be completed, printed, and stored in an easily accessible place (your first aid kit).

INDIVIDUAL – For the individual handler or medical personel who wants information for a specific canine.

GENERIC- For the medical personel who wants information for general canine care and needs access to a variety of ranges.

Visit News & Events and our Facebook page to find Working Canine First Aid Class opportunities.

*A special thanks to Craig Veldheer for initiating the creation of these tools

February is National Pet Dental Health Month. To celebrate, we are kicking off our annual Pearly Whites Contest!

Step 1: Post your photo on our Facebook page of your pooches greatest grin.
Step 2: Get your friends and family to come to our page and like your photo.
Step 3: The photo with the most likes at the end of February wins 6 months supply of Frontline!

Here at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center we take all aspects of our puppies’ health seriously, including their teeth. Poor dental health makes it hard to properly chew up food, can lead to infection, and can make it unpleasant for them to tug with their toy. Why is tugging on their toy so important to us? Continue Reading »

Part of being prepared to care for your canine in a medical emergency is having access to a useful tool able to provide vital sign references and canine specific drug doses. Each of the cards provided below are designed to be completed, printed, and stored in an easily accessible place (your first aid kit).

INDIVIDUAL – For the individual handler or medical personel who wants information for a specific canine.

GENERIC- For the medical personel who wants information for general canine care and needs access to a variety of ranges.

Visit News & Events and our Facebook page to find Working Canine First Aid Class opportunities.
 

 
 
 
*A special thanks to Craig Veldheer for initiating the creation of these tools

The K9 After Action Report from Hurricane Sandy was recently released. This report focuses on addressing the quantity and quality of veterinary care and K9 specific hazard awareness and mitigation provided pre-, during-, and post-deployment.

This report includes responses from 30 of the 41 deploying handlers. 87% of these handlers had deployment experience and had an average tenure of 9 years.

Author: Dr. Lori Gordon is a member of the USAR Veterinary Group, a group of veterinarians who train with FEMA USAR task forces across the country and focus on the “care, safety, and treatment of Urban Search and Rescue canines during their drills, certification tests, and deployments.”  Dr. Gordon is also a member of MATF-1.

Download FULL REPORT

**NOTE: Photos may not be reproduced without express permission.

The announcement of the closing of TSA’s Canine Breeding and Development Center has caused those in the detection dog community great concern. Help us voice this by writing to your local Senator and/or Representative and convey your disapproval of the closing of TSA’s Puppy Program. To find out who your local representatives are, click HERE and enter your zip code.

COPY & PASTE:

Dear Senator (or Representative) [Name],

I am writing to request your consideration in directing the Transportation Security Administration to defer its plan to close its Canine Breeding and Development Center at Lackland Air Force Base, if not indefinitely, at least until a full study of the issues can be made and shared with the American public. Continue Reading »

Trupanion pet insurance joined to support us at the 2011 Working Dog Conference at our Grand Opening on September 11, 2012.

They offer 3 key reasons to explore them as your pet insurance provider:

One Simple Plan – Pet health insurance can get pretty complicated when you have to sort through several plans and levels. At Trupanion, we want to make pet insurance simple and easy to understand. Our comprehensive policy covers surgeries, diagnostic tests, medications, treatments and hospital stays if your pet gets sick or injured. We also reimburse from your actual veterinary bill so you don’t have to worry about a predetermined benefit schedule.

90% Coverage – Trupanion covers 90% of actual veterinary costs for approved accident and illness claims, less the exam fee, taxes, and optional deductible. Full 90% coverage is available at any veterinary clinic, emergency care center or specialty hospital.

No Payout Limit – With Trupanion, your pet receives unlimited lifetime healthcare coverage. Trupanion does not impose any per incident limits, annual limits, or lifetime limits on the amount of care your pet can receive.

Learn more at http://trupanion.com/pet-insurance

The C-BARQ was developed by researchers at the Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society of the University of Pennsylvania, and is currently the only behavioral assessment instrument of its kind to be extensively tested for reliability and validity on large samples of dogs of many breeds. The current version consists of 101 questions describing the different ways in which dogs typically respond to common events, situations, and stimuli in their environment. The C-BARQ is simple to use, and can be completed by anyone who is reasonably familiar with a dog’s typical, day-to-day behavior. On average, it takes from 10-15 minutes to complete.

The C-BARQ is available to veterinarians, behavioral consultants, researchers, shelters, breeders, and working dog organizations with an interest in screening dogs for the presence and severity of behavioral problems. For a limited period, it is also open to pet-owners interested in comparing their dogs to others in the C-BARQ database.

www.cbarq.org

Interested in volunteering at the Working Dog Center?

PennCycle offers students a great transportation option in Philly. Visit their site for more info or to sign up http://app.penncycle.org/

Dr. Otto has put together an article providing the advantages and disadvantages of cooling techniques to help handlers best prevent heat stress in their working dogs.

Download Article

At the Working Dog Center we continue to strive to educate handlers on the benefits of a strengthening and stretching program. These exercises will improve your canine partner’s fitness level, proprioception (hind end awareness), and decrease their potential for injury.

Below are videos of the basic level exercises you should begin working on with your canine partner.

INTRODUCTION

Continue Reading »