Scent detection dog (canis lupus familiaris) Scooby offers a paw to Field technician Jennifer Hartman during a break in work in northeast Washington. The team is part of University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology’s Conservation Canines program.

Detection
Dogs

What do you get when you combine toy-obsessed, high-energy dogs stuck in shelters with tenacious, patient handlers who train dogs in scent detection?

Super-star rescue dogs who help biologists study and protect endangered species and habitats!

A detection dog and his or her handler work together to locate data to aid wildlife biologists. The dogs are trained in scent detection for over three dozen species, from orca whale scat to endangered spotted owl pellets.

From caribou in Canada to dholes in Cambodia, the dogs have proven themselves to be an invaluable asset to biology projects around the world.

A detection dog program accomplishes several admirable goals simultaneously. It rescues difficult-to-home shelter dogs, provides them with an outlet for their energy and drive to work, and helps biologists study and protect wildlife species and habitats at risk.

For four years I volunteered with dog detection programs, including Conservation Canines, a program of University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology, and Rogue Detection Teams, a company based in Washington. These programs adopt dogs who have little to no chance of finding a forever home with a family. The dogs have endless energy and one-track minds. These traits make them impossible as pets, but ideal for working as scat detection dogs.

Scent detection dog (canis lupus familiaris) Scooby with University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology’s Conservation Canines program searches for moose scat in New York’s Adirondack mountains. The scat is collected by his handler for a study on the species.

It's not common that Conservation Canine dogs hang out in free time together - especially not in an organized fashion like this! - but instead socialization with one another depends on personalities and balanced interactions.

Scent detection dog (canis lupus familiaris) Pips and handler Heath Smith relax in a hammock during a day off in Dinkey Creek, California. The team has been surveying for Pacific fisher, which is under consideration as an endangered species.

Hiccup, a rescued cattle dog, howls with a handler at Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology, Washington

Field technicians Caleb Staneck and Heath Smith travel through a meadow in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains with scent detection dog (canis lupus familiaris) Pips. The teams survey for Pacific fisher, which is under consideration as an endangered species. The team is part of University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology’s Conservation Canines program.

Field technician Rachel Katz recording a sample found by scent detection dog Chester, and also throwing his reward ball for him - Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology, Washington

Domestic dog (Canis familiaris) adult, looks over a container as if detecting a scat sample. Dio, a cattle dog mix, is a working dog for Conservation Canines, a program of University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology.

Field technician Julianne Ubigau teaches a classroom of second grade students about the work of Conservation Canines, a program with University of Washington’s Center for Conservation Biology.

Field technician Heath Smith and scent detection dog (canis lupus familiaris) Pips travel through the granite hills of California’s western Sierra Nevada mountains. The team is looking for several species, but primarily Pacific fisher scat. The team is part of University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology’s Conservation Canines program.

Hiccup, a rescued dog, runs through the forest with his reward ball. He is employed as a scent detection dog at Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology, Washington

Field technician Rachel Katz recording a sample found by scent detection dog Chester, Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology, Washington

Domestic dog (Canis familiaris) adult on beach. Hooper, a labrador mix, is a working dog for Conservation Canines, a program of University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology.

Field technician Caleb Staneck and scent detection dog (canis lupus familiaris) Winne take a rest during field work in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. surveying for Pacific fisher, which is under consideration as an endangered species. The team is part of University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology’s Conservation Canines program.

Field technicians Caleb Staneck and Heath Smith rest near a meadow in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains with scent detection dogs (canis lupus familiaris) Winnie and Pips. The teams survey for Pacific fisher, which is under consideration as an endangered species. The team is part of University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology’s Conservation Canines program.

Dio, a rescued cattle dog, trains on scent detection at Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology, Washington

Domestic dog (Canis familiaris) adult with handler Suzie Marlow working at a scent detection training exercise. Skye, a mixed breed dog, is a working dog for Conservation Canines, a program of University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology.

Hooper, rescued scent detection dog with Conservation Canines, shows off the crazy ball drive that is a requirement for any animal adopted by the program, part of University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology

Jack and Allie, rescued scent detection dog with Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology

Scent detection dogs (canis lupus familiaris) and handlers often have to go through difficult terrain, and sometimes that means the dog needs to be carried by the handler, as Suzie Marlow demonstrates.

Field technician Colette Yee collecting scat found by scent detection dog Jack, Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology, Washington

Filson, rescued scent detection dog with Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology

Field technician Colette Yee playing with scent detection dog Jack, Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology, Washington

Field technician Jennifer Hartman and scent detection dog (canis lupus familiaris) Max enjoy a moment of friendship in upstate New York between days surveying for moose. The bond that handlers create with the dogs they work with can be powerful, and Max will more than likely retire as Jennifer's personal dog.

Hooper, rescued scent detection dog with Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology

Field technician Heath Smith collects a cougar scat found by scent detection dog (canis lupus familiaris) Pips in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. The team is part of University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology’s Conservation Canines program.

Hiccup, rescued scent detection dog with Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology

Athena, rescued scent detection dog with Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology

Scent detection dog (canis lupus familiaris) Ranger with University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology’s Conservation Canines program searches for moose scat in New York’s Adirondack mountains. The scat is collected by his handler, Justin Broderick, for a study on the species.

Field technician Rachel Katz with scent detection dog Chester, Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology, Washington

Field technician Caleb Staneck collects the scat of a mustalid species - likely Pacific fisher - while scent detection dog (canis lupus familiaris) Winne plays with a ball as a reward for finding the scat. The team is part of University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology’s Conservation Canines program.

Field technician Colette Yee recording a sample found by scent detection dog Jack, Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology, Washington

Field technician Rachel Katz follows scent detection dog Chester to a sample under the snow, Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology, Washington

Field technician Rachel Katz records a sample found by scent detection dog Chester, Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology, Washington

Conservation Canine Sampson and Field technician Julianne Ubigau with University of Washington’s Center for Conservation Biology, demonstrating the work the teams do in urban settings for PCBs.

Filson, a rescued cattle dog, employed as a scent detection dog at Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology, Washington

Field technician Heath Smith notes data about cougar scat found by scent detection dog (canis lupus familiaris) Pips in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. The team is part of University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology’s Conservation Canines program.

Field technician Caleb Staneck and scent detection dog (canis lupus familiaris) Winne travel through a meadow in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, surveying for Pacific fisher, which is under consideration as an endangered species. The team is part of University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology’s Conservation Canines program.

Scent detection dog (canis lupus familiaris) Pips with University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology’s Conservation Canines program zeros in on a carnivore scat. The scat is collected by his handler for a study on the northeast Washington’s predator species.

Field technician Colette Yee collecting a raptor foot found by scent detection dog Jack, Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology, Washington

Chester, rescued scent detection dog with Conservation Canines, University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology

Field technician Julianne Ubigau rewards scent detection dog (canis lupus familiaris) Sampson in northeast Washington after he found a scat from a target species. The team is part of University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology’s Conservation Canines program.

Highlights from this work include:

Published in:

Sierra Magazine
National Wildlife Magazine
Popular Science Magazine
LOYAL: 38 Inspiring Tales of Bravery, Heroism, and Devotion of Dogs
Ruffwear
Ibex
Mother Nature Network
Pretty Fluffy
Crosscut
and many more

Across four years, I designed and ran calendar fundraisers that brought in roughly $20,000 in donations. The fundraisers were an amazing way to bring in not only funds, but build an amazing audience of fans and supporters. Images were used on social media platforms to keep conversations going with those fans throughout the year, helping to boost energy and attention around the annual calendar fundraiser.

Detection
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Detection
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