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In The News
Our dogs bring boundless enthusiasm and charisma to the less glamorous side of data collection. Their joy, coupled with impressive accuracy in locating elusive data, tends to capture the attention of others. Sharing knowledge about the conservation detection dog methodology is ingrained in our core values, and we are grateful for the numerous opportunities to share our mission. If you're keen on conducting an interview, we welcome requests for podcasts, articles, and appearances. Get in touch with us here!
Unleashed: Exploring the Work of Conservation Dogs
Imagine a wildlife research project that takes you face to face with a jaguar in Guatemala, thanks to the good work of your conservation dog.
By Madison Odenbach
Working Detection Dogs Help Conservation Researchers Sniff Out Data
Conservation researchers are using working dogs to gather data in the field. Learn what detection dogs do and why they are needed for conservation efforts.
By Anna Nordseth
It's poop to us,
but Santa Barbara County researchers say it's a feast of info about carnivores
Researchers use specially trained dogs to find wildlife scat. They want to see if carnivores are venturing from the mountains to the coast to eat.
By Lance Orozco
These 'conservation' dogs can sniff out invasive plants and endangered species the size of a nickel
Ecological conservation has a new best friend — dogs that are trained to use their superior sense of smell to find invasive plants, locate endangered animals, and find dead birds and bats at renewable energy sites.
By Fiona Ng
Extension field day highlights use of canines to detect voles
Ruby ran through the high pasture grass, nose to the ground, looking for the scent of an active vole tunnel.
The dog sat down suddenly, alerting her handler to the scent. A group of more than 40 who attended Voles, Dogs and Raptors Field Day, hosted by the Oregon State University Extension Service, shouted words of encouragement for Ruby.
By Francesca Rossi
Are Wind Turbines a Danger to Wildlife?
Ask the Dogs.
Humans are terrible at finding bats and birds killed by wind turbines. Dogs are great at it.
By Sarah Zhang
A Review of Detection Distance for Search Dogs Based on Environment and Target Odor
Working dogs are expected to perform well in a huge variety of environments. Understanding what the research tells us about the effects of different environmental factors, as well as target odor, could help handlers modify their search strategy and expectations to better suit the conditions their dog is in. This article summarizes the relevant research.
By Kayla Fratt, CDBC, Rachel Hamre, and Heather Nootbaar
Dogs collecting data: Behind the scenes with K9 Conservationists
An orange-vested border collie trots ahead of a group of field biologists, nose to the ground. His bell jingles as he turns 180°, skirting along the edge of the dense jungle. He stops abruptly and lies down, glancing over his shoulder at me. I take a few steps and gasp, “Oh, interesting!”
By Kayla Fratt
What Is a Conservation Detection Dog?
Dogs can do all sorts of amazing jobs. From detecting cancer cells to searching the wilderness for a lost Alzheimer’s patient, most of the jobs that dogs excel at involve using their amazing sense of smell. One of the many exciting jobs out there for high-energy pups that also relies on a dog’s sniffer is conservation detection dog work.
By Kayla Fratt
Kayla (From a Dream Job to Misery and Back Again)
Inspiring Conversations with Kayla Fratt of
K9 Conservationists
Meet Kayla Fratt | Conservation detection dog handler, nonprofit founder
National Geographic: Called to the Wild
Following in the paw prints of incredible canines, we're challenging modern human-dog teams to compete in an epic adventure race!
Follow human and dog teams who depend on each other to survive and thrive in the wild. Each week three new teams and their dogs embark on a 10-day wilderness challenge testing the limits of their survival skills.
Season 1 Episode 6: Gimme Shelter
Watch a preview here!
Dogs in Environmental Conservation Work
Have a high-energy dog with a super sniffer? Conservation work might be your next sport!
Chelsea Murray ATDI, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP will be sitting down and talking to Kayla Fratt, a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant who trains conservation detection dogs. These are search dogs that sniff out invasive plants or animals, the scat of endangered species, and more to help with environmental conservation.
Sniffing for Science
March 2024
Barley the conservationist and his work in the U.S. and Latin America
January 2024
How Dogs Can Be Used in Research and Science with Kayla Fratt Co-Founder of
K9 Conservationists
From Lab to Launch Podcast:
We’re going to deviate from our typical life sciences for just a few moments just for fun to talk about dogs. We’ve heard about dogs using their olfactory system to detect biologic changes related to disease. Having a bit of a soft spot for dogs ourselves here at Qualio, when our friend Kayla Fratt reached out to be on the show, we thought it’d be fun to hear about her work in ecology and in the field doing conservation work.
November 2022
You're Qualified -
To Become A Nonprofit Founder
You're Not Qualified Podcast:
Join Courtney as she chats with Kayla Fratt for the second and final episode of the "Nonprofit Founder" series - she trains dogs for K9 Conservationists, a nonprofit organization she founded and now runs with two other women. We talk about how competetive conservation is, being fired and turning that into an opportunity to start your own business, the parallels between nonprofits and for-profit startups, thinking like a man to help you succeed (yes I cringed too, but we talk about why this is true), and so much more.
September 2022
#28 | Canines in Conservation: Detecting Scientific Data with Kayla Fratt
Rewildology Podcast:
In this episode, I’m speaking with Kayla Fratt, professional dog trainer, podcast host, blogger, entrepreneur, and founder of K9 Conservationists. In other words, she’s a total badass, independent woman making her way through this crazy field. Kayla does a fantastic job taking me through her journey that led her today, the different types of conservation dog jobs that are currently out there, why she decided to go into conservation detection dog work, and all of the ups and downs she’s experienced along the way.
June 2021
Kayla Fratt (CDBC) Introduces Us to Conservation Dog Training
Worry Less, Wag More:
The Behavior Vets Podcast:
In this episode, Kayla Fratt tells us about conservation detection dog training and how trained detection dogs are increasingly becoming an important tool in wildlife conservation and management. If you love wildlife and dog training and you've wondered how you might be able to help save wildlife, pay attention to this episode.
August 2022
E13: Conservation Detection Dogs with Kayla Fratt
The Deal With Animals with Marika S. Bell Podcast:
This may be an aspect of conservation you haven't heard of before. Conservation detection canines; They are trained to scent, track and find endangered species, invasive species, or just dead bats. This topic is fun and entertaining and it doesn't hurt that Kayla is a super optimist!
December 2021
E179: Conservation Detection with Kayla Fratt
Cog-Dog Radio Podcast:
Worlds collide! Love dog training AND the environment? You're in the right place. Sarah talks to Kayla Fratt of Journey Dog Training about training dogs for conservation efforts. From the challenges of working dogs off leash in prairie dog towns to the kind of dog best suited to detect zebra mussels....you won't want to miss this one.
March 2021