OUR CONSERVATION DETECTION DOG TEAMS ARE READY TO HELP YOU MEET YOUR PROJECT GOALS.

K9 Conservationists teams work around the world on impactful conservation projects. Our dog teams are ready to detect your data safely, efficiently, and effectively. We are experienced with food web research, population monitoring, post-construction analysis, and more.
Schedule a call with our team
Explore our FAQ

OUR CONSERVATION DETECTION DOG TEAMS ARE READY TO HELP YOU MEET YOUR PROJECT GOALS.

K9 Conservationists teams work around the world on impactful conservation projects. Our dog teams are ready to detect your data safely, efficiently, and effectively. We are experienced with food web research, population monitoring, post-construction analysis, and more.
Schedule a call with our team
Explore our FAQ

Why you'll love partnering with K9 Conservationists:

We are field biologists, too.

We have years of experience with a variety of monitoring techniques on diverse projects, ranging from camera-trapping black-footed ferrets to using Daubenmire frames to catalog riparian vegetation.

Meet the team

We are industry leaders in progressive, excellent working dog training.

We are considered industry leaders regarding progressive training and canine welfare, speaking at international dog training conferences regarding innovative approaches to working dogs.

See how we lead by example

We bring knowledge, curiosity, and respect to conservation work.

We are dedicated to knowledge co-creation and cultural sensitivity everywhere we work. We aim to collaborate on projects that benefit local communities and avoid "Safari science."

What's safari science?

Our team is enthusiastic and nimble, in the field and in our thinking.

We bring unmatched energy and flexibility to our projects thanks to our small team and tailored approach to every partnership. Even in tough field conditions, we are optimistic and hardy - just like our dogs!

Meet the team

We're a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to building conservation capacity in all communities.

We offer generous scholarships to international, BIPOC, and LGBTQ students, supporting the next generation of conservation detection dog handlers. Our international scholarship recipients represent South Africa, Chile, Poland, and India.

Apply for financial aid

We're enormous dog training nerds, ensuring our dogs are top-notch.

We aren't just obsessed with dog behavior, cognition, and olfaction: we set the tone for the industry. Our podcast explores progressive working dog training, including ethology for working dogs, cue hierarchies, and signal detection theory.

Nerd out with us

We always put ethics and safety first.

We are dedicated to compassionate conservation that considers the safety of our team, our canines, wildlife, livestock, and the environment. We hold certifications including Wilderness First Responder, trap release, and K9 first aid and CPR.

Learn more about our approach

Hablamos español y tenemos experiencia con temas de conservación en Ámerica Latina.

Kayla ha vivido en Panamá, Ecuador, y El Salvador. Ella tiene experiencia navegando temas de conservación en las culturas y la politica de Ámerica Latina. Siempre estamos listos para colaborar y aprender más con ustedes.

Conectar con Kayla

What have our conservation detection dogs teams been up to?

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Coastal Carnivores

Project Location: Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve, California, USA

Project PartnersDr. Rae Wynn-Grant and Young Lab in collaboration with National GeographicThe Nature Conservancy, and the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California Santa Barbara

Project Duration: 7 days

Targets Found (approx): 200

"My team and I had the pleasure of working with Kayla and two [of K9 Conservationists'] wonderful dogs, Scottie and Barley. Kayla's positivity and adaptability were truly remarkable. She approached every challenge with a smile and a can-do attitude, making her a pleasure to work with. Scottie and Barley were not only well-trained but also incredibly adaptable to different environments, proving to be invaluable assets to our conservation efforts. Kayla's unique bond with her dogs and their combined skills made them an exceptional team in the world of conservation. I highly recommend Kayla and her K9 Conservationists for any project – they are a dynamic and positive force for the preservation of our natural world." - Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, Wildlife Ecologist, TV Presenter, Author, Speaker

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Mesoamerican Carnivores

Project Location: Maya Biosphere Preserve, Guatemala

Project PartnersThe Levi Lab at Oregon State University, Wildlife Conservation Society Guatemala

Project Duration: 7 survey days

Targets Found (approx): 60 

"Working with Kayla, Barley, and Niffler to find scats for my Wildlife Ph.D. project in the Maya Biosphere Reserve of Guatemala truly brought my research to the next level. Enlisting the help of expert dog noses to find cryptic carnivore scats in the hot, humid, and dense understory of my rainforest study system was invaluable. Barley and Kayla were able to find the same number of carnivore scats in just one week that a multi-human search team would take two months to encounter. In addition, the dogs were able to detect the smaller scats of more elusive neotropical carnivores - such as tayra, ocelot, and margay - that human eyes would easily overlook, which allowed me to expand my study and include data from more rare and exciting species." - Ellen Dymit, Ph.D. student at Oregon State University

How to partner with K9 Conservationists for an upcoming project:

  1. Connect with us for a free discovery call.

    Here, we'll ask about your specific goals, previous or ongoing survey methods, your survey area, the target species, field safety considerations, and your questions regarding the conservation detection dog methodology.

  2. Co-create a proposal, scope of work, and budget.

    At this stage, we also discuss permitting, search strategy, and target species sample acquisition. We are happy to consult on effective dog-powered searches based on odor dynamics and target species behavior.

  3. K9 Conservationists custom-trains the dog teams.

    Trainers collaborate with you to understand your target species, safety considerations, and on-the-ground conditions that are relevant to the project. We specially train the dogs to ignore off-target species and/or to include a variety of species to meet your project goals. Handlers are also trained to discriminate between confusing scats, identify high-likelihood areas for your target species, how to identify other sign of your target species, and how to identify other potential hazards particular to your study area.

  4. K9C dog teams go through pre-deployment evaluations.

    This includes a fitness evaluation for both ends of the leash, blind trials to ensure that rates of specificity and sensitivity align with project goals, and that the dogs are adequately prepared for hazards such as wildlife and livestock in the study site. All dogs are trained to ignore prey species and livestock to promote safe working conditions in sensitive areas. Dogs can be worked on- or off-leash, though are usually most efficient off-leash.

  5. Conservation detection dog teams arrive on-site.

    We suggest allowing for at least a week of acclimatization and in-situ training for the dogs in areas with unfamiliar climates, terrain, and vegetation. This is especially important in hot or high-elevation sites. This acclimatization can be combined with pre-deployment evaluations in many cases. Detection distance assessments can be conducted at this phase.

  6. Conduct surveys.

    K9 Conservationists teams can work independently from GPS and maps provided by your team, or accompany your team in the field. Conservation detection dogs can generally complete 2-4 hours of intensive searching per day. Distance covered varies widely based on terrain, weather, vegetation, and number of targets in the area. Dogs work an average of two days in a row. Multiple dogs can be used to increase the ground covered and days worked while allowing for adequate rest.

  7. Collect your data.

    When a K9 Conservationist dog finds a target, the dog lies down with their nose pointed toward the target (without touching it). The handler then rewards the dog with a toy or snack. We collect the sample according to your protocols, record GPS location, take notes on the sample's condition, record information on the surrounding area, and more. We always collect the GPS tracks of the handlers and the dogs. Paired with information on weather and topography, this can help estimate the effective area covered, probability of detection, and/or detection distance.

  8. Report and data handoff.

    Once surveys are completed, it's time for us to debrief on what went well, what could be improved, and lessons learned. We will also compile all data points and reports per the scope of work. Don't forget to snap a photo of the dog teams with your team and all their finds!

Book your free exploratory call with K9 Conservationists today.

This scheduler is ONLY for project partners for field surveys. Do not use this booking form for mentorship or coaching inquiries. If you are interested in learning how to be a conservation detection dog handler, please explore our learning options using the green button below.

In Summary...

We train dogs to sniff out your data -- or train you to work with your own dog. From bird and bat fatalities on wind farms to invasive mussels on boats to the scat of jaguars in the Guatemalan jungle, our teams are up to the challenge. We specialize in the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, and Latin America.

We offer a variety of creative services to meet your needs and budget, with discounts for international programs and graduate student projects.

Our dog training methods are rooted in the Humane Hierarchy of dog training. Wherever possible, our dogs go through double-blind odor recognition trials using relevant distractor odors prior to deployment.

Learn more about how conservation detection dogs work on our blog and podcast.

View our 2022 Annual Report here.