We think dogs are the greatest and we hope you do, too! Check out some of these resources and activities for both kids and kids-at-heart! Enjoy!
RESOURCES FOR KIDS
Conservation dogs are an incredible help to making science possible!
Did you know dogs can help save wildlife and the planet? At Working Dogs for Conservation, specially trained dogs use their incredible sense of smell to find endangered species, detect invasive plants, and support conservation efforts around the world. This page is to share fun activities and stories about how dogs are making a difference and how you can be part of protecting our planet, too!
Free Download Activities
WD4C Coloring Pages
WD4C Crossword Puzzle
(WD4C Crossword puzzle answers)
WD4C Wordsearch
(WD4C Wordsearch answers)
Reading Resources
Check out this illustrated article from Young Minds that highlights our dogs and our work with black-footed ferret.
(Citation: Burrows HMR, McCreary MK, Shore MJ, Pinheiro SGV and Kuhlmeier VA (2023) Animals Helping Animals: How Dog Detectives Can Help Save Endangered Species. Front. Young Minds. 11:1023547. doi: 10.3389/frym.2023.1023547)
Below are several books that feature some of the real conservation dogs of Working Dogs for Conservation. These books are available at many local books stores - but don’t forget to check your local library, too!
CHILDREN’S BOOKS OUR DOGS ARE FEATURED IN
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Poop Detectives: Working Dogs in the Field
Author: Ginger Wadsworth
It’s not gross, it’s science! Join our dogs, like Wicket and Orbee, in this sniff-tastic adventure to learn just some of what these incredible dogs can do to help find these clues left behind and help save wildlife.
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Conservation Canines: How Dogs Work for the Environment
Author: Isabelle Groc
Learn how these remarkable dogs are able to help advance conservation efforts. Using their noses, they are making a difference helping to protect wildlife and wild places throughout the United States and around the world.
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Sniffer Dogs: How Dogs (and Their Noses) Save the World
Author: Nancy F. Castaldo
Take a look at these fantastic working dogs who love their jobs. By using their powerful sense of smell, they are helping people and protecting our planet.
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Trouble Dog: From Shelter Dog to Conservation Hero
Author: Carol A. Foote, Illustrator: Larry Day
A tale of second chances - this is an illustrated story of a fictional dog named Tucker, but is based on the lives of two real dogs from Working Dogs for Conservation. Access the free education resource guide to accompany Trouble Dog HERE.
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Detective Dogs: How Working Dogs Sniff Out Invasive Species
Author: Alison Pearce Stevens
Follow along on three real field projects, working right alongside the conservation dogs, handlers, and scientists to find invasive plants, invasive mussels, and invasive insects.
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Super Sniffers: Dog Detectives on the Job
Author: Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
Explore the many ways that dogs use their super-powered noses to help humans in a variety of jobs - from search and rescue to conservation canine work!
Want to Bring WD4C to Your Event?
Whether you're planning a conference, classroom visit, community gathering, or something in between - we’d love to share the incredible work of our conservation detection dogs! From inspiring talks to engaging demonstrations (yes, we can bring the dogs!), we’re happy to explore ways to be part of your event.
Availability depends on our fieldwork schedule, but we’ll do our best to make it work or find a creative alternative. To support the time, travel, and preparation involved, a speaker or demo fee or donation is greatly appreciated to help support this work. Reach out to us at events@wd4c.org with a little bit about your event, your ideal date, and what you’re looking for and we’ll see if we can connect!
These high-energy dogs work as a team, alongside a person called a Canine Field Specialist. Together they help collect data and work in partnership with many other scientists, researchers, land managers and more - all to protect the planet!