Frequently Asked Questions

We would love to hear form you! Please visit our "Work with Us" website page and click the appropriate button to submit an inquiry or assessment form.

Our Finder-Keeper Teams are all based in Wisconsin and serve our home state and portions of northern Illinois. If we cannot directly help you with your project, we are connected with several reputable colleagues and are more than happy to refer you to an appropriate organization to suit your project goals. To learn more about our Projects, please click here. To meet our Finder (our dogs!), please click here. To submit an inquiry about hiring us, please visit our website page here: https://www.conservationdogscollective.org/work-with-us

We get this question A LOT and enjoy connecting with interested people who want to get nose deep into this industry. In general, you can expect a 1-2 year learning process to understand the various aspects of expertise required for conservation detection dog work and feel "field ready." To help you get started, here are some recommended community learning opportunities: Conservation Dog Alliance: https://conservationdogalliance.org/ Center for Wildlife Studies online courses (self-study or instructor guided options) here: https://www.centerforwildlifestudies.org/courses/p/conservation-canines-intro https://www.centerforwildlifestudies.org/courses/p/conservation-canines K9 Conservationists' online courses: https://k9conservationists.thinkific.com/collections In addition, if you are able to travel to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area, in-person coaching opportunities are available from our Owner, Laura Holder. Contact us to learn more about this service.

Typically, it takes anywhere from 6-18 months for our Canine Finders to be ready for operational deployment. Beyond their scent work training, they are constantly honing their behavioral skills to include coming when called (recall), directionals, and other practical manners (relaxing in a crate).

Some conservation dogs have been trained to detect almost 20 different scents! Super impressive, right?

Our Canine Finders get to work in all sorts of cool places. We've worked throughout the United States and trekked alongside our dogs while working on wind farms, in forests, along riverbanks, in prairies, in the mountains, and everywhere inbetween.

Each of our Canine Finders has a unique story. Some were found as strays wandering the city streets, while others came to us as puppies or adolescent dogs from reputable breeders. We also partner with other organizations, such as the Southeast Guide Dogs, that might have a little too much enthusiasm for service dog work, but would thrive as a detection dog. What matters most is that every single one of our Finders finds a permanent home with their Canine Keeper where they are very well cared for and loved for life!