Penn Vet Working Dog Center
Partnering with dogs for the health and safety of people, animals, and the environment
What We Do
Penn Vet’s Working Dog Center aims to advance research and the application of the newest scientific findings and veterinary expertise to optimize the performance of scent detection dogs.
We are inspired by the search and rescue dogs that responded following the attacks on 9/11, and having opened on September 11, 2012 we serve as a national research and development center for detection dogs.
Research
Exploring canine physiology, sports medicine, cognition, behavior and genetics to optimize the health and performance of detection dogs.
Training, Dogs & Specialized Services
Serving a diverse and growing K9 community, from search and rescue teams to conservation to law enforcement. We offer specialized services including Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation.
Educational Programs
Uniting individuals who are passionate, curious and deeply engaged in the quest for working dog knowledge
Get Involved
The PVWDC is sustained through individual, government, foundation and corporate gifts and grants. We rely on your support and participation to make a difference.
Tour the Center
See first-hand what it takes to train our nation’s leading detection dogs.
Watch as the Working Dog Center staff explains the step-by-step process to prepare a dog to serve in explosives detection, search and rescue, medical and conservation detection, and more.
About us
Meet Our Team
Get to know our team, a unique combination of people with a broad range of expertise.
Find Us
School of Veterinary Medicine
Working Dog Center
3401 Grays Ferry Ave., Bldg. 470
Philadelphia, PA 19146
Follow PVWDC on social media:
Penn Vet Announces Forthcoming Retirement of Faculty Member, Cynthia Otto, DVM, PhD
The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine announced the forthcoming retirement of Professor of Working Dog Sciences and Sports Medicine, Cynthia “Cindy” Otto, DVM, PhD,…
Can honeybees and dogs detect cancer earlier than technology? (link is external)
Drs. Cindy Otto, Clara Wilson, and Amritha Mallikarjun comment on canine cancer detection.
Dogs Engage in Scent-sational Science to Sniff out Staphylococcus Bacteria (link is external)
The Scientist Drs. Meagan Ramos and Cynthia Otto talk about this new research.
Penn Vet Working Dog Center
Follow PVWDC:
3401 Grays Ferry Ave., Bldg. 470, Philadelphia, PA 19146