Breeding Program
Understanding and optimizing the interaction between nature (genetics) and nurture (the raising/training environment) is critical for the breeding, raising and selection of successful working dogs to meet the needs of our country.
Learn more about our breeding program...
Publications
Canine Fitness
Ramos MT, Farr B, Otto CM. Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Working Dogs. Vet Clin NA Small Anim Pract in 51(4): 859-876, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2021.04.005.
Robbins PJ, Ramos MT, Zanghi BM, Otto CM. Environmental and physiological factors associated with stamina in dogs exercising in high ambient temperatures. Front. Vet. Sci., 11 September 2017 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2017.00144
Farr BD, Ramos MT, Otto CM. The Penn Vet Working Dog Center Fit to Work Program: A formalized method for assessing and developing foundational canine physical fitness Front. Vet. Sci., 13 August 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00470
Occupational hazards of Working Dogs
Hare E. Kelsey KM., Neidermeyer GM. Otto CM. Long-Term Behavioral Resilience in Search-and-Rescue Dogs Responding to the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks. Applied Animal Behavior Science 2021, 234:105173 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105173
Hare E, Joffee E, Wilson C, Serpell J, Otto CM. Behavior Traits Associated with Career Outcome in a Prison Puppy Raising Program. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2021 Volume 236, March 2021, 105218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105218
Otto CM, Downend, AB, Serpell JA, Ziemer LS, Saunders HM. Medical and behavioral surveillance of dogs deployed to the World Trade Center and the Pentagon: October 2001-June 2002. J Am Vet Med Assoc 225(6): 861-867, 2004.
Slensky K, Drobatz KJ, Downend AB, Otto CM. Deployment morbidity among search and rescue dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 225(6): 868-873, 2004.
Fitzgerald SD, Rumbeiha WK, Braselton WE, A.B. Downend AB, Otto CM. Pathology and Toxicology Findings for Search & Rescue Dogs Deployed to the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack Sites: Initial Five Years Surveillance. J Vet Lab Diagnosticians 20:477–484, 2008.
Otto CM, Downend AB, Moore GE, Daggy JK, Ranivand DL, Reetz JA, Fitzgerald SD. Medical Surveillance of Search Dogs Deployed to the World Trade Center and Pentagon: 2001-2006. Journal of Environmental Health 73(2):12-21, 2010.
Hunt M, Otto CM, Serpell J, Alvarez J. Interactions between Handler Well-Being and Canine Health and Behavior in Search and Rescue Teams. Anthrozoos 25(3):323-335, 2012.
Parr J, Otto CM. Emergency Visits and Occupational Hazards in German Shepherd Police Dogs (2008-2010) JVECC 23(6):591-597, 2013. Article first published online: 19 SEP 2013 | DOI: 10.1111/vec.12098
Otto CM, Hare E, Buchweitz JP, Kelsey KM, Fitzgerald SD. Fifteen-year surveillance of search-and-rescue dogs deployed to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack sites: pathology associated with death or humane euthanasia. JAVMA 2020 in press
Otto CM. Ch 202 Working Dogs in the Emergency Room. In Textbook of Small Animal Emergency Medicine. eds. Drobatz KJ, Rozanski EA, Silverstein DC, Hopper K. Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken NJ 2018
Hydration
Mazin R, Fordyce H, Otto CM. Use of Electrolyte Replacement in Urban Search and Rescue Dogs: A Field Study. Vet Therapeutics 2(2):140-147, 2001.
Reineke EL, Walton K, Otto CM. Evaluation of an oral electrolyte solution for treatment of mild to moderate dehydration in dogs with hemorrhagic diarrhea. J Am Vet Med Assoc 243:851–857, 2013.
Otto CM, Hare E, Nord JL, Palermo SM, Kelsey KM, Darling TA, Schmidt K, Coleman D. Maintaining Hydration of Dogs Working in Hot Environments. Front. Vet. Sci., 26 October 2017 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2017.00174
Zanghi BM, Robbins PJ, Ramos MT, Otto CM. Working Dogs Drinking A Nutrient-Enriched Water Maintain Cooler Body Temperature and Improved Pulse Rate Recovery After Exercise. Front. Vet. Sci., 28 August 2018 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00202
Goucher TK, Hartzell AM, Seales TS, Anmuth AS, Zanghi BM, Otto CM. Skin Turgor and Capillary Refill Time as Predictors of Dehydration in Exercising Dogs. Am J Vet Research, Am J Vet Res 2019;80:123–128
Niedermeyer GM, Hare E, Brunker L, Berk RA, Kelsey KM, Darling TA, Nord JL, Schmidt KK, Otto CM. A randomized cross-over field study of pre-hydration strategies in dogs tracking in hot environments. Front. Vet. Sci., 03 June 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00292
Canine Olfaction
Cobb, Mia L et al. “The Animal Welfare Science of Working Dogs: Current Perspectives on Recent Advances and Future Directions.” Frontiers in veterinary science vol. 8 666898. 15 Oct. 2021 | doi:10.3389/fvets.2021.666898
Hall NJ, Otto CM, Baltzer WI. Editorial: Working Dogs: Form and Function II. Front. Vet. Sci., 29 July 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.732304
Hall NJ, Johnston AM, Bray EE, Otto CM, MacLean EL, Udell MAR. (2021) Working Dog Training for the 21st Century. Front. Vet. Sci., 27 July 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.646022
Otto, C., Sell, T., Veenema, T., Hosangadi, D., Vahey, R., Connell, N., & Privor-Dumm, L. (2021). The promise of disease detection dogs in pandemic response: Lessons learned from COVID-19. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 1-19. doi:10.1017/dmp.2021.183
Guest, CM, Otto CM. Editorial: Canine Olfactory Detection. Front. Vet. Sci., 27 February 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00100
Hall NJ, Otto CM, Baltzer WI. Editorial: Working Dogs: Form and Function II. Front. Vet. Sci., 29 July 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.732304
Essler JL, Kane SA, Nolan P, Akaho EH, Berna AZ, DeAngelo A, et al. (2021) Discrimination of SARS-CoV-2 infected patient samples by detection dogs: A proof of concept study. PLoS ONE 16(4): e0250158. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250158
Essler JL, Kane SA, Collins A, Ryder K, DeAngelo A, Kaynaroglu P, et al. (2021) Egg masses as training aids for spotted lanternfly Lycorma delicatula detection dogs. PLoS ONE 16(5): e0250945. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250945
Farr, B.D.; Otto, C.M.; Szymczak, J.E. Expert perspectives on the performance of explosive detection canines: operational requirements. Animals 2021,11(7), 1976; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11071976
Farr, B.; Otto, CM.; Szymczak, J. Expert Perspectives on the Performance of Explosive Detection Canines: Performance Degrading Factors. Animals 2021, 11(7), 1978; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11071978
Essler JL, Smith PG, Ruge CE, Darling TA, Barr C, Otto CM. The first responder exposure to contaminating powder on dog fur during intranasal and intramuscular naloxone administration JVECC in press
Bell SE,Nash AK, Zanghi BM, Otto CM, Perry EB. An Assessment of the Stability of the Canine Oral Microbiota After Probiotic Administration in Healthy Dogs Over Time. Frontiers in Vet Sci 11 September 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00616
Essler JL, Smith PG, Berger D, Gregorio D, Pennington MR, McGuire A, Furton KG, Otto CM. A randomized cross-over trial comparing the effect of intramuscular versus intranasal naloxone reversal of intravenous fentanyl on odor detection in working dogs. Animals 2019 Jun 22;9(6). pii: E385. doi: 10.3390/ani9060385
Murarka, M., Vesley-Gross, Z.I., Essler, J.L, Smith, P.G., Hooda, J., Drapkin, R., Otto, CM. Testing ovarian cancer cell lines to train dogs to detect ovarian cancer from blood plasma. J Vet Behav. 2019 32:42-48.
Kybert N, Prokop-Prigge K, Otto CM, Ramirez L, Joffe E, Tanyi J, Piltz-Seymour J, Johnson ATC, Preti G, Exploring Ovarian Cancer Screening using a Combined Sensor Approach: A Pilot Study. AIP Advances 10, 035213 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5144532
Otto CM. Ch 5 Effects of Disease on Canine Olfaction. In Canine Olfaction Science and Law. Ed Jezierski T, Ensminger J, Taylor & Francis/CRC Press Boca Raton, FL 2016.
Cognition/Development
Bray EE, Otto CM, Udell MAR, Hall NJ, Johnston AM and MacLean EL (2021) Enhancing the Selection and Performance of Working Dogs. Front. Vet. Sci. 8:644431. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.644431
Leighton EA, Hare E, Thomas S, Waggoner LP, Otto CM. Solution for the Shortage of Detection Dogs: A Detector Dog Center of Excellence and a Cooperative Breeding Program Front. Vet. Sci., 16 November 2018 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00284
Hare E, Kelsey KM, Serpell J, Otto CM. Behavior Differences between Urban Search-and-Rescue and Pet Dogs. Front. Vet. Sci., 05 June 2018 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00118
Essler JL, Wilson CHB, Verta A, Feuer R, Otto CM. Differences in the search behavior of cancer detection dogs trained to have either a sit or stand-stare final response. Front. Vet. Sci., 13 March 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00118.