Eco-Odorology (SCIENCE-SNIFFING DOGS) with Kayla Fratt

Dogs doing science. With their faces. As a follow-up to last week’s Ethnocynology episode about humans domesticating wolves, we chat with conservation biologist and Eco-odorologist Kayla Fratt (and her working dog Barley) about how trained animals help scientists. Sit, and stay, to learn how rescue dogs can get their dogtorate degrees, what rewards work when training, dogs on a boat, dogs in the jungle, wolves in the sea, why noses are wet, how your sense of smell is trash, the price of a police dog, and how you can get into this field working with your best buddy.

Listen via Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Podbay, Podcast Addict, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Visit Kayla Fratt’s website and follow her on Bluesky

Visit K9 Conservationists’s website and follow them on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok

Listen to the K9 Conservationists podcast on Apple and Spotify

Donations went to K9 Conservationists and Fundación Naturaleza El Salvador


Links to things we discussed:

Metabarcoding - Wikipedia

Genotyping - Wikipedia

How Dogs Use Smell to Perceive the World

Canine Olfaction: Physiology, Behavior, and Possibilities for Practical Applications - PMC

Papers by Dr. Nathaniel J. Hall 

Jacobson’s organ

Jane Goodall and David Greybeard

Chronic Wasting Disease - CWD

Chronic wasting disease detected on Flathead Reservation

Researchers warn 'zombie deer disease' could spread to humans

Canine Drug Program Cost Analysis 

City of Glendale recently reported the price for a police dog

How much? Why police K9s cost a lot more than you think

Police pooches: US schools employ gun-sniffing dogs to curb violence – and bring students joy

Canine teams deploy ahead of Hurricane

Volunteer Search and Rescue Dog Teams Respond to Disaster After Hurricane Helene

Becoming a Veterinarian - AAVMC

A Roadmap For Getting Into Vet School

Wolf (Canis lupus) The Alexander Archipelago Wolf: A Conservation Assessment

Tuberculosis Detection by Giant African Pouched Rats - PMC

Four-Legged Fighters

Why Does My Dog Eat Poop? - American Kennel Club

6 stinking cool facts about dog noses | NOVA | PBS


Other episodes you may enjoy:

Ethnocynology (HUMANS & DOGS THROUGH TIME)

Field Trip: How to Change Your Life

Cervidology (DEER)

Mammalogy (MAMMALS)

Urban Rodentology (SEWER RATS)

Lupinology (WOLVES)

Canine Speech Pathology (DOGS WITH BUTTONS)

Felinology (CATS)

Island Ecology (ISLANDS)

Wildlife Ecology (FIELDWORK)

Scatology (POOP)


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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake Chaffee

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth 

Transcripts by Aveline Malek

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

AnimalsAlie Ward