Dog Scouts of America is a non-profit organization started in 1995 to make dogs' lives better. There are nearly 100 different badges that dogs can earn once they earn the title of Dog Scout. The Dog Scout title testing includes sit, down, stay, come, heel and leave it, and the dog must be safe around people and other dogs. The DSA Evaluator will also observe the interaction between the person and the dog and the person needs to complete a written test to show they understand reward-based training methods and responsible dog care. The association has 38 troops in 22 states, with 682 households with members.
Badges
Some of the badges include:
- Backpacking
- Teaching Your Dog to Swim
- Teaching your Dog to Paint
- Community Service such as Picking up litter, e.g., 500 bottles
- Agility
- Obedience incl Rally, Freestyle, Tricks, etc.
- Nosework incl Scent Detection, Search/Rescue and Tracking
- Existing Sports like Barn Hunt, Treibball, Flyball, etc.
- Weight pull, Carting, Sledding, etc.
- And much more!
Dogs earn the badges, not the people. Badges can be earned by 1) sending in a video to the national organization, 2) going to Dog Scout camp, or 3) through a Dog Scout approved evaluator in your local area. Dog Scouts has a worldwide reach and troops are located in many countries. Community service and educating dog owners about training and responsibility is a major part of the program.
Camp
Humans and their dog(s) can attend weekend or week-long camps where training and education is presented in a fun way. All dogs are welcome to try activities such as swimming, agility, and trails, no matter their size or breed. Each year camp has a few specialty activities as well such as herding, nosework, Barn Hunt, Freestyle, etc.
Junior Dog Scout Program
The Junior Dog Scout program is for children up to 17. In the first category, 6 and younger, the child gets a certificate when he or she knows dog safety rules and how to pick up after a dog. For 7- to 12-year-olds, the requirements are the same as the regular Dog Scout program except they may use a treat for the down cue, and stay and come are with a 4-foot leash for 10 seconds. For 13- to 17-year-olds, no treat is allowed for down, and stay and come must be from a 6-foot leash for 20 seconds.
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