Our mission is to provide tools, educational materials, and training opportunities that promote the production and rearing of healthy, behaviorally appropriate dogs ideally suited for performing their work. We achieve this with the support of our members, who consist of professional working dog organizations, breeders, academics, veterinarians, breed and sporting clubs and working collaboratives.
We offer resources that expand upon various aspects of the working dog industry, including breeding, health and genetics, environmental and technological advances, working dog behaviors, puppy socialization and breeding program and organizational management. Our members also enjoy complimentary digital access to 3 academic journals – find out more here.
IWDA is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors – find out more about our board of directors here.
During her talk at IWDC 2021 last October, Dr. Nicola Cotton, Veterinary and Reproduction Manager at Seeing Eye Dogs-Vision Australia, Kensington, Victoria, Australia, explained how her facility worked to control
IWDBA member Dr. Marty Roache, the Chief of Behavioral Medicine at the LTC Daniel E. Holland Military Working Dog Hospital at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, noticed
By Jed Weisberger While many in the public may be familiar with the work of explosive-detection dogs and search-and-rescue dogs, many do not realize where these canines originate. Chances
IWDA is governed by a Board of Directors that has varied in size over the years. We are proud to have a Board who is dedicated to our mission and contributes to the development of further working dog science and best practice. Our Board represents different countries around the globe, and different specialisations within the working dog industry, which gives the IWDA a well-rounded perspective.
Since 1999, the International Working Dog Conference gives working dog professionals and our members the chance to explore and present the latest industry related advancements.
Initially held in San Antonio, Texas, the IWDC is now an international event – we have met in Australia, Belgium, South Africa, France, Canada and Sweden. The challenges of 2021 did not stop us and resulted in a successful virtual conference. Past conferences are now shared through presentations, lectures and resources which are made available to our members in our IWDC Conference Archives.
The IWDR is an online database in which users can store and maintain working dog records (including pedigrees, health and working behavior records, production outcomes, work placement details, and more).
The database includes a variety of helpful tools, such as test matings, data collaboration, and estimated breeding value (EBV) calculations for specific health and behavior traits. These tools help you decide exactly which dogs are genetically most likely to produce puppies that will meet your breeding program objectives.
The IWDR is proudly owned by the IWDBA, however, registration is separate. Find out more about the IWDR here.
The Early Socialization Project delivers an extensive socialization guideline for working dog puppies from birth to 12 weeks. This is a user friendly educational resource for working dog breeding programs and organisations aiming for confidence, handler focus, & stable psychological and physiological development in their puppies. Our goal is to provide a step-by-step guide to consistent and reliable results, and therefore give our working dog puppies the best chance of success in their future role.
The Early Socialization Project is a collaboration between the IWDR, Southeastern Guide Dogs, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, and Guide Dogs Queensland.
By Jed Weisberger IWDBA Communications Would you be uncomfortable with a trained working dog assisting your oncologist or diabetes specialist in making a diagnosis? Such canine assistants just might be …
By Jed Weisberger IWDBA Communications As mentioned previously, the entire IWDC 2021 program is now available to our members. A click on the IWDC Archives tab on the top of …
By Jed WeisbergerIWDBA Communications Many easily recall the plethora of cutting-edge information involving the Working Dog industry IWDC 2021 provided attendees. As we had mentioned, the conference presentations – both …
By Jed WeisbergerIWDBA Communications Last week, an NBC News report cited a study proving scent-detection dogs, with their extraordinary sense of smell, can detect people infected with Covid, not to …
By Jed Weisberger IWDBA Communications Alena Heyer’s love for dogs began when she was 16, the day a German Shepherd puppy arrived at her home near Frankfurt, Germany. “It didn’t …
By Jed Weisberger IWDBA Communications The IWDBA has received several requests for group memberships from both the private and academic areas. Per those requests, we are offering a group discount …
During her talk at IWDC 2021 last October, Dr. Nicola Cotton, Veterinary and Reproduction Manager at Seeing Eye Dogs-Vision Australia, Kensington, Victoria, Australia, explained how her facility worked to control …
IWDBA member Dr. Marty Roache, the Chief of Behavioral Medicine at the LTC Daniel E. Holland Military Working Dog Hospital at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, noticed …
By Jed Weisberger While many in the public may be familiar with the work of explosive-detection dogs and search-and-rescue dogs, many do not realize where these canines originate. Chances …
“So many working dogs have both their working careers, and, in turn, their lives cut short by cancer we find at too late a stage,” said Lytle. “We feel we …
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