A troop of good boys and girls met in a field as the sun set over Lake County, merit badges proudly displayed. But rather than two-legged scouts standing at attention, this group’s members have four legs, tails and a furry coat.
This was a Central Florida troop meeting for the Dog Scouts of America, an organization that aims to help dogs and humans bond, in turn improving lives — both of the human and canine variety.
“I’ll mention Dog Scouts and people ask, ‘What’s that?’ I’ll say, ‘You know, there’s Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Dog Scouts,'” said Jeanette Heideman, one of the troop’s members. “They have accomplishments and they get their little badges, even a vest if they get far enough.”
Dogs and their handlers can earn more than 100 merit badges in nine categories: agility, community service, competitive sports, nose work, obedience, responsible pet parenting, pulling, trails/outdoors and water.
At one meeting in late June, dogs tested their agility skills on a course, tried their noses at scent work and one border collie even practiced his painting skills. At another meeting, the troop visited “Rattie, Set Go!” in Clermont for a barn hunt, an activity that tests a dog’s scenting ability with rats hidden in hay bales.
Shirley Conley, the troop’s leader, said that these experiences help dogs and owners grow without worrying about competition.
“You’re challenging yourself and working toward your own goals. It’s not subjective like it is in obedience competitions, where it’s a matter of what the judge sees,” she said. “You’re not scored against other people, it’s just you and your dog against the standard. Once you meet that, it’s ‘Good job, here’s your badge.'”
The motto of Dog Scouts of America is to “learn new things, that we may become more helpful.” The organization promotes positive reinforcement like giving pups treats upon the completion of a task.
“The more people interact with their dogs and they become family members, the less likely they are to end up in shelters,” Conley said. “It’s all about building the human-canine relationship. It’s the bond that makes it worth your while when you come home and the dog makes you smile rather than rolling your eyes.”
Beyond that, the troop aims to get involved with the community while working with their dogs.
“Troops have been involved in Salvation Army bell ringing. People will teach their dogs to ring the bells or do tricks,” Conley said. “Well-behaved dogs are welcome in more places in the community.”
Conley’s troop meets at least once a month, and newcomers may participate twice for free before they are required to join the national organization, which collects $30 annual dues. There are no dues on the local level.
While some participating canines and their owners might be motivated to earn as many badges as possible, others enjoy coming to meetings simply to spend time with fellow dog enthusiasts.
“People can do as much or as little as they want,” Conley said. “There’s a social aspect. The dogs are having fun and learning something along the way.”
For more information, go to dogscouts.org. To find local troops, look under the homepage’s “Troop” tab.
Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.
