Expertise:
Working Dogs and Public Safety, Animal Behavior and Welfare, Working Dog Cognition, Service Animals, Disaster Response Animals, Search-and-Rescue and Detection Dogs, Military Working Dogs, Canine Behavior and Training, Equine Welfare and Performance, Urban Animal Management, Heat Stress and Animal Care, Human-Animal Interactions, Don B. Huntley College of AgricultureDakota Discepolo is an animal behavior and welfare expert specializing in working dogs, equine performance and the science of human-animal partnerships. Her research informs best practices for working animals in public safety, disaster response, agriculture and other demanding environments.
Discepolo studies how behavior, health and management affect working animals, particularly detection dogs, military working dogs and horses. Her research is grounded in the idea that working animals perform best when their welfare comes first.
She has collaborated with the U.S. Department of Defense, military working dog programs and industry partners to translate research findings into practical guidance for working animals in the field. Discepolo’s current research examines how rest affects working dog cognition, learning and training success. Her broader research explores canine cognition, dermatological health, heat recovery and equine performance.
Recent Grants and Fellowships:
- ORISE Military Working Dog Olfactory Sciences Research Fellowship For DEVCOM-CBC (June 2023 – July 2025)
- ORISE Working Canine Decontamination Department of Defense Literature Review Fellowship (June 2021 – July 2022)
Selected Publications:
- With E. Perry, M. Karpinsky, K. Bender, S. Liang, E. Jenkins, E. Marquat, L. DeGreeff. An analysis of working dog exposure to environmental contaminants at the Surfside building collapse. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Sec. Animal Behavior and Welfare, Vol. 13. 2026.
- With Farr, D. Broach, A. Henderson A. Gerardo, J. Dyer, E. Best. United States military working dogs from 2019 to 2021: analysis of causes of service discharge and decreased service life. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Sec. Animal Behavior and Welfare, Vol. 12, 2025
- With N. Richards, E. Best, M.Cablk, E.Perry. The Working Dog: A Canine Multi-Tool that Assists in Rescue, Disease, and Conservation Initiatives. The Palgrave Handbook of Human-Animal Interactions in the Global Context of Climate Change, Disasters, and Other Crises (pp.111-136). Palgrave Macmillan, 2025
- With J. Bailey, E. Perry. An Investigation of Force Potential Against the Canine Neck Associated with Collar Use. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, Vol. 7, 2024
- With L. Gaare, E. Perry. Fluctuations in dermal barrier parameters in horses throughout day and anatomical location. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, Vol. 140, 2024
- With E. Aviles-Rosa, J. Schultz, M. Maughan, J. Gadberry, D. DiPasquale, B. Farr, A. Henderson, E. Best, P. Buckley, E. Perry, D Zoran, N. Hall. A canine model to evaluate the effect of exercise intensity and duration on olfactory detection limits: the running nose. Allergy. May 2024
- With Handlos G., G. Apgar, C. Crowell, and E. Perry. Efficacy of Electrolyte Chews in Horses. Journal of Animal Science, Vol. 101, Supplement 3 (pp. 365), 2023
- With E. Perry, S. Liang, M. Scott., K. Williamson, K. Bender. Biocidal effects of a wipe-down procedure using common veterinary cleansers on microbial burden within working canine exterior coats. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Sec. Animal Behavior and Welfare, 10, 2023
- With Perry, A. Watkins, R. Kelley, 2023. Impacts to canine dermal microbiota associated with repeated bathing. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Sec. Animal Behavior and Welfare, Vol. 10 (pp. 371–372), 2023
- With C. Crowell, Handlos, G., Perry, E. Impact of Aromatic Palatants on Equine Feeding Preferences. Journal of Animal Science, 101, Supplement 3, 2023
- With R. Kelley, Liang, E. Jenkins, E. Perry. Assessment of the barrier function of canine skin after repeated decontamination. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Vol. 68 (pp. 32-38), 2023
- With S. Liang, E. Jenkins, E. Perry. A Comparison of Canine Decontamination Cleansers: Implications for Water Use, Dermal pH, and Contaminant Reduction. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Vol. 54 (pp. 44-51), 2022
- With E. Perry, E. Jenkins, R. Kelly, K. Kelsey and S. Liang. An assessment of anatomical locations of simulated contaminant exposure from standing liquid hazards by working dogs during a simulated search scenario. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Vol. 43 (pp. 30-37), 2020
- With E. Perry, E. Powell, J. Francis and S. Liang. 2020. An Assessment of Decontamination Strategies for Materials Commonly Used in Canine Equipment. Journal of Special Operations Medicine, Vol. 20, 2020
Interviews:
- “SIU researchers working on ways to improve and care for service dogs,” KFVS 12 News, March 15, 2022
Education:
B.S., Animal Science, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
M.S., Animal Science, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Ph.D., Agriculture, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Languages:
Italian, Spanish