Dog Care is about being a responsible, caring companion to a dog. You'll learn how dogs think, how to keep them healthy, and how to train them, then put it into practice by caring for a dog over time.
Why it's worth it
Dogs give a lot, and this badge teaches you how to give back: what a dog needs every day, how to train with patience instead of yelling, how to spot when a dog is sick or hurt, and what it really costs in time and money to keep one healthy. Whether you have a dog, help with a neighbor's, or volunteer at a shelter, you'll come away knowing how to be someone dogs trust.
Start this week
- Find the dog you'll care for. It can be your family's dog, or a relative's or neighbor's dog with a parent helping arrange it.
- Make a daily care chart for food, water, walks, grooming, and notes, and fill in the first day today.
- Ask your Scoutmaster for the name of a Dog Care counselor, and contact them with a parent copied.
- Pick a breed you're curious about from each of the seven dog groups, and note what each was originally bred to do.
Plan ahead: Requirement 4 means caring for a dog for two months, so set up your log and start it first. Work on breeds, parts, laws, and first aid while the weeks add up.
Stay safe
- Never approach a dog you don't know without the owner's permission, and give injured or scared dogs space. Pain can make even a gentle dog bite.
Requirements · 10
Every official requirement and part, numbered to match Scouting America, in plain language. Sign off against the official wording (opens in a new tab).
Note: Activities done for this badge can't also be used toward other merit badges.
- Requirement 1
Dog history and breeds
Tips for this section: Look through a dog breed book at the library and pick one breed from each of the seven groups that interests you. Note what each was originally bred to do.
Example for this section: Your seven breeds, one from each group, can show how people shaped dogs for jobs: a Labrador Retriever for retrieving (sporting), a Beagle for tracking by scent (hound), a Siberian Husky for pulling sleds (working), a Cairn Terrier for chasing rats out of rock piles (terrier), a Border Collie for herding (herding), a Dalmatian for running beside carriages (non-sporting), and a Chihuahua as a lap companion (toy).
- Requirement 1a
Briefly discuss where dogs came from and how they were domesticated
- Requirement 1b
Describe common traits of the dogs in each of the seven major dog groups
- Requirement 1c
Describe specific traits of seven breeds (one per major group), OR tell the history of one breed in brief
- Requirement 2
On a dog or a drawing of one, point out and correctly name at least 10 body parts
Tip: Use a picture of a dog, or your own dog if it's calm, and practice pointing out each part.
- Requirement 3
Training and responsible ownership
Tips for this section: Talk with your family about what a dog needs every day. If you're choosing a dog someday, think about size, energy, and time.
Example for this section: Explain responsible ownership with real numbers from your family or a vet's office: food, vaccines, license, and grooming each year, plus daily walks. Then describe the right dog for a small apartment with a busy family versus a big yard with lots of time.
- Requirement 3a
Explain why house-training, obedience training, and socialization matter for your dog
- Requirement 3b
Explain what being a responsible pet owner means
- Requirement 3c
Explain what to consider, including temperament, when choosing a breed for a family pet
- Requirement 4
Take care of your dog for two months and keep a log of feeding schedule, food types and amounts, exercise, training schedule, weekly weight, grooming and bathing, any vet care, and costs; also briefly describe the dog's housing or shelter
Tip: Make a simple chart for feeding, walks, grooming, and health notes. Fill it in each day so the two months add up easily.
For example: A log entry might read: "Tuesday: fed 1 cup morning and night, 20-minute walk, brushed coat, noticed she's scratching her left ear, told Dad." After two months, look for patterns in her energy, appetite, and health.
- Requirement 5
Explain the right way to obedience train a dog and the equipment needed; show your dog following any three of these commands: sit, stay, come, down, heel, fetch, drop it, get it
Tip: Practice short, positive training sessions a few minutes at a time. Rewards and patience work much better than scolding.
For example: Teach sit, stay, and come in five-minute sessions with small treats. Say the command once, reward the moment the dog does it, and end each session on a success so the dog wants to try again.
- Requirement 6
Keeping your dog healthy
Tips for this section: Ask your vet to explain the vaccinations and parasite care your dog gets. Try brushing and checking teeth with an adult's help.
- Requirement 6a
Discuss the vaccinations a dog where you live should get, and when, from puppy to adult
- Requirement 6b
Discuss how to prevent fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal worms in a dog in your area from puppy to adult
- Requirement 6c
Explain why dental care and brushing teeth matter for your dog's health
- Requirement 6d
Discuss why regular grooming of your dog's coat and nails is helpful
- Requirement 6e
Discuss with your counselor seasonal conditions where you live, like heat, cold, or high humidity, that affect your dog's care
- Requirement 6f
Discuss with your counselor the things to weigh and the benefits of spaying or neutering your dog
- Requirement 7
First aid for dogs
Tips for this section: Learn how to safely approach a hurt dog, since even friendly dogs may bite when in pain. Practice simple bandaging on a calm dog.
Example for this section: Practice on a calm dog with an adult: approach slowly from the side, speak softly, and know that a hurt dog may bite. Show how to make a soft muzzle from a strip of cloth and how to wrap a paw for a short trip to the vet.
- Requirement 7a
Explain safety precautions for handling an injured dog
- Requirement 7b
Show how to put an emergency muzzle on a dog
- Requirement 7c
Explain how to treat wounds and how to give first aid for a dog bite
- Requirement 7d
Show how to apply a simple dressing and bandage to your dog's foot, body, or head
- Requirement 7e
Explain what to do if a car hits a dog
- Requirement 7f
List what belongs in every dog owner's first-aid kit
- Requirement 7g
Explain the risks of treating a serious illness at home
- Requirement 7h
Briefly discuss rabies, parvovirus, distemper, and heartworms in dogs: their causes, how they spread, signs and symptoms, and prevention
- Requirement 8
Visit a vet hospital or animal shelter and report on your visit to your counselor
Tip: Call ahead to a vet clinic or animal shelter and ask if you can visit. Bring a few questions to ask the staff.
- Requirement 9
Know your community's laws and ordinances about dogs
Tip: Check your city or county website for leash, licensing, and cleanup rules, or ask at the animal control office.
- Requirement 10
Careers and hobbies. Choose 1 of 2
Tips for this section: Explore jobs like veterinarian, groomer, or trainer, or try a hobby like dog agility or volunteering at a shelter.
- Requirement 10a
Name three careers that use skills in working with dogs; research one's training, education, certification, experience, costs, job outlook, starting pay, and advancement; discuss with your counselor what you learned and whether it interests you
- Requirement 10b
Identify how dog skills could support a hobby or healthy lifestyle; research extra training, costs, and helpful organizations; discuss what you learned and possible short- and long-term goals with your counselor
Places to visit
Ask an adult to set it up, and go with your family, den, patrol, or crew.
A veterinary hospital
See the exam rooms, the lab, and how vets and vet techs examine, vaccinate, and treat dogs.
How: Have a parent call your dog's vet or a nearby clinic during a quiet time and ask whether a vet tech could give a short tour.
An animal shelter
Learn how dogs are cared for, matched with families, and kept healthy while they wait for a home.
How: An adult can call the shelter's volunteer coordinator to set up a tour. Many shelters have a minimum age for hands-on volunteering, so ask.
Where it can lead
- VeterinarianDiagnoses and treats animals; requires veterinary school after college.
- Veterinary technicianAssists with exams, surgery, and lab work; usually a two-year program.
- Dog trainerTeaches dogs and their owners; many learn through apprenticeships and certification.
- Animal control officerEnforces local animal laws and rescues animals in trouble.
- Military or police working dog handlerPartners with a dog trained to search, track, or detect.
Ask yourself
- What did you learn about the dog you cared for that you never noticed before?
- Which part of daily care was harder to keep up with than you expected?
- How did the dog respond when you were patient versus when you were frustrated?
- What kind of dog would fit your life someday, and why?
- What did you see at the shelter or vet that you keep thinking about?
Good questions to ask a veterinarian or shelter staff member
- What health problems do you see most that owners could have prevented?
- How do you calm a scared or hurt dog?
- What questions should a family ask before adopting a dog?
- What does a normal day at your clinic or shelter look like?
- How can someone my age help shelter dogs?
Helpful reads
- Earning a merit badge, step by step, From picking a badge to getting the final signature: how to find a counselor, set up meetings safely, work the requirements, and keep your progress., Youth · Families · 6 min read
- Contacting counselors, experts, and organizations, Email and phone scripts, who to ask for, how to follow up, and how to say thanks, with a parent copied every time., Youth · Families · 7 min read
- Choosing your next merit badge, How to pick a badge you'll actually finish: start with what you care about, balance Eagle-required and just-for-fun badges, and make the most of camp., Youth · Families · 6 min read
For leaders & parents
- If a Scout doesn't have a dog, help them connect with a neighbor or shelter so they can still complete the care log.
- Arrange a group visit to an animal shelter or veterinary clinic.
People & places that can help
- Merit badge counselor — Talk with them early; they can explain what's expected.
- Local veterinarian or animal shelter — Great places to learn about health care and see dogs up close.
- American Kennel Club (opens in a new tab) — Breed information and dog training resources.
- ASPCA (opens in a new tab) — Pet care tips and information on responsible ownership.
- AVMA: Pet Owners (opens in a new tab) — Veterinarians' advice on vaccines, parasites, dental care, and pet first aid.
- Humane World for Animals (opens in a new tab) — Adoption, dog behavior, and how to help animals in your community.
- Association of Professional Dog Trainers (opens in a new tab) — How reward-based training works and what trainers do.
Pairs well with
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Tips, examples, and questions are ideas from experienced leaders, not extra requirements. Your unit leader or counselor decides when a requirement is complete.