In fields and forests, everywhere,
A rodent's life is quite a scare,
It scurries quick and hides away,
But there are ways to find its way.

A handler with a furry friend,
Can train and teach until the end,
To detect the scent and follow through,
With every sniff and cue.

The program set and ready to go,
Alerts the team with just one blow,
Inspecting every nook and cranny,
To find the rodent, oh so canny.

With their noses trained so well,
The handlers and their dogs can tell,
Where the rodents might be hiding,
And with their paws, provide some guiding.

So if you ever see a pup,
Sniffing here and sniffing up,
Know they're working to keep you safe,
And keep those pesky rodents in their place.

Reflections

Here are a few questions to ask kids to think about the story:

1. What is a handler, and what is their job in the story?
2. How do the dogs detect rodents, and why is their sense of smell so important?
3. What is a program, and how does it help the team find rodents?
4. Have you ever seen a dog working like this in real life? How did it make you feel?
5. Why is it important to keep rodents under control and away from people?