In this episode, Cameron Ford interviews Stu Phillips, an operational K9 handler and trainer. Stu shares his journey of working with military working dogs and transitioning to civilian work as a detection dog handler. He discusses the challenges and requirements of working with passive screening drug dogs in high pedestrian environments. Stu also talks about his experience working with explosive detection dogs during the London Olympics. The conversation concludes with Stu's work training whiskey barrel detection dogs and the process of training dogs to detect low-level odors. In this part of the conversation, Stu Phillips discusses the importance of recording and timing in dog training. He then shares the story of the whiskey dogs and the challenges he faced training them. He also talks about his work with tobacco detection dogs and the unique qualities he looks for in these dogs. Finally, he emphasizes the importance of reading your dog and incorporating blank searches into training. In this conversation, Stu Phillips and Cameron Ford discuss various topics related to detection dog training and handling. They cover the use of a middle position and reinforcing different search outcomes, the challenges of conservation detection work, the pros and cons of using Kong as a training tool, advice for handlers working with their first detection dog, and the differences between Springer Spaniels and working Cocker Spaniels. Stu Phillips also shares how people can connect with him and the services he offers.

You can reach out to Stu on Instagram @bwyk9
Website http://www.bwycanine.co.uk

CHAPTERS

00:00

Introduction and Background

01:19

Getting into Dogs and Working with Military Working Dogs

02:09

Transitioning to Civilian Work and Training Detection Dogs

03:36

Working as a Passive Screening Drug Dog Handler

04:55

Working in High Pedestrian Environments with Passive Screening Dogs

06:40

Qualities of a Dog for People Screening

08:16

Memorable Deployment with a Passive Screening Dog

09:02

Transitioning to Explosive Detection Dogs for the Olympics

19:46

Challenges and Issues with Contracting Companies

33:12

Training Whiskey Barrel Detection Dogs

39:40

Dog Selection and Training for Low-Level Odor Detection

48:51

Training Process and Proofing for Operational Readiness

51:24

The Importance of Recording and Timing

55:22

The Whiskey Dogs

59:27

Tobacco Detection Dogs

01:09:14

Challenges of Tobacco Detection

01:19:40

The Importance of Reading Your Dog

01:28:32

Qualities of a Tobacco Detection Dog

01:32:19

Training with Blank Searches

01:39:45

Using a Middle Position and Reinforcing Different Search Outcomes

01:41:41

Conservation Detection and the Challenges Faced

01:51:25

Pros and Cons of Using Kong as a Training Tool

02:04:32

Advice for Handlers Working with Their First Detection Dog

02:11:52

Differences Between Springer Spaniels and Working Cocker Spaniels

02:20:32

How to Connect with Stu Phillips and the Services He Offers