Jerry Bradshaw joins us on HFA to discuss Variable Reinforcement Schedules in detection dog training. Jerry has over 30 years' experience in training detection, patrol, and tracking dogs for law enforcement agencies and militaries both domestically and internationally. In addition to professionally training working dogs, Jerry has also won national titles with his personal dogs in the competitive protection sports of Schutzhund and Protection Sports Association (PSA). Jerry currently serves as the Director and President of Tarheel Canine Training in North Carolina which provides trained patrol and detection dogs to LE agencies across the country.

Variable Reinforcement is a topic rarely discussed in SAR circles, but it has been a staple of detection K-9 training for many years. By varying when and how you reward your dog during training you can add the "Maybe" question to your dog's behavior which can increase the intensity and reliability of the behavior. If you have not implemented Variable Reinforcement into your training, you definitely want to hear Jerry explain the benefits of this training methodology.

References mentioned during the episode:

Jerry's webinar series on detection: Detection Webinar Link

Tarheel Canine: Website Link

Slideshare: Powerpoint Link

Controlled Aggression: Podcast Link

In this episode of HFA we continue our discussion with Sonja Nordstrom on Selecting and Starting a Human Remains Detection dog in Part 2 of the conversation. In Part 2 we discuss in detail different methodologies of exposing dogs to odor, in addition to the odor imprinting process for green dogs.

We also discuss dedication to odor, proofing off non-target odors and the all important TFR (mistakenly referred to by me as "FTR"). This episode is a great guide to HR handlers who are thinking of how to start their next dog, and provides great context and gotchas for adding odor to your dog.

Mike Suttle Odor Imprinting Process: Odor Imprinting Process

SMART Dog Training Conference: Smart Dog

Sonja's Dog Training: Sonja's Training

Hunt-Find-Alert Facebook: Facebook Page

Sonja Nordstrom joins us on HFA to discuss how to select a dog for Human Remains Detection (HRD) work, as well as how to start training with the dog to prepare for real world deployments.  Sonja is a retired FBI Special Agent and has nearly three decades of K-9 search and rescue experience, additionally Sonja competed in Mondio Ring, French Ring, and IPO for nearly 10 years.  In addition to K-9 SAR and protection dog sports Sonja serves as a judge and trainer for UKC Nosework competitions.  Sonja is also the owner of Sonja's Dog Training and a Co-Founder of American Tactical Aggregate K-9.

In this episode of HFA we go into detail of what to look for and avoid when selecting a HRD dog, including breeders, puppy selection, and initial training of the dog.  We discuss the benefits of selecting a dog from working bloodlines, the importance of health testing in dogs, and so much more.  If you are interested in doing HRD with your dog, you will not want to miss this episode.  This episode is Part 1 of a 2 part discussion with Sonja.

References mentioned during the episode.

K-9 Top Tales: K-9 Top Tales Podcast

Great Basin Search and Rescue: https://greatbasink-9sar.org/

Sonja's Dog Training: Sonja's Dog Training

American Tactical Aggregate K-9: https://atak9.com/

Hunt-Find-Alert: Facebook Page

Nadine Conner joins us on HFA to discuss how to get started in K-9 Search and Rescue.   Nadine is a Master Trainer and evaluator for AMPWDA and a Lead Trainer at FACTS, in addition to being a professional dog trainer with nearly 20 years of experience working with dogs.

This is a great episode for people who may be interested in joining a search and rescue team, and provides a great overview of the process of getting started.  In this discussion we discuss the type of people who can do search and rescue, some of the various roles on search and rescue teams, and some of the requirements to join a search and rescue team.  We also discussed the all important dog!  What to look for in a dog, how to acquire a dog, and the role that a dog can play in joining your local SAR team.

References mentioned during the episode:

SitStay Dog Training: http://www.sitstaydog.com/

Great Plains Search & Rescue: https://gpsk9s.org/

AMPWDA: https://www.americanmantrailing.com/index.html

FACTS: https://www.txst.edu/anthropology/facts/workshops/K9.html

Nadine's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nadine.hoffconner

Former Texas District Court Judge Kelly Case joins the show to inform our listeners of the legal implications of search and rescue that all K-9 Handlers should be aware of.

Kelly Case has spent time as a Texas District Court Judge, Assistant District Attorney, and Criminal Defense Attorney and he provides us an overview of the legal aspects of search and rescue that's vitally important for all SAR team members to be aware of.

Hunt-Find-Alert: Facebook Page

Trejos v Texas (K9 Application of the Nenno Test): https://caselaw.findlaw.com/tx-court-of-appeals/1101233.html

Nenno v Texas: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/tx-court-of-criminal-appeals/1130950.html

Welcome to Hunt-Find-Alert the podcast covering everything K-9 Search and Rescue related.  This episode is a brief overview of the podcast and is a precursor to the exciting upcoming conversations that we will have.

Hunt-Find-Alert Facebook

Glossary of Terms:

AMPWDA = American Mantrailing, Police & Work Dog Association

AWDA = American Working Dog Association

NSDA = National Search Dog Alliance

SDONA = Search Dog Organization of North America

HRD = Human Remains Detection