K9 Conservationists

By Kayla Fratt

Welcome to the K9 Conservationists podcast, where we’re positively obsessed with conservation detection dogs! Join us every week as we discuss detection dogs, ecology, conservation, dog behavior, trai... more

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FAQs about K9 Conservationists:

How many episodes does K9 Conservationists have?

The podcast currently has 222 episodes available.

K9 Conservationists episodes:

November 22, 2022 Patreon Questions with Meg Barnes
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla is back with our patron Meg Barnes to answer some of her questions!
Science Highlight: None
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Where to find Meg: Instagram | Facebook
You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.
K9 Conservationists Website | Merch | Support Our Work | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
...more
1h 28min
November 15, 2022Certifications with Robin Greubel
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Robin Greubel from K9Sensus about certifying detection dogs.
Science Highlight: None
A certification is a snapshot of the skills that have proven to be predictors of success in the field

Some skill sets to consider during testing are refocusing after distraction, independent dogs (handler not assisting in finding the hides), and successful clears

There are different kinds of detection dogs (conservation, search and rescue, cadaver, etc.), so one type of certification will not necessarily fit all others, so it would be difficult to create one kind of certification for ALL detection dogs

Being certified does not make you operational, being certified is like getting your learners permit
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Where to find Robin: Website | Facebook | Instagram
You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.
K9 Conservationists Website | Merch | Support Our Work | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
...more
1h 32min
November 08, 2022Training Expert Dogs to Hand-Off to Amateurs with Miranda Turenne
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Miranda Turenne from Pacific Assistance Dogs Society about Assistance Dogs.
Science Highlight: Canine Olfaction: Scent, Sign, and Situation
How do you prep dogs for new/green handlers?
Selection of the dogs is important

Dogs that are highly biddable and highly task oriented

Building foundation skills to fluency

Training system created with the transfer to the client in mind

Clean cues, proofing, generalization
How do you prep handlers for dogs? Can any handler (any dog) do this transition?
Service dogs are not always the best choice, so the client must be prepared for a lifestyle change with a lot of work

Proper matching helps with preparation

Educational hours to ensure client is prepared with how to care for the dog

In person hand off course to learn the tasks and behaviors as well as care

Continuing education
What causes hiccups?
Training

Incompatibility

Reinforcement history

Lack of training mechanics in clients
Do you offer brush-up training or support?
As much or as little as the client needs/wants

Yearly recertification
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Training Without Conflict
Where to find Miranda: Website | Advanced Dogs Instagram | PADS Instagram | Miranda’s Instagram
You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.
K9 Conservationists Website | Merch | Support Our Work | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
...more
1h 31min
November 01, 2022Getting Published 101
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Dr. Charles van Rees, our conservation correspondent, about getting research published.
Science Highlight: None
How is getting published in academia the same, or different from other publications?
There are two major misconceptions:

1) that it’s the same as other kinds of publishing,

2) that is different than other kinds of publishing (in being somehow infallible)
What’s next? How do you find partners to co-author a paper? How do you assemble your Avengers team?
How do you target a journal? How do you know who’s a good fit for your paper? Do you write to fit their style?
How long should it be? Like do you know ahead of time, or is it just ruthlessly edited later?
How do you submit? Can you just submit cold?
Can you do this without a master’s or will you just get rejected immediately?
How do you deal with peer review?
What happens after acceptance?
What’s normal for self-promotion and sharing?
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Dogs, Personality, and Breeds Podcast
Data Carpentry

Where to find Charles: Website | Blog | Instagram | Twitter
You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.
K9 Conservationists Website | Merch | Support Our Work | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
...more
1h 18min
October 25, 2022 Preventing Wildlife Chasing with Alisa Healy
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Alisa Healy from Dog Forward Training about wildlife chasing.
Science Highlight: Training methodology for canine scent detection of a critically endangered lagomorph: a conservation case study
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Episode with Esther Mathews
Where to find Alisa: Website | Facebook | Instagram
You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.
K9 Conservationists Website | Merch | Support Our Work | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
...more
1h 1min
October 18, 2022 Invasive Species with Dr. Charles van Rees
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Dr. Charles van Rees, our Conservation Correspondent, about invasive species.
Science Highlight: None
What makes a species invasive?
Generalists
Fast-reproducing
Behavioral flexibility
Lack predators/pressures
Harmful to the ecosystem in general
Why do they matter?
Conservation implications
Economic losses
(statistics)
How do they work?
Arrival
Propagules
Establishment
Secondary spread
How do people deal with them?
EDRR & related surveying
Tier system from PRISM

Tier 1 – Early Detection/Prevention – Highest level of survey efforts. Should conduct delineation surveys and assign to appropriate Tier if detected. (a) inside buffer but not in PRISM, (b) outside PRISM and buffer, but close (eastern North America), (c) Far outside PRISM and buffer (not in east NA) but introduction pathway exists.
Tier 2 – Eradication – Highest level of response efforts. High impact species with low enough abundance to make eradication feasible within the PRISM. Need delineation surveys to determine extent.
Tier 3 – Containment – Target strategic management to slow the spread, as likely too widespread for eradication, but many surrounding regions could be at risk if left unattended.
Tier 4- Local Control – Eradication from given area not feasible; focus on localized management over time to contain, exclude, or suppress to protect high-priority resources like rare species or recreation assets. Be strategic when deciding if/where to control
Tier 5 (Monitor) – Species that need more research, mapping, and monitoring to understand their invasiveness. This includes naturalized species and cultivated-only species that are known to be invasive in other regions but are not yet invasive here

Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Why are invasive species bad?
Ted Talk
Where to find Charles: Website | Blog | Instagram | Twitter
You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.
K9 Conservationists Website | Merch | Support Our Work | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
...more
1h 20min
October 04, 2022 Mid Season Musings
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla talks candidly about some mid-season musings.
Links Mentioned in the Episode: None
You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.
K9 Conservationists Website | Merch | Support Our Work | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
...more
51min
September 27, 2022Predation Substitute with Simone Mueller
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Simone Mueller about Predation Substitute Training.
Science Highlight: Performance of Pugs, German Shepherds, and Greyhounds (Canis lupus familiaris) on an odor-discrimination task
What is predation substitute training?
A force free protocol to stop predatory chasing.
What are the steps?
Management/prevention: stay in contact with the dog while out, keep the dog on-path, perimeter training

Tools: calmness around wildlife, so the dog can still think and perform alternative behavior (stand and watch). The deal is you can stand/watch but not chase. All parts of predatory sequence are inherently reinforcing, so we can allow them to eye/stalk without chase/bite

Alternative reinforcement, outlet through predation games

Interrupter (recall)
What are the first signs of predation?
Observing - there is no trigger yet, but they are looking for one. This is the time to get involved.

Stalking - they are focused on the prey, tense and arrow shaped body language, creeping forward

Chase - high level of arousal, hard to train anything here

Capture & consume - ideally you will never get to this point
Links Mentioned in the Episode: None
Where to find Simone Mueller: Website | Facebook | Instagram
You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.
K9 Conservationists Website | Merch | Support Our Work | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
...more
1h 4min
September 20, 2022Breeding Functional Working Dogs with Dr. Jessica Heckman
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Dr. Jessica Heckman from Dog Zombie about Breeding Functional Dogs.
Science Highlight: Advancing Genetic Selection and Behavioral Genomics of Working Dogs Through Collaborative Science
What is functional breeding?
The population is no more at risk of X disease than the dog population as a whole.

Also prioritizing behavioral wellness over looks or closed stud books. No elevated risk of separation anxiety, etc.
What are common pitfalls breeding programs can run into?
Not bringing in dogs from outside of the population

You aren’t going to get to the goal and sit there - you have to keep working at it while you have it

“It's not about the first generation, it’s about the population and the direction you are moving the population towards” - Dr. Jessica Heckman
What tests are mission critical?
It depends on the breed/mix

The very first step would go to the breed club and see what tests they recommends

Then start talking to other breeders in the breed and learn about what issues the breed has

For mixed breeds, you should test for everything each purebred parent should be tested for, but it’s hard to say
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Pet genomics medicine runs wild
Where Do Good Dogs Come From
Where to find Dr. Jessica Heckman: Website | Functional Dog Collaborative
You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.
K9 Conservationists Website | Merch | Support Our Work | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
...more
1h 12min
September 13, 2022Airports to Moors: Invasive Species Mitigation with Grant Blackley
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Grant Blackley from Orkney Native Wildlife Project about transitioning from airport screening detection dogs to working with conservation detection dogs.
Science Highlight: Olfaction-based Detection Distance: A Quantitative Analysis of How Far Away Dogs Recognize Tortoise Odor and Follow It to Source
What is similar between airport detection and conservation detection?
Dog care is the same; health checks, etc.

Training foundations are similar

Educating the public is the same for both
What things are different?
Quick controlled rewards in the airport vs toy rewards for conservation

Dogs on leash at all times in the airport, can be off leash for conservation

Taught to speak a lot to airport detection dogs, but not for conservation

Overall search styles are different

Small differences in training elements

All airport dogs are trained the same, conservation dogs trained individually

Different hours of work, different work environment

More human sided work with airport detection vs conservation

There is more work and funding for airport detection
Links Mentioned in the Episode: None
Where to find Grant Blackley: Website | Facebook
You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.
K9 Conservationists Website | Merch | Support Our Work | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
...more
54min

FAQs about K9 Conservationists:

How many episodes does K9 Conservationists have?

The podcast currently has 222 episodes available.

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