K9 Conservationists

By Kayla FrattScience Natural Sciences

K9 Conservationists episodes

May 17, 2022 Poop is Brown Gold with Misa Winters & Tara Wilson
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Misa Winters and Tara Wilson about laboratory analysis of scat after field collection.
Science Highlight: Duration of urination does not change with body size
What can we learn from our scat samples?
Genetic analysis (what species, what individual, what did it eat, sex typing)
Morphological diet analysis (fur, bones, teeth, plants, insects)
Microbiome (bacteria and immune system interaction)
Parasites, pathogen analysis (bacteria and viral disease)
Hormonal analysis (stress, pregnancy, nutrition, relative age)
Age (isotope data)
Hormones in particular are great from scat because it is more representative of an animal over time, versus a blood sample which is a smaller snapshot in time and could be skewed by the stress of capturing or darting an animal.
What questions from samples are harder/easier to answer?
Easier:
Species ID from mitochondrial DNA (if you have good reference data)
Prey analysis (if you have a targeted strategy - e.g. it’s hard to use a single genetic marker to analyze ALL prey but it depends on if you’re looking for mammals, birds, fish, etc.)
Pregnancy (but actually need three assays estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone which can also point to a juvenile or adult).
Stress - is it nutritional or environmental (T3 or cortisol)
Harder:
Individual capture-mark-recapture since it uses nuclear DNA and relies on a good resampling scheme.
How many animals are on the landscape? Especially when using prey data, you have to make a lot of assumptions about how many predators can eat from the same prey species. We also know that DNA from prey is not equally represented after digestion, it will depend on the tissue ingested too.
Where to find Misa Winters: Website | Instagram | Lab Instagram
Where to find Tara Wilson: 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
1 hr 35 min
May 10, 2022 Kenya & K9 Conservationists Update
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla provides an update on what she has been doing in Kenya, announces the new K9 Conservationist course, and answers some questions from patrons.
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
K9 Conservationists Course
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
50 min
May 03, 2022Breeding Detection Dogs Part 2 with Kate Graham
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla is back for part two with Kate Graham from Katalyst Kennels about breeding detection dogs.
Science Highlight: Effects of maternal investment, temperament, and cognition on guide dog success
What is important to consider for pregnant broods?
Appropriate exercise for pregnant broods to keep them fit, which is better and safer for whelping and recovery

Gestational appropriate diet

Puzzles and enrichment post birth can help dogs meet their enrichment needs while still looking after the puppies
What is important to consider for puppy raising?
Avidog or Puppy Culture are great to follow for puppies, or a mix of both
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Avidog
Puppy Culture
Maybe link Pandemic Puppy episodes?
Where to find Kate Graham: Website | 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
1 hr 13 min
April 26, 2022Breeding Detection Dogs Part 1 with Kate Graham
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Kate Graham from Katalyst Kennels about breeding detection dogs.
Science Highlight: Effects of maternal investment, temperament, and cognition on guide dog success
What health testing is important in the field?
Pay attention to health conditions in the breed, like orthopedics (OFA hips and elbows), echocardiograms, and eyes

Look at the breadth of pedigree, not just the dog itself

General genetic testing to find carriers
What about successful sporting dogs with less-solid pedigrees?
Looking for dogs that work independently, highly motivated, and handler resilient in terms of performance

Then see if the health related issues can be bred with a complimentary pedigree

Behavioral issues are not worth the risk

Sometimes this won’t be successful, but other times it will be
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Where to find Kate Graham: Website | 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
1 hr 3 min
April 19, 2022 A Possible Solution for the Bat and Wind Farm Crisis with Jo Lock
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Jo Lock of Nose No Limit and Conservation Dogs Collective regarding her paper about using antecedent arrangement to help reduce bat fatalities on wind farms.
Science Highlight: The relationship between number of training sessions per week and learning in dogs
**Link the Jo Lock paper
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Where to find Jo Lock: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Conservation Dogs Collective
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
52 min
April 14, 2022 Action for Cheetahs in Kenya - BONUS Episode
In this bonus episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Mary Wykstra from Carnivores, Livelihoods and Landscapes, about the work they are doing with Actions for Cheetahs in Kenya.
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Where to find Mary Wykstra: Website | Facebook | Vaccination Facebook Page | Go Fund Me
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
53 min
April 12, 2022Unusual Sniffer Dogs and Blood Tracking with Lindsay Ware
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Lindsay Ware of Science Dogs of New England about breed selection for unique uses, big game tracking, and more!
Science Highlight: Effects of learning an increasing number of odors on olfactory learning, memory and generalization in detection dogs
Different dogs place different priorities that we really have to be on top of
How do you start training a dog for tracking?
Similar to the conservation world with hides, but instead they are mock trails using animal blood or animal hooves

The goal is to not be 100% realistic, but to be able to gradually increase the difficulty

Train alongside an experienced dog
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Last Track: Trailer - YouTube
United Blood Trackers
Tracking Dogs for Finding Wounded Deer
Where to find Lindsay Ware: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Tracking 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
1 hr 9 min
April 05, 2022 Conservation Canines: How Dogs work for the Environment
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Isabelle Groc about her book Conservation Canines: How Dogs Work for the Environment.
Science Highlight: Performance of detection dogs and visual searches for scat detection and discrimination amongst related species with identical diets
Have you read Conservation Canines: How Dogs Help the Environment yet? Isabelle Groc put together this lovely book to highlight many of the working dogs around the world, from conservation detection dogs to livestock guardian dogs. I had a blast learning about her book-writing process. If you don't have the book yet, order it! It's gorgeous and a great read.
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Isabelle Groc Book list
Where to find Isabelle Groc: Website
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
45 min
March 29, 2022Panel Discussion with Ken Ramirez, Kim Brophy, Laura Holder, Dr. Erim Gomez, Ursa Acree, and Dr. Charles van Rees
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla hosts a panel of conservationists, dog behavior consultants and trainers, and ecologists. Our panel guests this episode are Dr. Charles van Rees, Ken Ramirez, Ursa Acree, Kim Brophy, Laura Holder, and Dr. Erim Gomez.
Questions asked:
What kinds of applications are currently practiced in conservation dogs work that might surprise those of us who don’t know about them?

What are your top 2 or 3 professional ethics you feel are the most important in the work you do with animals (including humans)?

What are the top things that you most wish your ecologist colleagues knew about dogs and dog training, that would make your collaborations easier or more productive?

Where do you see this profession going in the future?

Do you see an opportunity for pet dogs to become involved in conservation work on a large scale as a way to “give dogs jobs”?

From your current knowledge of the “working dog world,” where do you see the biggest opportunities to provide these incredible creatures with a healthier body, mind, and life?

How can dogs be involved in the growing ecology world?

What advice would you give to yourself 10 years ago? Where do you see yourself in your career 10 years from now?
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Detection dogs in nature conservation: A database on their world-wide deployment with a review on breeds used and their performance compared to other methods
1 hr 22 min
March 22, 2022Training an "All Clear" for Detection Dogs with Paul Bunker of Chiron K9
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Paul Bunker about all clear procedures.
Science Highlight: An assessment of the effects of habitat structure on the scat finding performance of a wildlife detection dog
What is an all-clear response?
The dog’s formal response to let the handler know there is no odor to alert to
What is a go-no-go response?
The dog’s NON-formal response to let the handler know there is no odor to alert to
What’s a situation we may want to teach this for?
Odor recognition tests

Teaching them that they can still get rewarded for no odor, which reduces stress

Good to check for contamination

Teaches them to be confident in leaving a search area with no target present knowing they will still be rewarded
What components make for a successful all clear?
Ensure it is maintained and refreshed

Prepare your training session in advance. Progression plans are extremely important.

Variable reinforcement with your dog’s reward hierarchy

The dog must 100% understand target before learning all clear

Don’t use jackpot rewards for an all clear
What other options do we have for reducing stress and reducing false responses (go-no-go)?
Teach odor separately from systems of searching so they are not codependent

Train blank sessions

Train longer sessions (within the abilities of your dog) so that it is similar to long working days

Develop independence early
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Where to find Paul Bunker: Website | 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
1 hr 3 min

About K9 Conservationists

From the publisher's feed

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, training, and much more.