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 238 episodes available.

K9 Conservationists episodes:

January 18, 2022Fringe Alerts with Stacy Barnett
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla talks to Stacy Barnett about fringe alerts in detection dogs.
What is fringing?
When a dog alerts to odor outside of the preferred range of where the indication should be, aka too far away

The final response begins where sourcing ends, so with fringing, the sourcing ends prematurely, making the alert farther away from the scent than is preferred
Why does it happen?
The behavior chain of sourcing and alerting is off balance
Over-enthusiastic for the search

Over emphasising the alert/not enough emphasis on sourcing the odor

Different kind of setting with work/trial vs training
For a trial or working a job, you are under different stressors and you aren’t able to control the environment and set up

When under pressure, your behavior may be different which can be difficult for your dog to work with

Differentiation of odor concentration
If working in a situation with different odor concentrations, they may start to conclude a certain concentration of odor and start alerting to only that strength of scent

It may be too easy or too hard

Genetics is a big deal, but training is a bigger deal
What are ways we can fix it?
More balanced training sessions - both sourcing and alerting

“Show me” cue

Ignoring fringe alerts and encouraging them to keep working/”keep going” cue

Working to get the “show me” cue or the “keep going” cue out of the behavior chain
What are the downfalls of the “show me” cue?
Can cause your dog to rely on the handler to source

Can become a prompted cue to alert

It is important to make sure it doesn’t become part of the behavior chain
How do we build sourcing into our training?
Set up for success
Smaller and shorter puzzles easy for them to source

More complicated puzzles to get them back into the sourcing mindset

Increase the challenge level for the dogs skill level to keep the flow going
Too easy may be boring, too challenging may be too frustrating

Hide placement is important in training sessions
The training doesn't come from the human, the training comes from the hide

Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Sourcing Odor with Stacy Barrett

Signal Detection Theory with Dr. Simon Gadbois
Where to find Stacy Barrett: Website | Podcast | 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 6min
January 11, 2022 Bats and Wind Farms with Dr. Merlin Tuttle
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla talks to Dr. Merlin Tuttle about bats and wind farms.
Episode suggestion: Come to conversations ready to learn and ready to be curious.
Call to action: Research your utility company and ask about green energy options in your area.
More than 3 million bats a year are being killed by wind farms, none of which are labelled as endangered
What can listeners do to get more involved?
Be more knowledgeable about who you support. Ask them questions!
Reduce the power you use!
“Why run animals to environmental irrelevance before doing anything?”
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Win Friends Not Battles
Female bats harmed disproprotionately by turbines
Where to find Dr. Tuttle: Video Library | Photo Library | 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
...more
41min
January 04, 2022Amphibians and Charismatic MiniFauna with Dr. Erim Gomez
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla talks to Dr. Erim Gomez. They nerd out about amphibians, diversity, and academia!
Episode suggestion: Try something new, even if it’s small!
Call to action: Update your amazon smile to benefit K9 Conservationist!
How could dogs help with amphibian research?
Humans can’t see as well as dogs can smell, so dogs would be more accurate

Dogs would also be able to help pinpoint the location in a safer way, vs humans having to dig around to find one
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Spadefoot Toad
Roguefungus
Where to find Erim: 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 3min
December 28, 2021 "Making It" as a Conservation Detection Dog Handler
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla talks about her experience and advice on how to “make it” as a K9 Conservationists handler.
Call to action: Join us on Patreon or make a monthly donation.
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Lonely Conservationists Essay
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
39min
December 21, 2021Give Bats a Break with Nate Marshall
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla and Charles speak with Nate Marshall. They talk about bats, wind farms, and why you should care about the conservation of bats!
Episode suggestion: Win friends, not battles.
Call to action: Build a bat box.
What should we like about bats?
They are around everywhere in multiple types of ecosystems

They eat insects, fruits, fish, crustaceans, and blood

The variation and diversity in bats is truly astonishing

1 in 5 mammals in the world is a species of bat
How many different species?
There are over 1400 species, the number still increasing due to discoveries
Are they nocturnal?
Not all species are! Some are, others are day-dwelling

Same with echolocation; not all of them do it
What do they eat?
Mosquitos and other mosquito sized insects, which helps our ecosystem

They also eat other pests, like moths

Fruit; they help disperse seeds

Nectar; they help pollinate

Blood; only 3 species consume blood

Fish
Bats and Wind Farms
While wind farms are good for pollution, they are decimating migratory species, such as bats

Some farms are trying ways to get bats to avoid the area, or to shut down during peak migration periods

Various farms are working on new mitigation techniques that work better
What other threats do bats face?
White nose syndrome, which is a fungal infection that wakes hibernating bats

They are hunted in some places for meat

General misinformation and fear
What can we do to help?
Bat boxes. However, they aren’t a long term solution

It is important to follow the research when building and placing a bat box

Plant trees

Less pesticides the better

Grow a garden

Keep water clean

Artificial lighting can be detrimental to bats

Find a local bat working group

Bat walks
...more
1h 19min
December 14, 2021 Introducing Our New Conservation Correspondent: Dr. Charles van Rees
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla introduces Dr. Charles van Rees. Charles has been on the show before, but will now make a more regular appearance as K9 Conservationists new Conservation Correspondent.
...more
40min
December 07, 2021Selecting and Raising a Conservation Detection Dog Puppy with Laura Holder
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla talks to Laura Holder of Conservation Dogs Collective. They chat all about puppies!
Episode suggestion: Stay curious by being more “dog”! For 90 seconds a day, find joy in little things and slow down!
Call to action: Update your Amazon Smile to benefit K9 Conservationists.
What are the pros and cons of getting a conservation dog as a puppy?
Pros: Having a dog from a puppy gives you more control over their learning and getting them started on detection-related development early
Cons: It is a huge time and monetary investment. There is also no guarantee they will end up working as a conversation dog.
What are you looking for when looking for a breeder?
It is a good idea to interview breeders Look for physical health, how the dogs are kept, titles, bred for related work (service work, police dogs, hunting, etc.)
How to pick a puppy from a litter?
If the breeder doesn’t pick for you, it would be best to see some video of the litters, see if the breeder knows about Puppy Culture, etc. You can do an obstacle course, puzzles, etc. If your breeder is selecting, ensure they know what they are looking for. Be cautious about shelter puppies, as there are so many perks to working with a reputable breeder
What are some games would you play with puppies to get them started on the conservation detection line of work?
Basic puppy socialization is important! Sprinkle in a little bit of nosework such as food scatters and snuffle mats! Keep things easy to start, they are just puppies!
What about games for a pre-teen puppy?
They have a higher attention span, so you can increase the difficulty of your nose games

Barrier challenges are good to start at this age
What games can we play with teenage detection dogs?
They are still young, so it’s important to know they will still have “difficult” days You can increase the difficulty even more and introduce physical aspects to the challenges
How do you manage your goals and expectations for your puppy?
Your puppy will never be perfect, neither will you.

Mistakes will happen and that’s okay!

Working with a professional will help set you up for success

Be your puppy’s advocate

Be humble, don’t wear rose coloured glasses

“Everything is a phase; whether it’s good, whether it’s bad, whether you’re thrilled with what you’re seeing or devastated.”

Know when to really dig into something or when to just let them ride it out

It is absolutely okay if raising a puppy is not your thing.
Patreon Question: How can I be productive in developing a conservation or good scent detection puppy while dealing with puppy brain and waiting for maturity to hit? Are there certain signs that you can see early on a potential conservation prospect puppy? Try as best as possible to expose and positively influence the puppies experience out in the world.
You’ve got time! Signs to look for are dogs that are motivated to engage with the environment with and without human-induced reinforcers
...more
1h 4min
November 30, 2021How to be a K9 Conservationist
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla discusses the ins and outs of becoming a K9 Conservationist!
Episode suggestion: It’s okay to not finish a book if you aren’t liking it.
Call to action: Check out our new merch!!
Suggested by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, create a 3-way Venn diagram of how to get involved.
Top circle is “what you love.”

Circle off to the left of what you’re good at

Lastly, a circle to the right of what the world needs.

In the center could be some ways you can help save the planet, save some dogs, or be a k9 conservationist.
Smaller ways to help
Be a more eco friendly dog owner by supporting local, reducing your carbon footprint during travel, etc.

Volunteer with organizations that protect the land or start your own
Getting in the field of conservation detection:
Your first 2 steps no matter what are similar if you want to be a handler: learn scentwork/handling/dog behavior and familiarize yourself with field biology and survey techniques

Volunteer to start to see if its something you’d be interested in

Education
Grad school is one option

Getting hired with a bigger organization is another
Working Dogs for Conservation

Rogue Detection Teams

Science Dogs of New England

Conservation Dogs Collective

WEST Inc
Summer gigs for wind and solar farms

You get hired with your dog

Other abroad organizations

Taking courses in person and online, such as Fenzi Dog Sport Academy for Nosework, Rogue Detection Teams, Conservation K9 Consultancy in Australia

K9 Conservationist podcast and patreon

Being a handler isn’t your only option, and it’s not for everyone. Other ways to get involved:
Volunteer with us: course creation, social media, website maintenance - you probably have a skill we need!

Work in another role like fundraising at another organization

Biologists can hire us

Shelter workers can help us find other dogs

Donations, of course

Get involved in your local community with the shelter, trail building, PlayCleanGo, wildlife rehab, or just pick up some extra dog poo bags.
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
22min
November 23, 2021Inspiring the Next Generation of Conservationists with Jeff Rennicke
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Jeff Rennickle. They talk about inspiring others to care about the land and Jeff’s experiences with photographing the world and teaching at the Conserve School.
Episode suggestion: Give yourself grace for what you’re capable of right now.
Call to action: Find a place that speaks to you, visit it often, and find out what you can do to get involved in its protection.
What is wilderness?
The wildness of our planet and the existence of everything in it

The preservation of the world

There's always two people in a photograph: photographer and viewer
Words and photos have the power to inspire people. Why does it matter?
“Knowledge without love will not stick, but teach someone to love something first, then knowledge will follow.” - John Burroughs
What are some of the lessons you’ve learned from working with adults vs children?
There are a lot of similarities

There are subtle difference in pacing, assumption of understanding, etc., but you are still telling stories about a cause you want them to fall in love with

“Facts and figures don’t stick, it’s love” - Jeff
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Wilderness and the American Mind
Jeff’s bog and conservation photos
Hannah Stonehouse Hudson Photography
Where to find Jeff: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Friends of the Apostle Islands
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
November 16, 2021Communications, Travel, and Conservation with Brooke Mitchell-Norman
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Brooke Mitchell-Norman. They talk about tourism, communication, education, and how all of that relates to conservation!
Episode suggestion: Don't sacrifice what you want now for what you want most of all.
Call to action: Support a local small business that donates or shares some of its profits with a cause you care about.
How does travel benefit conservation?
When it is done right, it puts an exact value dollar on a live and thriving wildlifeWhen your favourite species is a top predator, it is in your genes to want to kill it to protect yourself
There are very few things in conservation that places monetary value on wildlife, nature, and intact ecosystems

A significant number of people are directly and indirectly supported through tourism
Can you tell us about some of the ways that travelers can not just support local communities and put value on live animals but also directly contribute to community science?
Do your research

Check the websites; can you tell if the business is locally owned or not?If so, your money will be for the local community

How are they interacting with wildlife?If there are advertisements of people directly touching and interacting with wildlife, such as cubs, that is a red flag

If something makes you uncomfortable, you do not have to do it
Are there any countries with regulations on these things?
The Galapagos

Africa

Be wary of Asia, research elephant tourism
Why is communication and education so important for conservation?
Connection

We have to change the message from doom and gloom to storytelling and showing what we are fighting for

If you connect with someone on a deeper level, they are more likely to listen to what you have to say and support you
What are some misunderstandings?
That it is “bothering” wildlife, but there are always many layers to the reason for it. If it wasn’t for tourism, a lot of ecosystems would not have continued to thrive

There are a lot of tourism places that give a bad reputation to the reputable ones
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Lekker Coffee in Rino, Colorado

Rhino Film: The Last Horns of Africa
Where to find Brooke: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube
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 23min

FAQs about K9 Conservationists:

How many episodes does K9 Conservationists have?

The podcast currently has 238 episodes available.

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