K9 Conservationists

Join Kayla Fratt and favorite of the podcast, Paul Bunker to discuss his fantastic new workbook "The Detection of Buried Targets by Canines". Kayla and Paul delve into the challenges of buried hides and how just digging a hole and covering your target doesn't cut it. This workbook is fantastic for working K9 handlers or anyone who wants to become a more skilled and knowledgeable trainer. Paul brings over 40 years of K9 detection knowledge and experience not only to the workbook but to today's podcast.

( PS: There are some minor audio issues throughout the podcast due to internet issues during recording. We've mitigated them as much as possible. )

Purchase all Paul's workbooks here:

https://chiron-k9.com/publications/

Host: Kayla Fratt

Editor: Sara Fangton

Sci-comm intern: Evelyn Combs

Guest logistics: Brooke Schoeder

Website: Meg du Bray

Patreon: Madison David

Today Kayla Fratt chats with Wes Binder who studies cougars (also known as mountain lions or pumas) in Yellowstone national park. Learn about this unique (but tried and true) method to find these elusive cats and then how they safely bring the cougars down from the trees to perform vital research. Hear first hand stories from the field and how Wes and the team found more than just a cougar on one of their adventures 🐻

Host: Kayla Fratt

Editor: Sara Fangton

Sci-comm intern: Evelyn Combs

Guest logistics: Brooke Schoeder

Website: Meg du Bray

Patreon: Madison David

Join Kayla Fratt and special guest Caden Christopher for this somewhat unorthodox episode of K9Conservationists. Today we're stepping away a bit from conservation detection dogs and imagining what a better world for our canine companions would look like if there were no borders, no financial constraints, breeding and dog placements were truly in the best interest of the dog and people, and so on.

Connect with Caden here!

(Fun fact: There's an additional 15 minutes of this episode over on our pateron! )

Host: Kayla Fratt

Editor: Sara Fangton

Sci-comm interns: Evelyn Combs and Grace Koski

Guest logistics: Brooke Schoeder

Website: Meg du Bray

Pateron coaching calls: Madison Davis

In this puppy-tastic episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla Fratt chats with Lauren Wendt of Momentum K9 LLC about her years selecting, raising, and preparing puppies for various lines of work. Lauren is a highly, highly accomplished trainer that just so happens to have trained upward of 9 puppies for various jobs. Lauren has basically perfected the art of puppy selection and rearing!

In her new online course, Foundations First Course through our platform with K9 Conservationists, you can watch Lauren raise her brand new puppy, Archie, in real time as she tackles everything puppyhood has to throw at her as she raises a confident, independent, and strong conservation detection dog prospect.

Host: Kayla Fratt

Editor: Sara Fangton

Sci-comm interns: Evelyn Combs and Grace Koski

Guest logistics: Brooke Schoeder

Website: Meg du Bray

Pateron coaching calls: Madison Davis

On this week's episode of K9Conservationists Kayla Fratt chats with Debi Deshon the pack leader of Mussel Dogs and Dogs with Jobs. Debi discusses the process of screening prospect dogs, training, and what happens when the dogs tells her that this job just isn't for them.

Connect with Debi and her amazing work!

Mussel Dogs

musseldogs.infoInstagram @mussel_dogs

Facebook: Mussel dogs

Dogs with Jobs

dogswithjobs.info

Instagram: @dogswithjobsk9

Host: Kayla Fratt

Editor: Sara Fangton

Guest logistics: Brooke Schoeder

Website: Meg du Bray

Patreon: Madison Davis

Join Kayla Fratt, co-founder of K9Conservationists, as she chats with Reetta Kangaslampi, a PhD researcher from the University of Eastern Finland and Dr. Natasha Underwood, an ecologist, environmental consultant, and specialist conservation detection dog handler about their journeys raising cocker and springer spaniels for detection. Reetta and Natasha discuss how they went about choosing their perfect spaniel, early training, and some of the classic spaniel hurdles they run into. Reetta Kangaslampi

Instagram: K9barkbeetles https://www.instagram.com/k9sbarkbeetles?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Dr. Natasha Underwood

Instagram: NHU Ecology and detection dogs

https://www.instagram.com/nhu_ecology_and_detection_dogs/

Host: Kayla Fratt

Editor: Sara Fangton 

Guest logistics: Brooke Schoeder 

Intern: Grace Koski

Website: Meg du Bray

Mentoring group: Madison Davis

If you haven't heard part one- we highly recommend going back and listening to that fist! Then head right back here and listen to this second part of our two part interview with Emma Gaalaas Mullaney, PhD. Learn more about her roll as the director of detection and search and rescue at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center and about the extraordinary dog teams she works with today.

Host: Kayla Fratt

Editor: Sara Fangton 

Guest logistics: Brooke Schoeder 

Intern: Grace Koski

Website: Meg du Bray

Mentoring group: Madison Davis

In this episode of K9Conservationists, Kayla Fratt is joined by Emma Gaalaas Mullaney as they discuss her heterodox (unconventional) approach to selecting and raising detection dogs. In this episode, Emma discusses her first detection dog, Toby, and how his unorthodox breed, personality, and drive lead Emma to her deep understanding and empathy for not only Toby, but for the dogs she works with today.

This is a two part episode, so join us for the next one to learn more about her roll at Penn Vet and to learn more about the dog teams she works with today.

Host: Kayla Fratt

Editor: Sara Fangton 

Guest logistics: Brooke Schoeder 

Intern: Grace Koski

Website: Meg du Bray

Mentoring group: Madison Davis

Check in with all THREE co-founders of K9 Conservationists as they go over all the highs and lows of 2025. Kayla, Rachel, and Heather discuss their organizational roles, major project wins, team expansion, handler and dog highlights, and lessons learned from fieldwork across Texas, Wyoming, Maine, Alaska, and beyond. If you want to know everything K9C has been up to in 2025- this is the episode for you!

Host: Kayla Fratt

Editor: Sara Fangton 

Guest logistics: Brooke Schoeder 

Interns: Evelyn Combs and Grace Koski

Website: Meg du Bray

Mentoring group: Madison Davis

Ever wonder how a seasoned handler selects their new co-woffer? Kayla Fratt, co-founder of K9Conservationists, walks through her process of how she selected her newest recruit Skipper! Kayla talks about how she went about finding potential candidates, how she screened over 70 dogs, and how she finally landed on Skipper. If you're looking to find your next detection dog and want to know all the nitty-gritty on how that happens- this is the episode for you!

Massive shout out to Thrifted Kittens Animal Rescue for their help and taking such amazing care of Skipper (then Pretzel)

https://thriftedkittens.org/

Want to follow along on Skippers training journey? Consider joining the Pateron! We have monthly training calls where Kayla will answer your questions and you can get valuable insight from other handlers in the field.

https://www.patreon.com/k9conservationists

Host: Kayla Fratt

Editor: Sara Fangton 

Guest logistics: Brooke Schoeder 

Interns: Evelyn Combs and Grace Koski

Website: Meg du Bray

Mentoring group: Madison Davis