By Stacy Barnett, Robin Greubel, Crystal Wing
4.8
3434 ratings
The podcast currently has 120 episodes available.
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Odor detection handling mastery comes down to hitting that delicate balance between doing too much and too little for your dog–the ability to offer intimate guidance while nurturing confidence.
Our hosts Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing offer their best tips and strategies for using your presence as a handler to nudge your dog towards their goals without smothering their autonomy. They draw lessons from a variety of training scenarios and odors, whether essential oils or narcotics. They also touch on the difference between distraction and diversion, and the use of discriminative stimuli in a training environment.
Our hosts stress the need to identify your dog's unique personality, experience level, and skill mastery, and how to incorporate that context into your training strategy by providing challenges that encourage independent problem-solving.
The Dames of Detection unpack the concept of "dog time.” It’s a concept that our hosts have applied in Distraction Camp and Intentional Handling classes in which you’re encouraged to allow your dog to work at their own pace without excessive handler interference. They also talk handling errors typical of handlers at different levels of proficiency, and provide exercises to help remedy those errors.
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Today our hosts Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing walk us through essential strategies for fostering independence and courage in dogs (and trainers!). They share their insights on avoiding the pitfalls of being an overprotective "helicopter handler" and how to allow your canine companion the freedom to explore their world and build self-assurance.
The Dames of Detection explain stress inoculation and how providing dogs with coping mechanisms can build resilience. Discover the importance of consistent and clear training, and how the thoughtful introduction of stressors can prepare your dog for future training and work. From the strategic use of play to enhance problem-solving skills to real-life anecdotes like the unforgettable encounter with Prize and the pack of coyotes, they cover it all to ensure you're equipped with practical tips for building your dog's bravery.
Our hosts also explore the value of scent work in boosting canine confidence and share heartwarming stories of dogs overcoming their fears through gradual exposure and positive reinforcement. Learn how to read and support your dog's confidence with subtle cues and create safe yet challenging scenarios. No matter the discipline, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you and your dog thrive together.
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“Every distraction is a possible reinforcement.”
Could minor changes in your training strategy routine drastically improve your dog's performance? Join Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing as they uncover the secrets behind intentional handling, drawing from their recent experience at Distraction Camp.
From hide setting and odor pool navigation to handling blank areas, our hosts open a treasure trove of insights to elevate your training game that you won’t get anywhere else!
They kick things off by discussing how running experienced dogs first can provide critical insights into the dynamics of a hide. Learn how minor tweaks in start lines, like transitioning from a sit to a down position, can make a world of difference.
Play isn't just for fun; it's a transformational tool in your training arsenal. Stacy, Robin, and Crystal explore the benefits of integrating food games, arousal modulation techniques, as well as how to read your dog's comfort levels.
Don’t miss the very end of the episode to learn what you can expect at next year’s Distraction Camp!
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Jingle by: www.mavericksings.com Instagram: @mavericktastic
Audio editing & other podcast services by: www.thepodcastman.com Instagram: @the_podcast_man
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“Even if you don't give them a cookie, you don't play, the dog has been reinforced. [It’s] just the way their brain works.”
Our hosts, Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing discuss how to use known hides to your advantage during training as compared to blind hides.
They dive deep into the high stakes of detection work, such as why avoiding false alerts is crucial. Whether you're training for competitions or prepping your dog for operational tasks, understanding the impact of unintentional markers is essential to your success as a handler. It can spell the difference between gaining the knowledge to make small tweaks in your training, to being forced to scrap your training criteria completely to create a more effective one.
The Dames of Detection also explore how these unintentional markers can inadvertently reinforce behaviors, illustrating the importance of maintaining accuracy and reliability in your dog's detection capabilities.
You can increase your odds of success by mastering the transition from known to blind hides without rushing the process, especially if you're a novice handler. Crystal, Stacy, and Robin offer their best practices for doing just that.
Finally, they speak to newer handlers regarding how to communicate their training needs, as well as the value of observing experienced individuals and teams at work during training sessions.
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Jingle by: www.mavericksings.com
Audio editing & other podcast services by: www.thepodcastman.com
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“So I think dog training is almost 90% thinking and preparing, and 10% working with your dog.”
Two of our three hosts, Robin Greubel and Stacy Barnett sit down for part 2 with Adee Schoon, an expert in the detection field with over three decades of experience, to explore her diverse and groundbreaking projects.
What happens when man's best friend becomes a vital ally in solving sexual crimes? Together with Amsterdam University and a local fertility clinic, Adee and team faced numerous challenges, from acquiring diverse samples to ensuring ethical evidence handling. Discover how these canine detectives are transforming forensic investigations, enhancing accuracy, and speeding up case resolutions.
Adee and our hosts dissect the intriguing ways in which a dog's natural tendencies—whether they're quick to alert or more methodical—affect their performance. Comparing high-pressure training scenarios like mine detection to more relaxed, recreational approaches, they highlight the importance of tailoring training strategies to individual dogs. By understanding and adapting to each dog's unique behavior, trainers can maximize both effectiveness and safety for the canine and its handler.
Adee recounts stories of dogs identifying fungus-infected wood under extreme conditions and even tackling complex tasks like recognizing different types of vanilla scents. This episode also offers a glimpse into the broader implications of using dogs for natural substance detection and the crucial need for validated studies to ensure reliability. All this and much more in this episode of K9 Detection Collaborative!
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In this episode of K9 Detection Collaborative, Our hosts Robin Greubel and Stacy Barnett sit down with Adee Schoon, an expert in the detection field with over three decades of experience, to explore her diverse and groundbreaking projects.
Prepare to be fascinated by Adee’s incredible journey, from her early days researching scent identification with the Dutch police to her current role as a leading consultant. Robin, Stacy, and Adee delve into her international collaborations, including de-mining efforts with Apopo, detecting rust in the oil and gas industry, and groundbreaking cancer detection initiatives. Adee passionately discusses the importance of scientific validation and the ethical considerations in training and maintaining the well-being of detection animals.
In this episode, you'll also gain valuable insights into the techniques and challenges of training detection dogs and African pouch rats. Learn about the crucial role of motivation and reinforcement and the meticulous strategies needed for effective scent detection. Don't miss part two of this conversation next week!
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Today, Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing address a common concern among handlers: what to do if your dog is having trouble finding the source of an odor during a training search. First thing’s first: “Your dog is just giving you information. It’s not personal. They don’t have it out for you!” Fixing this problem starts, our hosts say, by approaching trial searches from a place where you’re judging neither yourself nor your dog.
Listen in and learn the steps you need to take when your dog is struggling during search training, from troubleshooting problem points to creating a search environment catered to your particular dog’s strengths and skills. Is an odor not presenting itself the way you intended? “If the odor is not available,” say the Dames of Detection, “the hide might as well not be there.” In which case, you might not have a training problem, but a handling problem. Our hosts break down the art of hide placement and optimizing your training space.
They also discuss how to identify behaviors that indicate frustration in your dog during the search and, from there, how to eliminate variables to get to the root cause of that frustration. They stress the influence of your body language on your dog’s ability to operate, and how to troubleshoot the so-called “eight indicators'' that can help keep your dog within a productive pattern of work during a search.
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"Physical agility gives them some mental agility too, and so it's giving them that well-exercised brain, and then that's helping them make decisions, helping them solve problems."
Today, our hosts Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing break down the components and applications of functional agility. They offer a roadmap to training and maintaining your dog’s dexterity, conditioning, and proprioception–building a priceless level of trust, confidence, and adaptability between canine and handler!
Listen and learn how methods such as cross-training and ladder work build a dog’s muscular and core strength, and how to incorporate that skill growth into search work. Our hosts talk everything from agility training must-haves and how you can structure your own backyard obstacle course using these easy-to-find supplies.
Dewclaw removal is a common point of concern for dog handlers. Many believe their non-functionality and potential to increase the likelihood of injury are causes enough for removal. The Dames of Detection, however, advocate for keeping your dog’s dewclaws, explaining that they improve grip, allow for better turns, and prevent torque on the legs, among other long-term benefits.
Overall, agility training does wonders for your dog’s focus. With greater awareness and confidence over their bodies and abilities, your furry friend can become more adaptive and efficient out in the field–on or off-leash and on any terrain!
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Jingle by: www.mavericksings.com Instagram: @mavericktastic
Audio editing & other podcast services by: www.thepodcastman.com Instagram: @the_podcast_man
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“When you have that young dog, don’t put out that super hard hide. You don’t have that reinforcement history.”
Our hosts Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing discuss one of the most crucial elements of canine nosework: hide placement! Listen in as the Dames of Detection walk us through what we need to consider regarding our environment and our particular dog’s abilities, the proper use of Q tips, as well as setting multiple hides of varying odor profiles.
They also speak on the nuances of firearms detection as compared to cadaver detection, and what you need to be cautious of when searching cars and other vehicles, as well as hides in elevated or otherwise inaccessible areas. To wrap up, our hosts talk about the merits of adding distraction elements in training for inaccessible hides. Stay tuned to the very end to get the details on a series of upcoming classes designed to help handlers master the art of setting hides, and more!
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“Success is the joy that we have with our dogs and the relationships that we're building.”
Ever wondered how small victories can pave the way to grand achievements with your canine companion? Our hosts Robin Greubel, Crystal Wing, and Stacy Barnett, come together for an insightful discussion on the nature of success in canine detection training. They give us the scoop on how to set SMART goals that embolden both you and your canine teammate, and why falling in love with the training journey is just as important as the results.
This episode doesn't shy away from the personal growth and philosophical shifts that come with the territory of dog training. As the Dames of Detection traverse through their own experiences, you'll find that success isn't one-size-fits-all. They also tackle the ethical consideration of our choices, ensuring our dogs' well-being is always at the forefront. If you're curious about how our understanding and methods evolve over time, join us; we're peeling back the layers on how knowledge both simplifies and complicates our approaches.
Whether you're a seasoned handler or just starting out, get ready to be inspired to define and chart your own course of success with your loyal canine companion.
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Jingle by: www.mavericksings.com Instagram: @mavericktastic
Audio editing & other podcast services by: www.thepodcastman.com Instagram: @the_podcast_man
The podcast currently has 120 episodes available.
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