What to listen for:

"Get a dog, take the dog you have, start training, do it yourself. Yes, the client dogs will come, the other pieces will come, but get yourself out there."

2/3 of our hosts, Robin Greubel and Stacy Barnett, sit down with Katelyn Graham from Katalyst Kennels, who shares her expertise in breeding and training Labrador Retrievers for detection tasks while managing a multifaceted kennel operation!

Katelyn’s going deep into producing what she calls “green dogs”: canine companions who are behaviorally and health-wise ready for specialized training without formal odor imprinting.

She encourages handlers to put considerable focus into young dog development, from day zero to 12-18 months, the period in which environmental exposure and hunting skills are best shaped. Focusing your training around this period ensures that your dog is versatile for tasks like narcotics or explosives detection.

Katelyn also acknowledges the emotional and logistical challenges of breeding, such as managing failed litters or health crises (citing one puppy’s staggering $15,000 jaw surgery as an example).

Her pet boarding business subsidizes these costs, which is a great way for handlers to weigh the ethical pros and cons of these heavy decisions without the financial pressure. For aspiring trainers, she advises hands-on experience over formal education alone, urging them to embrace grunt work and early morning tracking sessions to gain practical skills.

Katelyn believes that success demands relentless dedication, from sleepless nights with puppies to mentoring eager learners, all to ensure quality working dogs for critical roles!

Key Topics:

• All About Katelyn Graham (01:28)
• What is a “Green Dog”?  (07:23)
• Selection Testing on Puppies (13:41)
• Tailoring Testing to the Current Realities of Field Trials (22:27)
• Challenges of Breeding (27:55)
• Advice for Aspiring Trainers (32:56)
• Key Takeaways (43:56)

Resources:

• Katalyst Kennels (Website)
• Katalyst Kennels (Facebook)

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