K9 Conservationists – Details, episodes & analysis

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K9 Conservationists

Kayla Fratt

Science

Frequency: 1 episode/11d. Total Eps: 252

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. K9 Conservationists is hosted by Kayla Fratt, CDBC and co-founder of K9 Conservationists. Along with her two co-founders, she trains dogs to detect data. Support the work we do at patreon.com/k9conservationists.

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Apple Podcasts

🇺🇸 USA - naturalSciences
21/08/2026
#91
🇺🇸 USA - naturalSciences
19/08/2026
#95
🇨🇦 Canada - naturalSciences
16/08/2026
#90
🇨🇦 Canada - naturalSciences
15/08/2026
#68
🇺🇸 USA - naturalSciences
15/08/2026
#89
🇨🇦 Canada - naturalSciences
14/08/2026
#68
🇺🇸 USA - naturalSciences
10/08/2026
#97
🇺🇸 USA - naturalSciences
02/08/2026
#88
🇺🇸 USA - naturalSciences
01/08/2026
#84
🇨🇦 Canada - naturalSciences
23/07/2026
#99

Spotify

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https://k9conservationists.org/
143 shares
https://www.bonfire.com/store/k9-conservationists/
132 shares
https://k9conservationists.org/support-our-work/
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https://www.instagram.com/k9.conservationists

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Score global : 28%

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Re-Broadcast: Training Success with SAR Handler Ann McGloon

Tuesday, August 27, 2024 • Duration 01:12:49

In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Ann McGloon from Seeking Scent about precision tracking and using hide placement to get the most learning application for your dogs.

Science Highlight: Wildlife detection dog training: A case study on achieving generalization between target odor variations while retaining specificity

All dogs know how to sniff. Do they all know how to problem-solve?

A lot of dogs, especially pet dogs, have forgotten how to use their nose and their olfactory abilities
Depends on the dog, but sometimes they need to be encouraged to problem solve.

What concepts can we teach our detection dogs by using hide placement? Why would we want to use placement to teach these skills?

Olfaction isn’t the only cue dogs are using to solve the problem.
Location, location, location.
Train the environment they are going to be searching. This will help create more efficient searches because you are giving them exposure to what they are going to be experiencing on the field.

Patreon Questions:

Janna: How do we incorporate handler movement and hide placement for training? Especially with the goal of accurate but effectively progressing through searches in wilderness?

Megan: How do you teach the dog to differentiate between visual aids and odor? For instance, I came across a company selling scent work hides, but they're in fun shapes and bright colors, which may make the hide more noticeable. If you use things like that in training, how do you guarantee that the dog is searching for the odor and not searching for the hide itself?

Megan: Odor contamination is a big issue in the competition scent work world. Is this a concern in conservation detection? Can odor contamination in the search environment be used to teach the dog to differentiate between residual odor and the actual source of odor?

You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.

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Como Aprender Entrenar y Trabajar con Conservacionistas Caninos?

Tuesday, August 20, 2024 • Duration 15:46

En nuestro tercero episodio del microserie español, Daniel y Kayla hablan de como uno se puede aprender trabajar con perros detectores de conservación. Hablan sobre el educación formal, los cursos disponible, como encontrar internos, y un poco sobre socios. Gracias a Daniel Castillo y Camilo Sierra.

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Detection Dogs Help Rediscover Golden Moles with Esther Matthews and Samantha Mynhardt

Tuesday, June 4, 2024 • Duration 49:19

In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Esther Matthews and Samantha Mynhardt about dogs detecting golden moles.

Science Highlight: None

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

Where to find Esther & Samantha: Website | Instagram | Facebook

You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.

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Breeding Detection Dogs Part 1 with Kate Graham

Tuesday, April 26, 2022 • Duration 01:02:12

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.

A Possible Solution for the Bat and Wind Farm Crisis with Jo Lock

Tuesday, April 19, 2022 • Duration 51:59

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.

Action for Cheetahs in Kenya - BONUS Episode

Thursday, April 14, 2022 • Duration 53:00

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

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Unusual Sniffer Dogs and Blood Tracking with Lindsay Ware

Tuesday, April 12, 2022 • Duration 01:08:51

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.

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Conservation Canines: How Dogs work for the Environment

Tuesday, April 5, 2022 • Duration 44:35

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.

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Panel Discussion with Ken Ramirez, Kim Brophy, Laura Holder, Dr. Erim Gomez, Ursa Acree, and Dr. Charles van Rees

Tuesday, March 29, 2022 • Duration 01:21:09

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

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Training an "All Clear" for Detection Dogs with Paul Bunker of Chiron K9

Tuesday, March 22, 2022 • Duration 01:02:04

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 | |

K9 Conservationists – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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K9 Conservationists – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other99+

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RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other99+

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