K9 Detection Collaborative

What to listen for: Today, two of the three Dames of Detection, Stacy Barnett and Crystal Wing, sit down with two amazing handlers, Jack Thorpe and Annissia Justice. Drawing from their recent experience doing search and rescue in the aftermath of the floods brought on by Hurricane Helene, our guests do a deep dive into their best tips and strategies around cadaver dog training. Listen in as they u...

What to listen for: In today’s episode of K9 Detection Collaborative, our hosts Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing discuss the keys to cleaning up your dog’s behavior chain to help them stay on track and avoid distractions in the field. When it comes to reinforcing behavior, it’s just as important to get clear on when not to train particular habits. Their rule of thumb? Avoid reinforci...

What to listen for: “Don’t rush the training. Don’t trial too early. Because you’re short-changing that important part where you’re thoughtfully adding the right stress to the picture.” What’s the difference between “good” and “bad” stress in dog handling, and how do you incorporate the former into your training while minimizing the latter? Drawing from a groundbreaking study in Nature, our hosts...

What to listen for: In this episode of K9 Detection Collaborative our hosts Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett and Crystal Wing explore the intricate world of displacement behaviors in dogs. They kick off by discussing recognizing these behaviors, which often arise from stress, frustration, or internal conflict in our canine companions. Our hosts share practical insights and anecdotes to help you identi...

What to listen for: "I found that the things I taught in higher arousal have held up better in higher arousal environments. The things done very slowly in lower arousal haven’t held up as well." Ever wondered why some detection dogs excel under pressure while others not so much? Join in exploring the dynamic world of canine detection training, guided by the unique experiences of our host...

What to listen for: Our hosts Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing offer their best tips for creating a training plan and measuring your progress without the help of an in-person mentor. Crystal sets the stage with a top ten list that includes strategies such as assessing your current skill level, setting long and short-term goals, varying your training environment, incorporating feedbac...

What to listen for: 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 smotherin...

What to listen for: 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 Dam...

What to listen for: “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...

What to listen for: “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 cru...

What to listen for: “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 so...

What to listen for: 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 cur...

What to listen for: 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...

What to listen for: "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 y...

What to listen for: “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 abiliti...

What to listen for: “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 h...

What to listen for: “My job as a coach is not to identify your destination, but your goal, and to help you identify and remove roadblocks to your goal.” Today, our hosts Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing unearth valuable lessons from coaching humans that handlers can apply when training canine companions. They talk about what it means to create an environment conducive to learning, cu...

What to listen for: “We're dealing with a dog who has its own set of motivators. And so we just need to always be conscious of the fact that we can reinforce at any point along the chain.” Unleash the power of your canine's nose and transform your four-legged friend into a search-and-rescue superhero with insights from our hosts, Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing. They navig...

What to listen for: How do you define “struggle” in dog training? Today, our hosts, the Dames of Detection, Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing are breaking down just that, sharing potent personal stories that will shift your perspective on canine learning curves. Together, they probe the gap between expectation and reality, dissecting how 'struggle' can embody both momentary...

What to listen for: Our hosts Robin Greubel and Stacy Barnett dive headfirst into the high-stakes world of canine explosive detection with an esteemed panel of experts, Dr. Lauryn DeGreeff, Dr. Michele Maughan, and Jenna Gadberry. As they dissect the complexities of non-detonable canine training aids, you'll get a rare behind-the-scenes look at the intricate dance of odor chemistry and the sa...

What to listen for: Our hosts reflect on the two-episode series (#102, #103) with Martha Hoffman. From the observant gaze that discerns the subtlest of animal signals to the challenges shorter dogs face in detection work, they uncover the profound connection between keen observation and effective communication with our canine companions. This episode is not just about dogs; it's about fosteri...

What to listen for: “The odor that they get reinforced for may not be the odor that you think you’re reinforcing. So, odor obedience is starting by building (in my mind) a reinforcement system.” Unlock the secrets behind the incredible resolve of detection dogs to seek out the right scent in any situation. From bounding into untamed thicket to swimming across lakes, our canine companions demonstra...

What to listen for: Join in as K9 Detection Collaborative hosts Robin Greubel and Crystal Wing continue their conversation with Martha Hoffman, delving into the nuanced world of dog training around the world! They discuss the unique insights gained from working with various dog breeds in bite sports.  Listen in as they tackle the intricate topic of canine behavior and communication. They dissect t...

What to listen for: The Dames of Detection, are joined by Martha Hoffman, who is acclaimed for her work with the San Francisco SPCA in training rescue dogs as service animals. Martha unravels the mysteries behind canine temperaments suitable for service work, focusing on the essential trait of positive sound reactivity. As Robin, Crystal, and Martha circle back to the art of training dogs, they re...

What to listen for: “I look at the dog and if something goes wrong I say, ‘Thank you for the information.’ As dog trainers, we modify behavior and in order to modify behavior we have to be able to take good data.” Our hosts Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing explore the intricate dance of dog training, where the art of tinkering plays a pivotal role in shaping the behaviors of our cani...