K9 Detection Collaborative

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...

What to listen for: "I appreciate the fact that our little collaborative thing has allowed us to have some of these really, really hard conversations in a public format." Welcome to episode 100 of the K9 Detection Collaborative with the Dames of Detection themselves - Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing! It feels like just yesterday when our hosts first set out to create a spa...

What to listen for: "As a trainer, no matter what you're doing with your training or where you are, what level you are, how advanced you are, how new you are, whatever, it should always be about growth because if you're not growing, you're stagnating.” In this episode of K9 Detection Collaborative, we’re treated to the return of all three of the Dames of Detection - Robin Greub...

What to listen for: “How well does the dog actually understand target odor? Part of the issue is that we think we've taught the dog to alert on a birch container. But in some cases, if you don't train with distractions enough, for instance, the dog is going to alert on what they think is just the non-empty box. So what you think you’re training may not be what you’re training.” Merry Chr...

What to listen for: “If you have a good reinforcement system, it really doesn't take long. And that reinforcement system is how you pay the dog for doing whatever work you're asking it to do. And you actually have to teach and learn how your dog likes to be reinforced.” Whether it be Robin’s knee surgery or Crystal’s voiceless bout with a nasty cold, it’s been tough for all the Dames of...

What to listen for: “Conservation dogs have been around for maybe 20, 30 years, starting to grow in popularity. But more conversations need to be happening, and dogs are so amazing, and such valuable tools.” With all the amazing stories you’ve heard about our furry companions in the first 95 episodes of K9 Detection Collaborative, you probably aren’t too surprised to hear that dogs play a vital ro...

What to listen for: “Be kind and open and giving, even when they don't know anything, that's okay, still give and still branch out. And that's where those connections happen. And it's magic. And I'm so thankful for all these connections.” Ever wondered how your training methods truly impact your loyal canine? Join our hosts Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing as...

What to listen for: “I think I've made a lot of personal growth. I was okay with it. I was like, ‘you know, what? Yeah, it's a bummer.’ Powder did the best she could have done and I'm human. And you know, what, 15 seconds? Well, whatever, who cares? And so then the next summit the next weekend, she won high in trial.” Our hosts Stacy Barnett, Robin Greubel, and Crystal Wing share th...

What to listen for: “When I'm getting ready for trials, I feel like that week before I'm not building new skills. I'm building the relationship and the joy of training and I'm building confidence for both of us that we both are like ‘oh yeah, we got this we're a great team.’” Our hosts Stacy Barnett, Robin Greubel, and Crystal Wing share their latest experiences and accomp...