K9 Detection Collaborative

What to listen for: "I care about my dog's emotional state, how they're feeling, and how confident they are. And I work on that a lot." Two-thirds of the Dames of Detection, Stacy Barnett and Crystal Wing, sit down with obedience trainer Petra Ford, who unpacks the importance of seeing dogs as individuals, not assumptions! Real progress, she says, starts when you stop correctin...

What to listen for: “You’re putting so much pressure on yourself, and that’s impacting your dog.” Today, our hosts Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing chat about what they’ve been up to lately, including their recent experience at the Muscatatuck Open, a high-level canine detection seminar known for its complex scent theory drills and immersive training. They discuss how the seminar’s i...

What to listen for: Robin Greubel and Crystal Wing return with the brilliant Katylynn Sloan for part two of their conversation on the intersection between chemistry and K9 detection! “Train with as much variety as often as you can, in the weirdest of circumstances you can possibly get to, with as many groups and as many people as you can.” Katylynn dives into one of the most misunderstood topics i...

What to listen for: “The dogs are so good at what they do, it’s brain-boggling.” Today, 2/3 of our hosts, Robin Greubel and Crystal Wing, welcome Katylynn Sloan, a chemist with the U.S. Secret Service, to explore the eye-opening intersection of science and canine detection work. With a PhD in chemistry and years in explosives research, Katylynn brings a fresh lens to how odor behaves, how dogs det...

What to listen for: "To truly understand your dog, embrace the power of observation, question the environment, and engage with the nuances of their behavior." Our hosts, Robin Greubel, Crystal Wing, and Stacy Barnett, take a deep dive into the role of critical thinking for handlers. We’ve all been there—reading a viral dog training post and feeling an emotional gut-punch, or second-guess...

What to listen for: In the third part of the series on consistency, our hosts Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing dive deeper into what makes consistency such a challenge—and how to truly make it work in real life. Staying consistent isn’t just about following a routine. It’s about self-awareness, emotion management, and breaking behaviors down into manageable slices. The Dames of Detec...

What to listen for: In the second part of the series on consistency, our hosts Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing take a closer look at the mechanics of consistency, from creating intentional setup signals to reinforcing behaviors for longevity! You’ve probably heard about marker timing and reinforcement. Today, our hosts take a fresh look at the finer details—like how you stand, where...

What to listen for: “You’re constantly writing and rewriting a contract with your dog.” Today, our hosts Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing tackle the power of consistency, the pitfalls of “lumpy” training, and why even small slip-ups can throw your dog off track. They break down how to build a rock-solid training environment and avoid the hidden traps that sabotage progress. “The clea...

What to listen for: Training your dog to adhere to your criteria consistently is not a cut-and-dry process. It’s one of the trickiest balancing acts in dog training: when to hold the line and when to make adjustments within behavior chains. “Consistency is not about perfection, but predictability.” Dog handling, whether for sport or operational detection, is both an art and a science–which means e...

What to listen for: Today in K9 Detection Collaborative, our hosts Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing discuss the keys to successful virtual training. “Virtual coaching is student-driven. Anything propelled by student drive, drives results.” Making the switch from in-person to online coaching can be a tough sell for many. But as our hosts explain, there can be many limitations to your...

What to listen for: Our hosts Robin, Stacy, and Crystal tackle not just the technical, but also the legal considerations of cross-training your dogs. After all, when a dog is run through both narcotics and explosives detection work and engaged in a high-stakes operation, the consequences can be disastrous if they are unable to respond to the right odors on time–simply because their training emphas...

What to listen for: Our hosts, Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing, reflect on their recent two-part conversation with Denise Fenzi and her strategies for ensuring steady, measurable progress when training your dog. “Learning is a fragile place. Being correct is a reward in itself.” Denise is a staunch advocate for finding your compass—a guiding principle that does wonders not just in y...

What to listen for: In part two of their discussion with the brilliant Denise Fenzi, our hosts Robin Greubel and Crystal Wing explore the delicate dance between striving for precision and cherishing the quirks of canine behavior! “Your dog has to have a lot of ‘want to.’ If they don’t have a lot of ‘want to,’ they’re not the right dog for the job.” Denise explains why picking the right dog for the...

What to listen for: “If I cannot, in five repetitions, isolate a variable down and get it where I want it, I do need to stop. That doesn't mean the next time we'll be successful. What that tells me is, don't do the same thing again and again and again. And there's been a lot of variation. Isolate that variable. It looks good now. Put it back in a chain, it doesn't look goo...

What to listen for: Today, our hosts Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing reflect on key takeaways from their recent conversations with Diana Bunch , Jack Thorpe, and Annissia Justice – all expert handlers with a golden nugget or two (or 100s) around cadaver dog and disaster response training. From avoiding the "ego hide" trap, to getting more out of nose time, to the importanc...

What to listen for: Today, 2/3 of the Dames of Detection - Stacy Barnett and Crystal Wing - are sitting down with special guest Diana Bunch, an Air Force veteran-turned-search and rescue trainer. Diana shares her inspiring journey from the military to the world of disaster response, running through her various experiences in various search scenarios, from wilderness expeditions to urban disaster z...

What to listen for: In the second part of the two-part discussion, our hosts, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing, continue their interview with expert trainers Jack Thorpe and Annissia Justice. Drawing from their recent experience doing search and rescue in the aftermath of the floods brought on by Hurricane Doreen, our guests do a deep dive into their best tips and strategies around cadaver dog trai...

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...