K9 Detection Collaborative

Today, Stacy and Robin chat with fellow co-host Crystal Wing, who has been training dogs since 2006 and has been involved in protection sports over the years. She is the Training Director for the Evolution Working Dog Club located in St. Louis, Mo. and a certified trial helper through GSDCA for IGP and training decoy for Mondioring.

Our conversation centers around Crystal’s focus on engagement as being foundational when it comes to dog training of any kind, alongside her conviction that imagination is your most powerful tool as a trainer.

“Training is simple,” says Crystal, “but it’s not easy. Good training is good training and it doesn't matter what sport or what area. It’s all about having clear criteria. It’s about the foundation of engagement. [...] With engagement as that bottom relationship piece that builds everything else, it doesn’t matter what I’m doing with my dog. That’s where it all starts.”

Asked about the secret to successfully incorporating play into dog training, Crystal says that it’s important to read the dog and go with what they want to do, not what the handler wants to do.

“All of the play that we create, creates all of our obedience. It’s all started through play which creates engagement which then channels right into obedience. Play is work. Work is play. It’s all the same thing.”

Key Topics:

• About Crystal’s four dogs and her foray into dog training (1:12)
• What to know about dog bites (8:03)
• Why the “introverted” Crystal acts as a decoy for dogs (11:12)
• Decoys versus helpers (13:24)
• What Crystal applies her search and rescue work from her protection background (21:20)
• Defining “IGP,” “Obedience,” “Protection Phase,” “Mondioring” and “PDC” (24:10)
• Learning from the best (29:45)
• Crystal’s “creative bank account” and the art of dog training (38:32)
• “Without great rewards, what’s my only option? I have to go to punishment.” (46:33)
• Crystal’s advice for those who want to incorporate more play into their dog training (48:45)
• The biggest mistake people make when playing with their dogs (53:00)
• Crystal’s closing thoughts (56:29)

Learn more about Crystal at www.facebook.com/EvolutionWDC.

You can follow us for notifications of upcoming episodes, find us at k9detectioncollaborative.com to enjoy the freebies and tell your friends so you can keep the conversations going.

Jingle by: www.mavericksings.com Instagram: @mavericktastic

Audio editing & other podcast services by: www.thepodcastman.com Instagram: @the_podcast_man

Today’s episode is the last in a four-part series featuring animal behavior specialist and dog trainer Jo-Rosie Haffenden. While Jo-Rosie believes in having a “pyramid of learning” when it comes to working with any dog, and that it should all start with positive reinforcement, she warns against putting too much focus on one training method or philosophy at the expense of others.

She says that confining oneself to a label limits your potential as a handler, especially considering the reality that different dogs (including those of the same breed) require different tools and approaches. Jo-Rosie also discusses how to reconcile your ethical paradigm with your training methodology as well as her thoughts on punishment.
Our hosts give their thoughts on force-free training and why competence does not necessarily mean not using force. Instead, they believe that it is important to base your philosophy on a “continuum” that you navigate based on your particular dog’s personality and needs.

Key Topics:

• Why begin all training with positive reinforcement (01:23)
• Looking past your trainer labels and avoiding overemphasis on one tool or method (06:33)
• Ethical considerations around certain training approaches (18:12)
• Why using force isn’t a sign of incompetency (26:57)
• Regularly asking yourself why you adhere to a specific method or philosophy (34:52)
• Being fair with your animals, and being a force-free trainer (37:20)
• Punishing your dog (45:29)
• Training on a continuum (55:57)

Resources:

• Submit your question to be answered in our next episode!
• The Dog Training Spectrum (Pat Stuart)
• Version of Dog Training Spectrum Visual (Crystal and Jo-Rosie)
• Another Version of Dog Training Spectrum Visual (Crystal and Jo-Rosie)
• Sara Breuske Puppy Training Plan
• PosiDog
• Cultural Norms: The Limiting Factor (Scentsabilities Nosework)
• Chirag Patel
• Premack Principle
• Episode 1 of 4 in the series: Getting to Know Jo-Rosie Haffenden from the School of Canine Science --- Episode 2 of 4: Jo-Rosie and Incentive Salience Theory --- Episode 3 of 4 in the series: Jo-Rosie Introduces Selective Drive

We want to hear from you:

• Check out the K9 Detection Collaborative FB page and comment on the episode post!
• You can follow us for notifications of upcoming episodes, find us at k9detectioncollaborative.com to enjoy the freebies and can keep the conversations going.

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 importance of balancing motivation and frustration during training, our hosts explore the nuances of preparing dogs—and their handlers—for real-world challenges by preparing the training environment right from the get-go.

The Dames of Detection touch on the importance of scarcity and novelty in maintaining a dog's interest and drive. You’ll also get actionable tips on incorporating purposeful blanks into nose work and the importance of embracing unpredictability to better mimic real-life search and rescue scenarios.

They remind us to note your dog's unique personality and strengths, as well as the role of effective communication in bridging gaps between handlers and their canine partners.

Key Topics:

• Avoiding the “Ego Hide” Trap (02:45)
• Becoming Aware of Unintentional Distractions in Your Training Environment (12:29)
• Getting More Intentional with Nose Time by Using Blanks (20:29)
• Choosing a Search and Rescue Dog (24:31)
• Managing Time Constraints as a Nose Work Handler (36:45)
• Knowing How Much Your Dog Needs to Struggle in Training (43:42)
• Takeaways (48:44)

Resources:

• K9 Detection Collaborative Ep 83: Kickin' Back with Christi Raak
• K9 Detection Collaborative Ep 72 and 73: Talking Arousal vs Drive and Selection of a Dog with Jens Frank (pt 1 and pt 2)
• NEW: K9Sensus Detection Dog Trainer Academy
• See the info below for other happenings!

We want to hear from you:

• Check out the K9 Detection Collaborative FB page and comment on the episode post!
• K9Sensus Detection Dog Trainer Academy
• K9Sensus Foundation can be found on Facebook and Instagram. We have a Trainer’s Group on Facebook!
• Scentsabilities Nosework is also on Facebook. Here is a Facebook group you should join!
• Crystal Wing K9 Coach can be found here at CB K9 and here at Evolution Working Dog Club. Also, check out her Functional Obedience Class here.
• You can follow us for notifications of upcoming episodes, find us at k9detectioncollaborative.com

Today, Crystal, Stacy, and Robin take a deep dive into motivators, or the things that drive your dog to do the things that it does, and they explore different ways to harness those motivators. Stacy explores how she makes activities intrinsically motivating, so that the work itself is interesting and not just reward driven. In doing so, something that they coin a “positive addiction” emerges. Stacy then introduces her ultimate sourcing game, where she created a course in her crate room that was so engaging for the dogs, they’d be eagerly waiting for their next turn.
They discuss the positive psychology of flow state, more commonly referred to as being “in the zone,” where one is so immersed in their focus that they feel energized by and enjoy the process of the activity. They then explore how to utilize that flow state with dogs. They discuss the balance of optimizing the level of difficulty set for a dog in a way that maximizes the challenge without completely wearing the dog out.

Robin divulges one of her pet peeves: when people say “reward your dog” instead of “reinforcing behavior” within the context of training, which leads into a conversation about behavior chains. They introduce how behavior chains work before getting into its pieces that make it up and the factors involved, such as timing.

They give a more in depth break down of motivators, explaining how they work scientifically. They discuss the importance of not overworking a dog before competition, or as Robin says, “Don’t train until it’s ugly.” They explore how to prevent distractions from interfering with training. Crystal shares a trick for getting a dog to sniff on cue, using Hannah Branigan’s tips of training. They discuss the value of the “victory pee” and how to handle your dog’s inner omnivore.

They explore the importance of changing mindsets, and how changing your own mindset can impact a change in your dog’s mindset. Crystal explains how she thinks of what would cause problems in reinforcing a behavior as a means of figuring out what the dog’s motivation is.

Key Topics:

• Making activities intrinsically motivating (2:26)
• The ultimate sourcing game (4:58)
• Flow theory (7:10)
• Finding the right amount of challenge (8:38)
• Rewarding versus reinforcing (14:20)
• Behavior chains (18:39)
• Motivators (23:59)
• Avoiding overworking (33:28)
• Distractions (40:52)
• Sniffing on cue (43:51)
• Victory pees (48:40)
• Eating grass (50:51)
• Changing mindsets (51:53)
• Reversing motivation (55:32)

Resources:

• Flow Theory
• Craig Schulz - K9 Behavior Consortium
• Simone Mueller - Hunting Together! Predation Substitution Training
• Drinking From The Toilet Podcast with Hannah Branigan
• The School of Canine Science
• K9 Detection Collaborative Episode 11: The D’s of Detection Work

We want to hear from you:

• Check out the K9 Detection Collaborative FB page and comment on the episode post!
• You can follow us for notifications of upcoming episodes, find us at k9detectioncollaborative.com to enjoy the freebies and tell your friends so you can keep the conversations going.

Today, Stacy, Robin, and Crystal continue to answer questions from their roundtable. They begin responding to the question, Does everybody have to say ‘alert’ in nosework? While there are some variations, Stacy explains, most do use the word. It becomes a conditioned reinforcer. With markers like this, trainers need to be careful not to train additional behaviors. This prompts a discussion around the next question about how to catch oneself cueing a dog when solo training. Crystal recommends recording trainings and watching videos to try to catch any potential cues. Robin advises trainers to stand suspiciously still.

They then explore what the best approach is for addressing consistent duration of the TFR. Robin explains that trainers need to “be more than Uber,” or “more than just the thumbs that drive them around.” It’s important to participate. They discuss how to fix alerting on saliva or pheromones. Robin suggests setting up an opportunity for someone to run ahead of you or to have the dog come in to play with a toy. Stacy warns to be careful of residuals when working with essential oils. She also recommends varying who goes first with searches.

The next question is about what situations would one need to ask their dogs to reindicate on a found hide at a scent trial. As a judge, Stacy explains, it needs to be when a handler doesn’t trust what the dog has given them. She suggests rather than asking the dog to reindicate, to ask the dog to rework the area. They then outline the differences between asking a dog to re-find and asking a dog to reindicate.

They talk about what they look for when watching training videos. Robin watches the chain of behavior closely to understand how and what the dog is learning. Stacy tries to read the dog’s energy and intensity, watching for emotional shifts. She emphasizes the importance of not just watching your dog, but also yourself. Crystal recommends getting a GoPro and watching videos in slow motion.

In closing, Robin advises listeners to “remember that you're training a detection dog, not a trick pony.” Stacy emphasizes the importance of watching your markers, both intentional and unintentional. And Crystal reminds the audience to watch for the canine shuffle.

Key Topics:

• The roundtable (00:55)
• ‘Alert’ in nosework (01:59)
• Catching cueing (06:06)
• Consistent duration of the TFR (08:26)
• Training styles (14:06)
• Fixing alerting on saliva and pheromones (19:01)
• Asking a dog to reindicate & Re-finding versus reindicating (23:15)
• Inaccessible hides (34:46)
• What to watch for in training videos (41:41)

Resources:

• Steve White’s Scentwork and Tracking Assessment Guide

We want to hear from you:

• Check out the K9 Detection Collaborative FB page and comment on the episode post!
• K9Sensus Foundation can be found on Facebook and Instagram. We have a Trainer’s Group on Facebook!
• Scentsabilities Nosework is also on Facebook. Here is a Facebook group you should join!
• Crystal Wing K9 Coach can be found here!
• You can follow us for notifications of upcoming episodes, find us at k9detectioncollaborative.com