K9 Conservationists
203 episodes - English - Latest episode: 20 days ago - ★★★★★ - 57 ratingsWelcome 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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Episodes
Difficult Dogs and Conservation with Rogue Detection Teams
February 15, 2022 12:00 - 1 hour - 57.3 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla talks to Jennifer Hartman and Heath Smith from Rogue Detection Teams about working with behaviorally “challenging” dogs for conservation dog work. Episode suggestion: Pay attention to your bedtime routine. Call to action: Go for a walk somewhere new. Once dogs are able to work at a job, a lot of the behavior problems melt away. Making sure their needs are met can change the behavior. Links Mentioned in the Episode: None Where to find Rogu...
Errors, Mistakes, and Failure in Conservation Dog Training
February 08, 2022 12:00 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla talks about mistakes, failure, and errors. This week’s science highlight: You Are Not My Handler! Impact of Changing Handlers on Dogs’ Behaviours and Detection Performance. Everything is just data; it’s just information Now we have all sorts of interesting questions to dig into - was it search conditions? Target odor? Study design? Time of year? Training sample quality? Dog-project fit? Criteria? Splitting? Timing? Stress or exhaustion? Handle...
What to Know Before Hiring a Conservation Detection Dog Team, Part 2
February 01, 2022 12:00 - 1 hour - 73.6 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla is back for part two with Kyoko Johnson from Conservation Dog Hawaii and Jennifer Hartman from Rogue Detection Teams to continue their talk about things to know before hiring a conservation detection dog team. This week’s science highlight: How Behavior of Nontarget Species Affects Perceived Accuracy of Scat Detection Dog Surveys. Covered in this episode: What hazards might the dog-handler team be facing in the field? How can these be mitigate...
BONUS: Called to the Wild: Kayla and Barley on National Geographic and Disney+
January 27, 2022 15:00 - 23 minutes - 20.2 MBIn October 2020, Kayla and Barley flew to Maine to compete in a dog human survival challenge now published on National Geographic and Disney+. The show is called Called to the Wild and depicts dog human teams competing to thrive in the wilderness. In this episode Kayla talks about her experience on the show and tells you where to find the show online.
What to Know Before Hiring a Conservation Dog Team with Conservation Dogs of Hawaii and Rogue Detection Teams
January 25, 2022 12:00 - 1 hour - 65.5 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla talks with Kyoko Johnson from Conservation Dog Hawaii and Jennifer Hartman from Rogue Detection Teams about things to know before hiring a conservation detection dog team. What are some things scientists should consider before hiring a conservation detection dog team? Lower density finds are easier for dogs Dogs are often used near the end of a project vs the beginning or brought in to target a more specific area It is important they have the...
Fringe Alerts with Stacy Barnett
January 18, 2022 12:00 - 1 hour - 59.8 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla talks to Stacy Barnett about fringe alerts in detection dogs. What is fringing? When a dog alerts to odor outside of the preferred range of where the indication should be, aka too far away The final response begins where sourcing ends, so with fringing, the sourcing ends prematurely, making the alert farther away from the scent than is preferred Why does it happen? The behavior chain of sourcing and alerting is off balance Over-enthusiastic...
Bats and Wind Farms with Dr. Merlin Tuttle
January 11, 2022 12:00 - 40 minutes - 37.5 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla talks to Dr. Merlin Tuttle about bats and wind farms. Episode suggestion: Come to conversations ready to learn and ready to be curious. Call to action: Research your utility company and ask about green energy options in your area. More than 3 million bats a year are being killed by wind farms, none of which are labelled as endangered What can listeners do to get more involved? Be more knowledgeable about who you support. Ask them questions! ...
Amphibians and Charismatic MiniFauna with Dr. Erim Gomez
January 04, 2022 12:00 - 1 hour - 57.1 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla talks to Dr. Erim Gomez. They nerd out about amphibians, diversity, and academia! Episode suggestion: Try something new, even if it’s small! Call to action: Update your amazon smile to benefit K9 Conservationist! How could dogs help with amphibian research? Humans can’t see as well as dogs can smell, so dogs would be more accurate Dogs would also be able to help pinpoint the location in a safer way, vs humans having to dig around to find one...
"Making It" as a Conservation Detection Dog Handler
December 28, 2021 10:00 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla talks about her experience and advice on how to “make it” as a K9 Conservationists handler. Call to action: Join us on Patreon or make a monthly donation. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Lonely Conservationists Essay 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
Give Bats a Break with Nate Marshall
December 21, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 72.3 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla and Charles speak with Nate Marshall. They talk about bats, wind farms, and why you should care about the conservation of bats! Episode suggestion: Win friends, not battles. Call to action: Build a bat box. What should we like about bats? They are around everywhere in multiple types of ecosystems They eat insects, fruits, fish, crustaceans, and blood The variation and diversity in bats is truly astonishing 1 in 5 mammals in the worl...
Introducing Our New Conservation Correspondent: Dr. Charles van Rees
December 14, 2021 10:00 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla introduces Dr. Charles van Rees. Charles has been on the show before, but will now make a more regular appearance as K9 Conservationists new Conservation Correspondent.
Selecting and Raising a Conservation Detection Dog Puppy with Laura Holder
December 07, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 57.9 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla talks to Laura Holder of Conservation Dogs Collective. They chat all about puppies! Episode suggestion: Stay curious by being more “dog”! For 90 seconds a day, find joy in little things and slow down! Call to action: Update your Amazon Smile to benefit K9 Conservationists. What are the pros and cons of getting a conservation dog as a puppy? Pros: Having a dog from a puppy gives you more control over their learning and getting them started ...
How to be a K9 Conservationist
November 30, 2021 13:00 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla discusses the ins and outs of becoming a K9 Conservationist! Episode suggestion: It’s okay to not finish a book if you aren’t liking it. Call to action: Check out our new merch!! Suggested by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, create a 3-way Venn diagram of how to get involved. Top circle is “what you love.” Circle off to the left of what you’re good at Lastly, a circle to the right of what the world needs. In the center could be some ways yo...
Inspiring the Next Generation of Conservationists with Jeff Rennicke
November 23, 2021 14:00 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Jeff Rennickle. They talk about inspiring others to care about the land and Jeff’s experiences with photographing the world and teaching at the Conserve School. Episode suggestion: Give yourself grace for what you’re capable of right now. Call to action: Find a place that speaks to you, visit it often, and find out what you can do to get involved in its protection. What is wilderness? The wildness of our planet and the existence o...
Communications, Travel, and Conservation with Brooke Mitchell-Norman
November 16, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 75.4 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Brooke Mitchell-Norman. They talk about tourism, communication, education, and how all of that relates to conservation! Episode suggestion: Don't sacrifice what you want now for what you want most of all. Call to action: Support a local small business that donates or shares some of its profits with a cause you care about. How does travel benefit conservation? When it is done right, it puts an exact value dollar on a live and thriv...
The Great Big Data Nerdfest with Dr. Charles van Rees (Part 2)
November 09, 2021 13:00 - 49 minutes - 45 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Dr. Charles Van Rees about data. They discuss the ins and outs of working with data and how to turn data into information scientists can use.Episode suggestion: Take the time to see, smell, and notice things outside! Call to action: Check out ebird, inaturalist or seek! What is/are data? Information that we can use for inference and for learning things Data doesn’t necessarily “teach you things” but it helps you learn an answer to...
Data Nerdfest with Dr. Charles van Rees (Part 1)
November 02, 2021 12:00 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Dr. Charles Van Rees about data. They discuss the ins and outs of working with data and how to turn data into information scientists can use. Episode suggestion: Take the time to see, smell, and notice things outside! Call to action: Check out ebird, inaturalist or seek! What is/are data? Information that we can use for inference and for learning things Data doesn’t necessarily “teach you things” but it helps you learn an answer...
When Your Dogs are Your Coworkers - And Work is Hard
October 26, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 55.7 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla and Marissa Martino get personal discussing the woes of conservation work when handling your emotions while working! They discuss ways to balance how you’re feeling while trying to make the job as positive as possible for your K9 partner! Episode suggestion: Just train the dog! Call to action: Follow us on social media! Reach out to Kayla if you’d like to volunteer with helping put together a scentwork course! Links Mentioned in the Episode...
Selecting a Conservation Detection Dog
October 19, 2021 10:00 - 37 minutes - 34 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla Fratt talks about considerations when choosing a conservation detection dog, sourcing a dog, and screening a dog. Episode suggestion: “Don't sacrifice clarity at the altar of generosity” Call to action: Join pateron! Discussed in this Podcast: Considerations: Make a list of your must-haves from a lifestyle perspective to help which type of dog works best for you. This can be anything from breed type, grooming requirements, size, etc. Yo...
Off-Leash Etiquette and Ethics
October 12, 2021 11:00 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla Fratt talks about off-leash etiquette in order to keep your dogs, yourself, others, and the environment safe. Discussed in this Podcast: Off-leash is a privilege and owners carry a responsibility when utilizing that privilege Ensure your dog has solid recall, especially around distractions Look for signage; follow the law - if the trail or area is on leash, there’s a reason for it When you arrive at a trail, observe your surroundings Are th...
Too Much "Structure" Compromises Your Working Dog's Welfare
September 28, 2021 12:29 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla discusses the structure and welfare of a conservation detection dog! This episode is heavily inspired by Sarah Stremming’s Cog Dog Radio Podcast Episode titled “Drive, Deprivation, and Desperation”. Be careful to not label desperation or deprivation as drive Limited your dogs access to toys or other fun in order to “build drive" is a welfare issue Try not to build up an obsession with the reinforcers to best avoid desperation and deprivation ...
Working with a Teenage Detection Dog
September 14, 2021 11:00 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla discusses what it is like working with a teenage dog and gives tips and tricks to get your young dog in the world of conservation work! Start small. Niffler searches in small plots, each search only commencing around 15 minutes at a time. While conservation detection can be unpredictable, it’s best to find work that will be highly rewarding. If there aren’t as many finds as expected, make sure you are prepared to look after your dog’s welfare t...
Signal Detection Theory with Dr. Simon Gadbois
August 17, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 59.6 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla Fratt speaks with Dr. Simon Gadbois to talk about signal detection theory and his conservation work! Discussed in this Podcast: Dr. Gadbois work in Nova Scotia What is signal detection theory? Signal detection theory is a means to measure the ability to differentiate between information-bearing patterns and random patterns that distract from the information. It has been around for a long time Mostly used for physical stimuli vs olfactory st...
Lengthy Searches with Dr. Nathan Hall
August 03, 2021 12:00 - 52 minutes - 48 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla Fratt speaks with Dr. Nathaniel Hall to talk about lengthy searches for conservation dogs! Discussed in this Podcast: How does a dog’s sensitivity to scent affect their work? All sensory systems are learned behaviors, so there will be genetic differences and learning history differences. Because of this, what one dog smells will not be the exact same as what another dog smells. It depends on the concentration of the odor on how sensitive your...
Introducing the Conservation Dogs Collective
July 27, 2021 12:00 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla Fratt speaks with Laura Holder to introduce Laura’s Conservation Dogs Collective! Discussed in this Podcast: How did you get into conservation detection dog work? What spurred the change to Conservation Dogs Collective? What are your goals with CDCI? What upcoming or recent projects have your finder-keeper teams worked on? What work are you doing to engage the dog-loving community and educate the public? I’d love to talk a bit about dog se...
Ethology and Working Dogs with Kim Brophey
July 13, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 74.3 MBToday I have the joy of talking to Kim Brophey about ethology. If you listen to dog podcasts the way I do, you’re probably already a bit obsessed with Kim. Today we’re going to dive into how we can use ethology to better select and meet the needs of our working dogs. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Dopamine Article Pop Psychology Podcast Beyond the Operant with Dr. Simon Gadbois Texas hounds that chase down poachers National Geographic, Gene 7R and Restlessness Jaak Panksepp TED Talk ...
Hierarchy of Behavior Change for Working Dogs with Dr. Susan Friedman
June 29, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 58.8 MBToday I have the joy of talking to Dr. Susan Friedman about the hierarchy of behavior change for dog training. This is so central to what we do - ensuring that our dogs are excellent at the work they do while maintaining the highest quality of life possible for them. I am SO excited to get to this interview, but first I have to remind you all that our field vehicle repair fundraiser is ongoing. As I record, the van is getting repairs for several damaged cylinders as well as fuel injectors -...
Using Dogs to Count Critically Endangered African Rabbits with Esther Matthew
June 15, 2021 11:00 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBToday I have the joy of talking to Esther Matthew about training conservation dogs for a critically endangered South African lagomorph: the riverine rabbit. Questions answered by Ester: : What was the goal of this study? What other measures had been attempted? Why did you have to use roadkill? How did you measure specificity? Can you describe the 3 phases of the study? Some other trainers hesitate to use off-target species in proofing for training, which always seemed odd to me. You d...
Muzzling for Wildlife Safety with Michael Shikashio
June 01, 2021 10:00 - 43 minutes - 39.6 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla and Michael Shikashio from The Bitey End of the Dog discuss muzzling. They cover why conservation detection dogs might need muzzles and the best way to acclimate your dog to wearing one. Why is a muzzle a good idea for a CDD based on their work? Muzzles aren’t just for biting, they can also protect the dog from ingesting things they shouldn’t. Types of muzzles and what sort is best for a working dog wearing it long-term Three things to look f...
Sourcing Odor with Stacy Barnett
May 18, 2021 12:00 - 56 minutes - 51.3 MBIn this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla and Stacy Barnett discuss sourcing. They cover what sourcing is and all you need to know about sourcing and nosework. Links Mentioned in the Episode Fenzi Courses: Scent Theory & Dynamics, Introduction to Nosework, Nosework Games Where to find Stacy Barnett: Scentsabilities Nosework You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists. K9 Conservationists Website Go Fund Me
Consent in Training
May 04, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 65.5 MBFor the final episode of Canine Conversations before we transition fully to K9 Conservationists, we're talking about consent with Erin Jones. We cover what consent is, why it is important, and how you get - and maintain - a dog’s consent to participate in training or a behavior treatment plan. Links Mentioned in the Episode Genealogy of Obedience Erin’s website, Instagram, and Facebook You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationist...
Introducing: K9 Conservationists
April 13, 2021 15:14 - 27 minutes - 45.9 MBHello and welcome to the K9 Conservationists Podcast! We've got a new name! As our loyal listeners know, we recently lost my beloved cohost Ursa. After giving it a LOT of thought, I've decided to pivot the focus of this podcast. Rather than focusing broadly on dog behavior, the K9 Conservationists podcast will focus on the field of conservation detection dogs. We'll interview wildlife biologists, community scientists, dog behavior researchers, and handlers throughout this amazing field. I ...
61. Goodbyes and Hot Takes
April 11, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 77 MBUrsa is leaving the podcast for new and exciting endeavors. But before she goes, we're tackling a Patreon question and another round of HOT TAKES! Patron Question Answered: “In episode 34 you talked about using chasing squirrels as a reward for your dogs. Kayla said this made Barely more desperately want to chase squirrels but Marissa said this made Sully’s desire to chase squirrels go down. My dog is veryyyyy excited about squirrels and it is one of the things I’ve been trying to teach h...
Shaping vs. Cueing with Hannah Brannigan
March 31, 2021 17:38 - 1 hour - 70 MBToday we’re talking to Hannah Branigan about cueing versus shaping in your training sessions. Now this might sound a bit nerdy - and it probably will be - but it’s actually really important for novice trainers! I know I personally got stuck on this a lot when I was starting out as a new trainer. And Hannah is EXACTLY who I wanted to talk to about this topic. Hannah is the host of Drinking from the Toilet, one of my favorite training podcasts. She’s also the author of Awesome Obedience and i...
Ep. 60: Life Updates and Hot Takes Part 3
March 16, 2021 08:00 - 59 minutes - 54.5 MBKayla and Ursa provide updates on their life and play another quick round of hot takes. They take turns pulling a topic from a hat, then they have 3 minutes to give their thoughts on it – then the other person has 2 minutes to add their thoughts. Hot takes covered: Praise based training Head collars Vibration collars
Ep. 59: Conservation Training with Ken Ramirez
March 02, 2021 16:53 - 1 hour - 63.8 MBDiscussed in this episode: Creating plans for non-trainer dog handlers Working with clients vs working with conservation problems Elephant migration Chimpanzee project Remote conservation vs captive conservation How to get involved with conservation training Working with detection dogs Using the “all clear procedure” Maintaining enthusiasm in “no find” environments Ensuring the learner has all their needs met Putting the dog first
Ep. 58: Hot Takes Part 2
February 16, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 62.4 MBKayla and Ursa return for another Hot Takes. They take turns pulling a topic from a hat, then they have 3 minutes to give their thoughts on it - then the other person has 2 minutes to add their thoughts. Remember, you can now support the podcast through Patreon for as little as $3/month! Patrons can submit questions, which we’ll answer at the end of each episode. Join the conversation over at patreon.com/canineconvos.
Ep. 57: Hot Takes Part 1
February 02, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 152 MBKayla and Ursa try out a new format they're calling Hot Takes. They take turns pulling a topic from a hat, then they have 3 minutes to give their thoughts on it - then the other person has 2 minutes to add their thoughts.
Ep. 56: Preparing for a Puppy
January 19, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 77.1 MBKayla speaks to Rebecca Hintz of Wintegrity K9 in Vacaville CA about deciding where to get a puppy. For the purpose of this episode, we are only comparing getting a dog from a responsible breeder versus a shelter. We are not discussing getting a dog from a pet store, online marketplace, grocery store lot, or backyard breeder because we do not support those venues of puppy acquisition. If you’re unsure how to find a responsible breeder, stay tuned for upcoming episodes.
Ep. 55: Meeting Everyone's Needs with Marissa Martino
January 05, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBIn today’s episode, Kayla hopped on the line with Marissa, our former co-host. On the show, we discussed how to provide your dog with the necessary daily enrichment while also taking into consideration what you need from the relationship as a pet parent. We share 6 different ways you can meet your dog’s needs along with a list of questions to consider, inviting you to personalize this content for you and your dog!
Ep. 54: Holiday Storytime
December 22, 2020 10:00 - 57 minutes - 585 MBUrsa and Kayla have a lighthearted holiday episode where they share some favorite stories about their dogs, past and present.
Ep. 53: Case Study on Madge
December 15, 2020 15:44 - 1 hour - 67.7 MBUrsa and Kayla chat about Madge, Kayla's uber-fearful foster dog from earlier this spring. They also get a great update from Madge's new family!
Ep. 52: Dominance with Kim Brophey
November 30, 2020 19:51 - 1 hour - 65.8 MBKayla sits down with Kim Brophy to discuss dominance in dogs and dog training from an ethological lens.
Ep. 51: Tips for Surviving the Holidays with Your Dog
November 18, 2020 23:03 - 1 hour - 65.6 MBKayla and Ursa discuss management strategies and training solutions to help make holiday gatherings less stressful for you, your dog, and your friends/family.
Ep. 50: Behavioral Euthanasia Part 2
November 13, 2020 04:07 - 1 hour - 71.6 MBKayla and Ursa revisit the difficult topic of behavioral euthanasia.
Ep. 49: Ethology with Kim Brophey
October 22, 2020 13:31 - 1 hour - 68.3 MBKayla chats with Kim Brophey about the study of ethology, and how that creates a different framework with which to look at dog behavior.
Ep. 48: Behavioral Euthanasia Part 1
October 06, 2020 08:00 - 1 hour - 69 MBKayla and Ursa discuss the tough topic of behavioral euthanasia for pet and shelter dogs.
Ep. 46: Behavioral Euthanasia Part 1
October 06, 2020 08:00 - 1 hour - 119 MBKayla and Ursa discuss the tough topic of behavioral euthanasia for pet and shelter dogs.
Ep. 46: Mythbusting Part 3
September 22, 2020 07:30 - 1 hour - 110 MBUrsa and Kayla tackle MORE dog training myths, including: Greeting a dog after an absence creates separation anxiety You need to always end training sessions on a good note You need to eat first/walk through doors first/not let your dog on furniture or your dog will be alpha You have to support the hierarchy between dogs Aggression to kids = dominance structure Pinch/prong collars are equivalent to corrections from mom
Ep. 47: Mythbusting Part 3
September 22, 2020 07:30 - 1 hour - 62.6 MBUrsa and Kayla tackle MORE dog training myths, including: 1. Greeting a dog after an absence creates separation anxiety 2. You need to always end training sessions on a good note 3. You need to eat first/walk through doors first/not let your dog on furniture or your dog will be alpha 4. You have to support the hierarchy between dogs 5. Aggression to kids = dominance structure 6. Pinch/prong collars are equivalent to corrections from mom