Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Info for Early-Career Handlers”
Today 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 …
Here at K9 Conservationists, we’re not just obsessed with training conservation detection dogs. We’re passionate about all the ways that dog lovers (and their dogs) can help protect the planet. Earth Day is about so much more than simple trash pickups or planting a few trees. Its roots lie in legislation, intersectional environmentalism, and reimagining the economic foundation of the …
To many outdoorsy dog-lovers, being a conservation detection dog handler sounds like an absolute dream job. In many ways, it absolutely is. But what is the job actually like? Of course, the first thing to say is it depends. There are a variety of different ways to get involved as a conservation detection dog handler. You could be salaried with …
I love talking about my job. I truly think I have one of the coolest jobs in the world. When I’m talking to people about the work I do, I always get asked: how do I get started as a conservation detection dog handler? Of course there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to get into this line of work. I’ll start off …
Not every dog can cut it as a conservation detection dog. As we discussed in our article “Could My Dog Be a K9 Conservationist,” generally trainers look for dogs that are: High-drive and easily motivated by toys or food or both. Motivated to search and hunt for rewards. Physically healthy. Emotionally stable and safe to be around a variety of …
Conservation detection dogs are dogs that are specially trained to sniff out odors related to conservation. They work similarly to bomb, drug, or Search and Rescue dogs – but instead of searching for accelerants, drugs, or missing people, they search for things related to conservation biology. Generally, conservation detection dogs sniff for things that fall into a few broad categories: …