K9 Conservationists

Latest Episodes:

Preventing Wildlife Chasing with Alisa Healy Oct 25, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Alisa Healy from Dog Forward Training about wildlife chasing.

Science Highlight: Training methodology for canine scent detection of a critically endangered lagomorph: a conservation case study

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

Episode with Esther Mathews

Where to find Alisa: Website | Facebook | Instagram

You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.

Invasive Species with Dr. Charles van Rees Oct 18, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Dr. Charles van Rees, our Conservation Correspondent, about invasive species. Science Highlight: None What makes a species invasive? Generalists Fast-reproducing Behavioral flexibility Lack predators/pressures Harmful to the ecosystem in general Why do they matter? Conservation implications Economic losses (statistics) How do they work? Arrival Propagules Establishment Secondary spread How do people deal with them? EDRR & related surveying Tier system from PRISM Tier 1 – Early Detection/Prevention – Highest level of survey efforts. Should conduct delineation surveys and assign to appropriate Tier if detected. (a) inside buffer but not in PRISM, (b) outside PRISM and buffer, but close (eastern North America), (c) Far outside PRISM and buffer (not in east NA) but introduction pathway exists. Tier 2 – Eradication – Highest level of response efforts. High impact species with low enough abundance to make eradication feasible within the PRISM. Need delineation surveys to determine extent. Tier 3 – Containment – Target strategic management to slow the spread, as likely too widespread for eradication, but many surrounding regions could be at risk if left unattended. Tier 4- Local Control – Eradication from given area not feasible; focus on localized management over time to contain, exclude, or suppress to protect high-priority resources like rare species or recreation assets. Be strategic when deciding if/where to control Tier 5 (Monitor) – Species that need more research, mapping, and monitoring to understand their invasiveness. This includes naturalized species and cultivated-only species that are known to be invasive in other regions but are not yet invasive here Links Mentioned in the Episode: Why are invasive species bad? Ted Talk Where to find Charles: Website | Blog | Instagram | Twitter 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

Mid Season Musings Oct 04, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla talks candidly about some mid-season musings.

Links Mentioned in the Episode: None

You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.

Predation Substitute with Simone Mueller Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Simone Mueller about Predation Substitute Training.

Science Highlight: Performance of Pugs, German Shepherds, and Greyhounds (Canis lupus familiaris) on an odor-discrimination task

What is predation substitute training?

A force free protocol to stop predatory chasing.

What are the steps?

Management/prevention: stay in contact with the dog while out, keep the dog on-path, perimeter training
Tools: calmness around wildlife, so the dog can still think and perform alternative behavior (stand and watch). The deal is you can stand/watch but not chase. All parts of predatory sequence are inherently reinforcing, so we can allow them to eye/stalk without chase/bite
Alternative reinforcement, outlet through predation games
Interrupter (recall)

What are the first signs of predation?

Observing - there is no trigger yet, but they are looking for one. This is the time to get involved.
Stalking - they are focused on the prey, tense and arrow shaped body language, creeping forward
Chase - high level of arousal, hard to train anything here
Capture & consume - ideally you will never get to this point

Links Mentioned in the Episode: None

Where to find Simone Mueller: Website | Facebook | Instagram

You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.

Breeding Functional Working Dogs with Dr. Jessica Heckman Sep 20, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Dr. Jessica Heckman from Dog Zombie about Breeding Functional Dogs.

Science Highlight: Advancing Genetic Selection and Behavioral Genomics of Working Dogs Through Collaborative Science

What is functional breeding?

The population is no more at risk of X disease than the dog population as a whole.
Also prioritizing behavioral wellness over looks or closed stud books. No elevated risk of separation anxiety, etc.

What are common pitfalls breeding programs can run into?

Not bringing in dogs from outside of the population
You aren’t going to get to the goal and sit there - you have to keep working at it while you have it
“It's not about the first generation, it’s about the population and the direction you are moving the population towards” - Dr. Jessica Heckman

What tests are mission critical?

It depends on the breed/mix
The very first step would go to the breed club and see what tests they recommends
Then start talking to other breeders in the breed and learn about what issues the breed has
For mixed breeds, you should test for everything each purebred parent should be tested for, but it’s hard to say

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

Pet genomics medicine runs wild

Where Do Good Dogs Come From

Where to find Dr. Jessica Heckman: Website | Functional Dog Collaborative

You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.

Airports to Moors: Invasive Species Mitigation with Grant Blackley Sep 13, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Grant Blackley from Orkney Native Wildlife Project about transitioning from airport screening detection dogs to working with conservation detection dogs.

Science Highlight: Olfaction-based Detection Distance: A Quantitative Analysis of How Far Away Dogs Recognize Tortoise Odor and Follow It to Source

What is similar between airport detection and conservation detection?

Dog care is the same; health checks, etc.
Training foundations are similar
Educating the public is the same for both

What things are different?

Quick controlled rewards in the airport vs toy rewards for conservation
Dogs on leash at all times in the airport, can be off leash for conservation
Taught to speak a lot to airport detection dogs, but not for conservation
Overall search styles are different
Small differences in training elements
All airport dogs are trained the same, conservation dogs trained individually
Different hours of work, different work environment
More human sided work with airport detection vs conservation
There is more work and funding for airport detection

Links Mentioned in the Episode: None

Where to find Grant Blackley: Website | Facebook

You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.

What are Getxent Tubes? Gregory Herin Sep 06, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Gregory Herin from Getxent to discuss Getxent tubes.

Science Highlight: Noninvasive Identification of Herpetofauna: Pairing Conservation Dogs and Genetic Analysis

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

Where to find Getxent: Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter

You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.

Thinking Bigger with Meg Parker Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Meg Parker from the Center for Large Landscape Conservation to discuss thinking bigger in the world of conservation detection dogs.

Science Highlight: Factors That May Affect the Success of Scent Detection Dogs: Exploring Nonconventional Models of Preparation and Deployment

What does it mean to be “thinking bigger” in the field of conservation detection?

Work with academics more; ask more questions
Get more precise and better sampling
Look into better study designs
Continue expanding the field
Improve relationships with study designers, scientists, veterinarians, etc.
Improve welfare and training
Think beyond what is easiest and the way things have always been done
Where are you in the world and what are the issues there?
What can you do to help?
Think with a direction in mind and not just always going in and counting.

Where to find Meg Parker: Website

You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.

Top 2 Questions Part 2: How Did You Select Your Conservation Detection Dog? Aug 23, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla hosts multiple guests as they answer one of the top questions conservation dog handlers get: how did you select your conservation detection dog?

You can find our guests online here:

You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.

Roundtable: How Did You Get into the World of Conservation Detection? Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla hosts multiple guests as they answer one of the top questions conservation dog handlers get: how do you get into the world of conservation detection?

Jo Lock's reply begins at 4:27
Lindsay Ware's reply begins at 10:48
Laura Holder starts at 18:19
Rachel Hamre's reply begins at 26:55
Arden Blumenthal starts at 29:55

You can find our guests online here:

You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.

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