Stay ConnectedWelcome 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.
Copyright: © Kayla Fratt
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Tony Harvey about intelligent disobedience. Review Highlight: JPinCB says “Kayla’s authentic, enthusiastic interest in all of her guests and topics, paired with her knowledge in a variety of scientific fields makes this podcast fun, interesting, and informative. If you have any interest in dogs, nature, travel, science, even pursuing your dreams, you will love this podcast.” What is intelligent disobedience? When the dog goes directly against the handler's cue in an effort to make the better or safer decision (ie. A guide dog not crossing the road when asked when there is a vehicle coming). How do you teach this? This is taught by training dogs different behaviors for different contingencies A high level of reinforcement is given for these behaviors How do you teach handlers to respond to this? Many sessions with and without the dog The handlers need to learn what each behavior feels like Patreon Questions: Are there specific dog traits that make this training easier/more successful? - From Taylor Do you factor in the need for intelligent disobedience when choosing a prospect? - From Megan For different types of dog personalities, how does he approach this kind of training, and some problem solving examples? - From Jana Links Mentioned in the Episode: Red/Green Light Paper Where to find Tony Harvey: Guide Dogs UK | Youtube | Facebook 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
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Misa Winters and Tara Wilson about laboratory analysis of scat after field collection. Science Highlight: Duration of urination does not change with body size What can we learn from our scat samples? Genetic analysis (what species, what individual, what did it eat, sex typing) Morphological diet analysis (fur, bones, teeth, plants, insects) Microbiome (bacteria and immune system interaction) Parasites, pathogen analysis (bacteria and viral disease) Hormonal analysis (stress, pregnancy, nutrition, relative age) Age (isotope data) Hormones in particular are great from scat because it is more representative of an animal over time, versus a blood sample which is a smaller snapshot in time and could be skewed by the stress of capturing or darting an animal. What questions from samples are harder/easier to answer? Easier: Species ID from mitochondrial DNA (if you have good reference data) Prey analysis (if you have a targeted strategy - e.g. it’s hard to use a single genetic marker to analyze ALL prey but it depends on if you’re looking for mammals, birds, fish, etc.) Pregnancy (but actually need three assays estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone which can also point to a juvenile or adult). Stress - is it nutritional or environmental (T3 or cortisol) Harder: Individual capture-mark-recapture since it uses nuclear DNA and relies on a good resampling scheme. How many animals are on the landscape? Especially when using prey data, you have to make a lot of assumptions about how many predators can eat from the same prey species. We also know that DNA from prey is not equally represented after digestion, it will depend on the tissue ingested too. Where to find Misa Winters: Website | Instagram | Lab Instagram Where to find Tara Wilson: Instagram 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
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla provides an update on what she has been doing in Kenya, announces the new K9 Conservationist course, and answers some questions from patrons. Links Mentioned in the Episode: K9 Conservationists Course 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
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla is back for part two with Kate Graham from Katalyst Kennels about breeding detection dogs.
Science Highlight: Effects of maternal investment, temperament, and cognition on guide dog success
What is important to consider for pregnant broods?
What is important to consider for puppy raising?
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Maybe link Pandemic Puppy episodes?
Where to find Kate Graham: Website | Instagram | Facebook
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
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Kate Graham from Katalyst Kennels about breeding detection dogs.
Science Highlight: Effects of maternal investment, temperament, and cognition on guide dog success
What health testing is important in the field?
What about successful sporting dogs with less-solid pedigrees?
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Where to find Kate Graham: Website | Instagram | Facebook
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
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Jo Lock of Nose No Limit and Conservation Dogs Collective regarding her paper about using antecedent arrangement to help reduce bat fatalities on wind farms.
Science Highlight: The relationship between number of training sessions per week and learning in dogs
**Link the Jo Lock paper
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Where to find Jo Lock: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Conservation Dogs Collective
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
In this bonus episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Mary Wykstra from Carnivores, Livelihoods and Landscapes, about the work they are doing with Actions for Cheetahs in Kenya. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Where to find Mary Wykstra: Website | Facebook | Vaccination Facebook Page | Go Fund Me 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
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Lindsay Ware of Science Dogs of New England about breed selection for unique uses, big game tracking, and more!
Science Highlight: Effects of learning an increasing number of odors on olfactory learning, memory and generalization in detection dogs
How do you start training a dog for tracking?
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Tracking Dogs for Finding Wounded Deer
Where to find Lindsay Ware: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Tracking Facebook
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
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Isabelle Groc about her book Conservation Canines: How Dogs Work for the Environment.
Science Highlight: Performance of detection dogs and visual searches for scat detection and discrimination amongst related species with identical diets
Have you read Conservation Canines: How Dogs Help the Environment yet? Isabelle Groc put together this lovely book to highlight many of the working dogs around the world, from conservation detection dogs to livestock guardian dogs. I had a blast learning about her book-writing process. If you don't have the book yet, order it! It's gorgeous and a great read.
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Where to find Isabelle Groc: Website
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
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla hosts a panel of conservationists, dog behavior consultants and trainers, and ecologists. Our panel guests this episode are Dr. Charles van Rees, Ken Ramirez, Ursa Acree, Kim Brophy, Laura Holder, and Dr. Erim Gomez.
Questions asked:
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
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