K9 Conservationists

Latest Episodes:

Data Nerdfest with Dr. Charles van Rees (Part 1) Nov 02, 2021

Show notes

In 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 something you’re looking for

Examples of data for conservation science

Occurrence data: evidence of the occurrence of a species in a specific area
Abundance data: identifying and counting every individual of every species in a given sector
Time series data: a series of data points indexed in time order
Monitoring: the process of watching the changes and patterns in the species

Challenges in data collection

Biases in both humans vs dogs
- Dogs have less of a visual bias than humans as they rely on olfactory vs sight to find data
Important to consider if the questions you are asking from the data are going to be worth it to have dogs involved.
Sample size: you have to have enough data in order to be able to work with the data
Trying to collect data in a cost effective way
You can’t control the data you collect

What happens to the life-cycle of data?

Analysis
Publishing
FAIR principles
Meta-analyses and reviews
Policy!
Or if not, advocacy! Action! Management!

What are ways to collect data?

Conservation detection dogs
Radio collars
Camera traps
eDNA
Drones
Audio surveys
Netting

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

- Mirror test (Kayla got this slightly wrong - dolphins spent extra time head circling, which may indicate recognition)

- Dogs self-recognition with scent

- Wolverine Way
Whatever thing you were talking about at 22 minutes, gulo?

Where to find Charles: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Nature Guys

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

When Your Dogs are Your Coworkers - And Work is Hard Oct 26, 2021

Show notes

In 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:

None

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

Selecting a Conservation Detection Dog Oct 19, 2021

Show notes

In 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. You should also make a list of “nice to have” and “bonus points”. These are types of things that aren’t a must have, but are still of some importance to you. These are usually aesthetic type desires.
You also need to consider your work lifestyle, whether your dog can handle being off leash around wildlife, water, other dogs, people, etc.
Consider if you’d want to do outreach work at events with your dog. Would a social dog be more ideal, etc.
Travel is something to consider. A dog that thrives on routine may not be best for conservation work.
Most trainers in this field prefer dogs that have a high drive for toys
Consider what kind of dog you like to work with; high drive, low drive, preference for food reinforcement, preference for toy reinforcement, low energy or high energy personality, etc.
Consider the detail level of the work you want to do
It’s very important to consider your skill set and experience with dog handling

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

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

K9 Conservationists Website

Go Fund Me

Off-Leash Etiquette and Ethics Oct 12, 2021

Show notes

In 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 there lots of cars indicating lots of people? Do the cars have bike racks? If so, is your dog reliable around bikes?
When in doubt, use a long line
Not only do you have to think about the safety of other people and dogs, you also have to think about the environment
Your dog should not chase any wildlife; even if they don’t catch it, that is undue stress on wildlife
Do research on what animals live in the environment you’re in to ensure yours and the wildlife’s safety

Links Mentioned in the Episode:
None

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

K9 Conservationists Website

Go Fund Me

Too Much "Structure" Compromises Your Working Dog's Welfare Sep 28, 2021

Show notes

In 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
Welfare is appropriate food, enrichment, exercise, and anything that would meet the dog's needs. Just because your dog is working doesnèt mean they shouldn’t get these needs met. They still need to “just be a dog”.
“If your dog doesn’t want to work anymore just because you’re giving them a good life off duty, you need to reassess both your training plans and your welfare plans for your dog.”
Modifying incentives isn’t bad, structure can be important to your dog’s health and safety

Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Cog Dog Radio - Drive, Deprivation, and Desperation

Dr. Susan Freidman Episode

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

A HUGE thank you to an anonymous donor who donated enough to cover the remainder of the van repairs! Thank you to ALL of our supporters who donated, shared, and supported K9 Conservationists through this time!

Working with a Teenage Detection Dog Sep 14, 2021

Show notes

In 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 to make it a good and rewarding experience for them.
Keep it extra fun!
Don’t be afraid to call it off! Whether it’s cutting a search or day short, or just deciding it’s time to go back to training and start work at another date, it’s okay to call it off and take steps back or take breaks when needed.
“Don’t prioritize success today at the expense of your dog’s long term career”
Watch for changes over time, and expect them to happen
Not all teenagers are going to be ready to work
Use “gimme’s” as needed if there aren’t a lot of finds
Watch your dog’s enthusiasm levels
Don’t ruin your dog’s career for the stake of starting it early

Links Mentioned in the Episode:
None

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

Signal Detection Theory with Dr. Simon Gadbois Aug 17, 2021

Show notes

In 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 stimuli
- It wouldn’t be useful for clear distinctions or errorless data
- However, signal detection theory needs a clear yes or a clear no
What’s the potential problem with proportion or percentage correct data as performance?
What’s the problem with our basic lineup for training and testing detection dogs as it relates to SDT?
How can trainers at home put this to use with their dogs?

Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Signal Detection Theory Paper
Memorial University d’Prime Calculator

Where to find Dr. Gadbois:
Website | Lab Facebook Page | Lab Facebook Group

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

K9 Conservationists Website

Go Fund Me

Lengthy Searches with Dr. Nathan Hall Aug 03, 2021

Show notes

In 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 dog will be to the odor. Their threshold of detection of a certain scent will increase if the concentration is reduced over time.
Motivation for long searches?
Performance is strongly dependent on the frequency in which targets appear
Reinforcing “all clear” signals can help with motivation in the event that there aren’t going to be a lot of targets for them to find.
It is important to not over-reward for “all clear” because then “all clear” can start to become more rewarding than finding the scent.
Make your “all clear” as equal effort as an alert response
If your dog is pre-prepared for not finding targets over a long period of time, it can help avoid an extinction burst and frustration

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

The Canid Genome - 2012 Paper
Where to find Dr. Hall:
Canine Olfaction Lab | Facebook

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

K9 Conservationists Website Go Fund Me

Introducing the Conservation Dogs Collective Jul 27, 2021

Show notes

In 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 selection and training methods.

Links Mentioned in the Episode:
None

Where to find Laura Holder and CDCI:

Conservation Dogs Collective | Instagram | Facebook

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

K9 Conservationists Website

Go Fund Me

Ethology and Working Dogs with Kim Brophey Jul 13, 2021

Show notes

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:

Where to find Kim Brophey:

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

K9 Conservationists Website

Go Fund Me