What to listen for:

Our hosts Robin Greubel and Stacy Barnett explore generalization as the foundation of reliable detection work.

Together, they reveal generalization as extending far beyond simple obedience across locations. It encompasses odor variability, environmental context, behavioral chains, and handler presentation.

They explain how explosive and narcotic sources vary like chocolate-cake recipes: different manufacturers, cutting agents, and absorption materials create distinct odor profiles.

Dogs trained on limited sources may fail to recognize the "same" target odor prepared differently. That’s why handlers must expose dogs to diverse training aids and seek out other teams' materials.

Next, they talk behavioral generalization. Does "search" mean the same thing in a familiar training field versus a novel parking lot, rubble pile, or aircraft? Robin and Stacy stress that context cues (vehicles, wilderness, buildings) and environmental distractions require deliberate proofing so dogs maintain focus regardless of setting, weather, or ambient noise.

Robin describes her area-search class methodology, which emphasizes that handlers can proof refind behaviors solo by generalizing the chain across handler positions. You could even do jumping jacks or lie turtle-like after falling into a hole.

The goal is stimulus control, which means the cue triggers the behavior everywhere, every time.

Our hosts warn against training disengagement by repeatedly working in overly distracting environments (woods full of "trail mix") without first building a clean chain in controlled settings like big-box stores with clean floors.

If dogs routinely self-employ or search lackadaisically, handlers must assess whether hides exceed the dog's skill level, reinforcement is insufficient, or engagement was never properly conditioned.

Their green-eggs-and-ham framework captures the essence of generalization: master the skill (row your boat), then generalize it everywhere (here, there, everywhere).

Key Topics:

• Odor Generalization Across Sources and Absorption Materials (01:41)
• Training-Aid Availability and Pairing New Sources (04:56)
• Directionals and Platform Generalization (FEMA, Rubble Piles) (12:40)
• Training for Test vs. Application (Go-Outs, Distance, Body Language) (16:51)
• Area Search, Refind/TFR and Robin's New Class (18:50)
• Search Cue Stimulus Control in Blank and Novel Areas (20:45)
• Context Cues, Vehicles, and High-Likelihood Targets (23:38)
• Distraction Management and Clean Behavior Chains (37:45)
• Green Eggs and Ham: Progression Plans for Young Dogs (42:56)

Resources:

• Study about the need for generalization in Explosives Detection Dogs
• Episodes with Dr. Lauryn DeGreeff
• Robin's Area Search/Wilderness Dog Class
• Stacy's course on Reading Pre-alert Behavior
• Make sure to register for Stacy's upcoming term!

We want to hear from you:

• Check out the K9 Detection Collaborative FB page and comment on the episode post!
• You can follow us for notifications of upcoming episodes, find us at k9detectioncollaborative.com

What to listen for:

“[Being a part of] this podcast terrified me. Putting myself out there was so vulnerable, and I felt like it was such a big risk for you guys, as well. I’m so thankful. I’m glad you made me, but I’m also going to say I’m glad that I did it because in the end, I had the final say in buying the microphone and the headset.”

After 151 episodes, Crystal Wing says goodbye (or rather, seeya later) to the K9 Detection Collaborative family, and lets us know the exciting things she has in store in the very near future! In her final episode on the pod, Crystal, along with co-hosts Robin Greubel and Stacy Wing, reflect on growth, gratitude, and the courage required to embrace terrifying change.

Crystal shares how the podcast stretched her beyond comfort, teaching her that her voice didn't need to be perfect to be powerful. She thanks the community of listeners, guests, and especially her co-hosts for building confidence she never knew she possessed.

It also helps that the ADHD brain that once made her curiosity feel like a burden found a home, and a tribe, on the pod!

The Dames of Detection also talk about doing scary things as a catalyst for growth. Stacy offers an inspirational quote she borrowed: "Confidence doesn't come from preparation, it comes from survival." Which basically means that moving forward before feeling ready is precisely what builds capability!

Crystal also announces her new project: a short-form podcast tentatively titled "What's On Top.”

She thanks Stacy for teaching her about odor behavior and vehicles, and Robin for seeing potential she hadn't recognized in herself. The lily pad metaphor comes to mind, where teachers provide stepping stones that students eventually leap from, not destinations where they remain forever.

Crystal signs off with the reminder that, if something terrifies you while simultaneously tugging at your purpose, that fear signals you're on the right path!

Key Topics:

• Crystal Announces Her Departure After 151 Episodes (01:30)
• Introducing "What's On Top": Crystal's New Solo Podcast (08:09)
• "Do It Nervous, Do It Anyway" (14:51)
• Gratitude for Specific Lessons and Opportunities (17:45)
• The Lily-Pad Metaphor: Teachers as Stepping Stones (19:00)
• Key Takeaways (29:12)
• Not an Ending, Just a New Chapter (32:41)

Resources:

• Keep up with Crystal’s Goings On!

We want to hear from you:

• Check out the K9 Detection Collaborative FB page and comment on the episode post!
• K9Sensus Detection Dog Trainer Academy
• K9Sensus Foundation can be found on Facebook and Instagram. We have a Trainer’s Group on Facebook!
• Scentsabilities Nosework is also on Facebook. Here is a Facebook group you should join!
• Crystal Wing (CB K9) can be found here!
• You can follow us for notifications of upcoming episodes, find us at k9detectioncollaborative.com

What to listen for:

Our hosts, Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing, break down how time, airflow, and placement reshape detection dog work!

They kick things off by describing a week of hides left up to 96 hours, the longest-out scenario that reveals how odor pools migrate and change. Drawing from this experience, our hosts brainstorm creative ways to design hides that can better help your dog read scents.

Central is the concept of "odor availability", which explains why surface area, sealing, and enclosure control whether a source itself (and not merely source size) ever presents to a dog.

Using a paint-flow metaphor, they explain how multiple sources age and send "tendrils" of scent through a structure, forcing dogs to sort overlapping plumes to find dominant streams.

They stress that short-set hides (minutes) produce different search behaviors than long-set hides (days), and that sport trials, which run many teams, may not reflect operational realities.

Robin, Stacy, and Crystal urge handlers to read odor-pool cues, practice sourcing through mixed plumes, and intentionally vary hide age and intensity so dogs learn robust, transferable detection skills across environments.

Key Topics:

• Why Replicate Longer Set Times and How to Mimic Aging (00:47)
• Defining “Odor Availability” (Surface Area, Sealing, Enclosure) (03:21)
• Paint-Flow and Tendrils Metaphor for Overlapping Sources (07:20)
• Odor Pools, Building “Breathing” and the Effects of Doors and Venting (11:46)
• Q-Tip Preparation, Dropper Size and Concentration Variability (19:51)
• Practical Hacks to Mimic Long Sets (Cent-Transfer, Freezing, Mixing) (36:14)
• Short-Set (Minutes) vs Long-Set (Days) and Sport vs Operational Hides (42:46)
• Upcoming Workshops (50:01)

Resources:

• Sniffer dogs tested in real-world scenarios reveal need for wider access to explosives, study finds (article)
• K9Nosework Source
• SciK9 Graphic
• K9Sensus Detection Dog Trainer Academy
• K9Sensus Next Years Schedule
• Fenzi DSA Link

We want to hear from you:

• Check out the K9 Detection Collaborative FB page and comment on the episode post!
• K9Sensus Detection Dog Trainer Academy
• K9Sensus Foundation can be found on Facebook and Instagram. We have a Trainer’s Group on Facebook!
• Scentsabilities Nosework is also on Facebook. Here is a Facebook group you should join!
• Crystal Wing (CB K9) can be found here!
• You can follow us for notifications of upcoming episodes, find us at k9detectioncollaborative.com

What to listen for:

“Search and rescue work is the volunteer profession that you pay to do and is one of the most stressful things you can ever do, because somebody else's life could depend on what you're doing.”

In part 2 of their conversation with Steve White, Robin Greubel and Stacy Barnett ask about the development of Hydrated Intensive Tracking (HIT), which evolved from experiments with scent-in-a-bottle methods.

Steve’s breakthrough came at a U.S. Police Canine Association seminar when handlers lacked marker training skills. By hybridizing traditional food-in-footstep methods with spray lines, Steve discovered that dogs crossing pavement with spray present kept their heads lower even after the spray evaporated. It’s classical conditioning at work!

Steve's training philosophy emphasizes creating calm, methodical working dogs rather than frantic high-energy animals. He seeks dogs with "conditioned emotional responses" of focused steadiness. He believes that clearheaded dogs perform better in difficult urban environments. This approach influenced his article training, where teaching dogs to find tiny objects like washers creates precision that makes finding larger targets effortless.

Robin and Stacy zero in on the importance of generalization and stimulus control. Dogs absolutely distinguish training from operations, requiring extensive work in operational environments. Steve advocates for the "Green Eggs and Ham" principle. That is, can your dog perform here, there, everywhere? Handlers often mistake lack of stimulus control for lack of behavior knowledge.

His current work with the United States Police Canine Association's Best Practices Working Group aims to preserve police canine programs by shifting focus toward the irreplaceable value of dogs' olfactory capabilities while promoting cooperation-based control methods over force-dependent approaches.

Key Topics:

• Search Dogs vs. Examination Dogs (01:40)
• Evolution of Hydrated Intensive Tracking (12:09)
• Classical Conditioning and Surface Work (17:47)
• Generalization and Stimulus Control (26:48)
• Training for Operational Environments (36:37)
• Takeaways (45:23)

Resources:

You can find Steve White:

• Proactive K9 Website
• Proactive K9 Website Forms

USPCA YouTube Channel: Where you can find Steve's three-part series on odor/scent fundamentals, a 1000-hour eyes presentation where he talks about the eight indicators of dogs being on odor, and Robin's presentations about the recipe for building a great training session.

We want to hear from you:

• Check out the K9 Detection Collaborative FB page and comment on the episode post!
• K9Sensus Detection Dog Trainer Academy
• K9Sensus Foundation can be found on Facebook and Instagram. We have a Trainer’s Group on Facebook!
• Scentsabilities Nosework is also on Facebook. Here is a Facebook group you should join!
• Crystal Wing (CB K9) can be found here!
• You can follow us for notifications of upcoming episodes, find us at k9detectioncollaborative.com

What to listen for:

Two-thirds of The Dames of Detection, Robin Greubel and Stacy Barnett, welcome Steve White, a veteran law enforcement K9 trainer whose 46-year career began in military working dog handling in 1975.

Steve discusses the challenges facing modern police canine programs, particularly how vendor-driven training models often prioritize efficiency over optimization, which creates sessions where handlers log hours without meaningful individual development.

Central to Steve's philosophy is building fluency in component behaviors before chaining them together. He emphasizes the "search-locate-report" sequence as the foundation of detection work, and warns against the common mistake of teaching dogs to retrieve training aids initially. This approach creates problems through the “law of primacy:” dogs default to their earliest learned behaviors under stress, leading to dangerous outcomes like consuming narcotics or explosives.

Steve draws a critical distinction between "search dogs" and "examination dogs." Medical detection dogs must systematically examine each sample rather than hunting for the strongest odor source; a dog that vaults past a Stage 1 cancer sample to alert on Stage 4 creates catastrophic consequences. Similarly, explosive detection work often requires methodical examination of luggage or spaces where missing a threat is unacceptable.

Steve traces his evolution from using sport castoff dogs from Europe to developing selection criteria focused on "self-righting" dogs: calm, confident animals who never seek fights but finish them. He shows us why it’s so important to understand the trade-offs inherent in every training decision!

Key Topics:

• Steve's Background and Career Evolution (03:10)
• Modern Police K9 Training Challenges (08:02)
• European Dog Selection and Trade-offs (16:03)
• The Search-Locate-Report Chain (27:09)
• Law of Primacy in Dog Training (28:19)
• Building Chains Without Fluency (30:29)
• German Tracking Experiments and Training Methods (37:00)
• Training Methods and Trade-offs (44:10)
• Dogs as Tools of Force in Law Enforcement (48:20)

Resources:

You can find Steve White:

• Proactive K9 Website
• Proactive K9 Website Forms

USPCA YouTube Channel: Where you can find Steve's three-part series on odor/scent fundamentals, a 1000-hour eyes presentation where he talks about the eight indicators of dogs being on odor, and Robin's presentations about the recipe for building a great training session.

We want to hear from you:

• Check out the K9 Detection Collaborative FB page and comment on the episode post!
• K9Sensus Detection Dog Trainer Academy
• K9Sensus Foundation can be found on Facebook and Instagram. We have a Trainer’s Group on Facebook!
• Scentsabilities Nosework is also on Facebook. Here is a Facebook group you should join!
• Crystal Wing (CB K9) can be found here!
• You can follow us for notifications of upcoming episodes, find us at k9detectioncollaborative.com

What to listen for:

"Get a dog, take the dog you have, start training, do it yourself. Yes, the client dogs will come, the other pieces will come, but get yourself out there."

2/3 of our hosts, Robin Greubel and Stacy Barnett, sit down with Katelyn Graham from Katalyst Kennels, who shares her expertise in breeding and training Labrador Retrievers for detection tasks while managing a multifaceted kennel operation!

Katelyn’s going deep into producing what she calls “green dogs”: canine companions who are behaviorally and health-wise ready for specialized training without formal odor imprinting.

She encourages handlers to put considerable focus into young dog development, from day zero to 12-18 months, the period in which environmental exposure and hunting skills are best shaped. Focusing your training around this period ensures that your dog is versatile for tasks like narcotics or explosives detection.

Katelyn also acknowledges the emotional and logistical challenges of breeding, such as managing failed litters or health crises (citing one puppy’s staggering $15,000 jaw surgery as an example).

Her pet boarding business subsidizes these costs, which is a great way for handlers to weigh the ethical pros and cons of these heavy decisions without the financial pressure. For aspiring trainers, she advises hands-on experience over formal education alone, urging them to embrace grunt work and early morning tracking sessions to gain practical skills.

Katelyn believes that success demands relentless dedication, from sleepless nights with puppies to mentoring eager learners, all to ensure quality working dogs for critical roles!

Key Topics:

• All About Katelyn Graham (01:28)
• What is a “Green Dog”? (07:23)
• Selection Testing on Puppies (13:41)
• Tailoring Testing to the Current Realities of Field Trials (22:27)
• Challenges of Breeding (27:55)
• Advice for Aspiring Trainers (32:56)
• Key Takeaways (43:56)

Resources:

• Katalyst Kennels (Website)
• Katalyst Kennels (Facebook)

We want to hear from you:

• Check out the K9 Detection Collaborative FB page and comment on the episode post!
• K9Sensus Detection Dog Trainer Academy
• K9Sensus Foundation can be found on Facebook and Instagram. We have a Trainer’s Group on Facebook!
• Scentsabilities Nosework is also on Facebook. Here is a Facebook group you should join!
• Crystal Wing (CB K9) can be found here!
• You can follow us for notifications of upcoming episodes, find us at k9detectioncollaborative.com

What to listen for:

Our hosts, Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing, dive deep into a counterintuitive training philosophy sparked by their recent interview with Petra Ford: sometimes accepting imperfection creates better performance in complex behavior chains.

The conversation began with Petra's story about reinforcing her dog even when she knew it wasn't sitting perfectly square. When working on complex detection behaviors, trying to perfect every element simultaneously can destroy the bigger picture. As Robin notes with her recall-refine work over 600 feet of varied terrain, if she withheld reinforcement because her dog's elbows weren't perfectly down, she'd be punishing extraordinary effort over a minor detail.

Crystal's breakthrough came through Denise Fenzi's exercise that forced her to reward every single repetition—even mistakes. When her dog Checkmate downed instead of sitting, Crystal still had to reward it. "I thought it would ruin my training," she admits, "but instead it ruined my frustration." The exercise revealed that her dogs were trying harder than she'd realized. They weren't being disobedient; they were navigating the learning process.

The Dames of Detection emphasize balance throughout. Yes, reward imperfect efforts when building complex chains or working through challenging problems. But don't reside there permanently—sloppy chains help no one. The key is reading patterns: one mistake is information, three times becomes a training issue to address.

Every attempt provides valuable information. Whether working detection, obedience, or protection sports, dogs need to feel free to try without fear of shutdown. When handlers create that emotional safety through strategic reinforcement—even of imperfect attempts—dogs develop the grit and resilience needed for complex work.

Key Topics:

• Petra Ford's Philosophy on Complex Behavior Chains (00:59)
• Recall-Refine Over Distance: When Good Enough is Great (02:52)
• Teaching Scent Theory vs. Perfect Alerts (05:00)
• Crystal's Breakthrough: Rewarding Every Repetition (12:33)
• Building Duration Behaviors (22:41)
• Reading Patterns vs. One-Off Mistakes (36:20)
• Final Takeaways on Clarity and Balance (41:51)

Resources:

• K9 Detection Collaborative Episode 142: Talking Training with Petra Ford Pt 1
• K9 Detection Collaborative Episode 143: Talking Training with Petra Ford Pt 2

We want to hear from you:

• Check out the K9 Detection Collaborative FB page and comment on the episode post!
• K9Sensus Detection Dog Trainer Academy
• K9Sensus Foundation can be found on Facebook and Instagram. We have a Trainer’s Group on Facebook!
• Scentsabilities Nosework is also on Facebook. Here is a Facebook group you should join!
• Crystal Wing (CB K9) can be found here!
• You can follow us for notifications of upcoming episodes, find us at k9detectioncollaborative.com

What to listen for:

Our hosts, Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing, do a deep dive into their recent Intentional Handling and Hide Setting camp where, during a sweltering week in Iowa, seventeen detection dog teams discovered how unconscious body positioning can make or break a search!

The breakthrough moment came on Thursday during an outdoor search. A handler, diligently following instructions to avoid "going full frontal" on hides, had positioned herself away from the actual hide, directly facing an odor pool instead. Her dog searched frantically in that pool, unable to solve the problem.

"I want you to go full frontal on the hide," Robin instructed, breaking her own rule. Without saying another word to the dog, the handler simply shifted her feet toward the actual hide location. The dog immediately moved to source and alerted.

This demonstration crystallized the camp's core philosophy: intentional handling means making conscious decisions about every movement.

As Stacy explains, "It's about purposeful handling in a way that supports the independence and autonomy of the dog, but in a way that's also making the search effective and efficient."

The sweet spot lies between abdicating responsibility—just following your dog around—and micromanaging to the point where the dog loses all autonomy.

Crystal's Six C's framework provided the mental component. When handlers move with purpose, dogs search with confidence. But intention goes beyond physical positioning. It also shapes how handlers approach each search mentally. Starting with curiosity allowed students to observe without judgment, opening them to discoveries about their own unconscious patterns.

The camp's structure reinforced these lessons through repetition. Watching 34 team runs of identical problems revealed how subtle handler movements created dramatically different search patterns. Aged hides, left for 24-36 hours, produced disconnected odor pools that challenged even experienced teams. One hide in a hay field, placed nowhere near any landmark, forced dogs to use pure scenting ability rather than visual triangulation.

By week's end, handlers learned to track coverage areas while reading airflow patterns, leaving their dogs free to locate odor.

Key Topics:

• Crystal's Six C's Framework (03:33)
• The Full Frontal Demonstration (15:44)
• Defining “Intentional Handling” (18:06)
• Handler Movement Restrictions Exercise (30:36)
• Aged Hides and Disconnected Odor Pools (39:23)
• Hay Field Hide Challenge (45:11)
• Final Takeaways on Intention and Gratitude (49:24)

Resources:

• Intentional Handling (image mentioned in episode)

We want to hear from you:

• Check out the K9 Detection Collaborative FB page and comment on the episode post!
• K9Sensus Detection Dog Trainer Academy
• K9Sensus Foundation can be found on Facebook and Instagram. We have a Trainer’s Group on Facebook!
• Scentsabilities Nosework is also on Facebook. Here is a Facebook group you should join!
• Crystal Wing (CB K9) can be found here!
• You can follow us for notifications of upcoming episodes, find us at