Joint Symposium for Working K9s

In this episode guest host Dr. Lucia Lazarowski interviews Dr. Smith on a recent study conducted at Auburn University exploring the ideal training schedule for dogs. Should training be spaced with breaks or condensed? Which leads to the best outcomes. Listen in to find out.

This study was funded by the Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate, Detection Canine Program Office under contract #70RSAT22CB0000002. This podcast represents the position of the researchers and not necessarily that of DHS.

In this podcast we learn more about Craig Shultz of K9 Sci Con and JSWK9. Learn about his background and where he got introduced to animal training from zoo, marine mammal and detection dogs. Learn more about his workshop at JSWK9, "Drop that reward".

In this episode I speak with the Penn Vet Working Dog Center's Director, Dr. Cindy Otto. We learn about the workshop she is teaching at JSWK9 on Monday April 7th, called Keeping Cool. Learn more about this workshop and how to keep your dog cool!

In this episode we learn more about Fed Helfers and his exciting career with detection dogs. Mr. Helfers is the instructor for the workshop, "Conducting Double Blind Exercises for K9 Team Certifications and Odor Recognition Tests". In this episode we learn about the importance of double blinds and how his workshop will give practical advice on how to implement them in your training program. They are not that hard, and can do wonders for your training program. Listen in to learn about Fred's fascinating career and how his thoughts on double-blind tests have evolved over his career.

Listen in on this joint interview with Dr. Tiedemann and Cameron Ford on firearms detection. They are instructing a JSWK9 workshop, "The Smoking Gun: Understanding the Detection of Firearms from Odor to Training Methods". In this episode we learn about the differences between an explosives detection dog and a firearms detection dog and the critical operational and training differences. This episode touches on the topics that will be covered in more depth in their workshop (https://www.jswk9.com/workshops).

In this episode, I interview Bob Dougherty of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center, who is instructing the JSWK9 workshop, "The Prepared Puppy: Foundational Training for Law Enforcement". In this episode we learn about Mr. Dougherty's vast experience and evolution in Law Enforcement K9 training. We also get a sneak peek to what is covered in the workshop. Learn how Penn Vet develops puppies for Law Enforcement and lessons learned!

In this podcast I interview PhD candidate Sarah Kane, Dr. Lucia Lazarowski, and canine instructors Bart Rogers and Jennifer Davis-Miller on a recent project conducted by Auburn University and Texas Tech University.  If you need to train dogs on a range of explosives, how do you do this most efficiently? Do you train one at a time? Do you mix multiple together to make a “stew”?  Do you introduce the dog to each of your odors from the start? In this podcast, the team discusses the results of a study conducted across both institutes to answer these questions!

This study was funded by the Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate, Detection Canine Program Office under contract #70RSAT22CB0000002. This podcast represents the position of the researchers and not necessarily that of DHS.

Meet Dr. Meghan Ramos, the medical director for the PennVet Working Dog Center. Dr. Ramos will be instructing the PennVet Canimetrics workshop at the JSWK9 conference. In this episode, learn more about Canimetrics, working dog fitness, and what you can learn from this workshop!

In this episode we meet Brad Gillespie, invited speaker for the JSWK9 conference. Brad has 25 years experience, handling and training law enforcement K9s. Listen in to learn more about Brad's experience in lessons he has learned handling and training!

In this episode, I interview Dr. Emily Bray, Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona. Dr. Bray talks about her research with guide and assistance dogs. Dr. Bray has investigated the effect of maternal style and mothering of dams on their pups’ future success in guide and assistance dog programs. Is a more engaged mother better or worse in predicting dogs qualifying as a guide or assistance dog? The results are more complex than you may imagine!  Are differences in early puppy personality stable? Do they change with age or are they stable individual differences? What cognitive traits are heritable in dogs? This podcast is a great resource for anyone interested in working dog development from puppy to adult.

In this episode, I interview Dr. Paul Waggoner, Co-Director for the Center of Canine Performance Sciences. Dr. Waggoner is the keynote speaker of the JSWK9 conference and an industry leader for detection dogs for the last 30 years. We will discuss the history of Auburn’s Canine Performance Sciences, how Dr. Waggoner got started, and what trends he has observed over the last 30 years. We will talk about Dr. Waggoner’s and Auburn’s successes in transferring technology to operational teams and the key learning lessons Dr. Waggoner has made over his career. Join us to learn about the history of detection dogs and developments made under his lead at Auburn University.

In this episode, I interview Dr. Zenithson Ng at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Ng will talk about his experience as a veterinarian for working dogs and his research on human-animal interactions. How important is the bond between handler and working dog? How can a handler improve this relationship and what can a handler look for to identify issues earlier? Dr. Ng talks about how he recommends assessing a dog’s welfare and what we can do to help make sure we are meeting our working dogs’ needs. Join me in this podcast to learn the importance of your veterinarian for your working dog and how to evaluate your dog’s welfare.

In this episode, we interview JSWK9 founding team member Dr. Lucia Lazarowski.

We answer important questions like:

• What is a dog's memory for odor like?
• What cognitive and behavior traits are associated with working dog success?
• What traits seem stable across development and are things to look out for?

We also learn about how Dr. Lazaroski started her impressive career in working dogs.

Today, Dr. Lazarowski is is Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Anatomy, Physiology, & Pharmacology at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, and Chief Scientist at Auburn University’s Canine Performance Sciences. She has 10+ years of experience studying olfaction, cognition, and behavior in dogs.

Meet the team for the Joint Symposium for Working K9s. In this episode, I (Nathan) interview Cindy Otto, Melissa Singletary, Lucia Lazarowski, Paola Tiedemann, Lauryn DeGreeff-Silk and Craig Shultz. We introduce the podcast and the upcoming 2024 Joint Symposium for Working K9 conference.