K9s Talking Scents

Hank Wong, veteran law enforcement K9 handler turned DHS contractor, reveals shocking findings from government READY events that test bomb dog teams nationwide: NO team passes odor recognition tests 100% correctly on first attempt. The culprit? Over-reliance on single training kits and lack of exposure to varied manufacturers, packaging, and storage methods.
Cameron and Hank break down the critical difference between discrimination (target vs. non-target) and generalization (recognizing target across variations), exposing how most handlers excel at one while failing the other. They discuss why dogs alert to "their version" of explosives but miss real-world threats, how training culture creates false confidence, and what event security teams must do differently.
Key Topics:
Why training on one kit creates operational gaps
The "chaos factor" science can't measure
Action-on-find procedures for security vs. law enforcement
How to read your dog in low-odor scenarios
Why double-blind testing is essential
Discrimination vs. generalization training
Essential listening for event security K9 teams, handlers, and anyone responsible for explosive detection programs.
Hank Wong Background: 20+ year LE K9 handler (Orlando area), worked dogs Recon, Gunner, Smash, and Keno. Now DHS contractor conducting READY events nationwide, bridging science and practitioner perspectives.
________________________________________🧠 TRAIN WITH FORD K9 — ONLINE & IN PERSONLevel up your detection dog training with Ford K9’s full education ecosystem:🔥 ONLINE COURSES & LECTURESOdor Pays System, Air Movement, Cognition, Problem Solving & more👉 https://FordK9.com🔥 FORD K9 MEMBERSHIP (BEST VALUE)Members-only seminars, monthly lessons, exclusive Q&As, full video library👉 https://FordK9.com/memberships🔥 IN-PERSON CLASSES — SANTA ROSA, CADetection Handler SchoolDetection Dog Training ClassOdor Pays Workshops👉 Sign up at: https://FordK9.com🛡️ STRATOS K9 — EVENT & VENUE DETECTION TEAMSPremier Explosive Detection & Firearm Detection Dog teams for:• Large-scale events• Conferences & expos• Concerts & festivals• Corporate security & dignitary operationsOur dogs are specialists, not generalists — one mission, one discipline, no cross-training.👉 Learn more: https://StratosK9.com📩 For event inquiries: [email protected]🐕 CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIALSStratos K9Instagram: https://instagram.com/stratosk9LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/stratosk9Ford K9Instagram: https://instagram.com/fordk9detectionFacebook: https://facebook.com/FordK9Detection

In this groundbreaking episode, I sit down with John Grey, a law enforcement K9 handler who's doing the "impossible" - running a program with PUPPIES that are BOTH therapy dogs AND detection dogs (firearms/explosives).The traditional K9 world said this would never work:❌ "Puppies have too high a washout rate"❌ "Therapy dogs are low-drive couch potatoes"❌ "Labs can't detect anything"❌ "You can't do both - pick one"John's program is proving all of that WRONG.What We Cover:Why their puppy washout rate is LOWER than agencies buying adult dogsHow therapy work actually IMPROVES detection capabilityTraining while working (no pulling officers off the road)The massive PR and funding benefits agencies don't expectUsing rituals and signals to switch between therapy and detection modesWhy "crackhead" high-drive dogs are actually HARDER to work withHow obedience training makes detection dogs betterWorking in elementary through high schoolsAdding tracking to the mix (and the lessons learned)Why this ISN'T entrapment (they're NOT drug dogs)Real Results:✅ Lower washout rates than traditional programs✅ Enormous public support and funding✅ Dogs work effectively in both roles✅ Handlers train while maintaining regular SRO duties✅ Kids and community fully invested in the dogsJohn's agency is in Colorado, and they're working with organizations like Colorado Police K9 Association who now offer therapy dog certification. His company is Fundamentals First K9 Training and he's helping other agencies implement similar programs.This episode challenges EVERYTHING traditional K9 programs believe about drive, selection, training timelines, and what's "possible" with working dogs.Whether you're in law enforcement, education, or just love working dogs, this conversation will change how you think about K9 programs.🔗 Fundamentals First K9 Training: https://fundamentalsfirstk9training.com/🔗 Connect with John Grey: https://www.instagram.com/Fundamentalsfirstk9Timestamps in comments ⬇️About K9's Talking Scents:This podcast dives deep into the world of detection dogs, training, and the realities of working K9 operations from someone who's been in the trenches with Naval Special Warfare and now building the future of commercial detection.Subscribe for more real talk about detection dogs, training methodology, and industry insights you won't hear anywhere else.#TherapyDogs #DetectionDogs #K9Training #SchoolSafety #WorkingDogs #LawEnforcement #K9Handler #PuppyProgram #SchoolResourceOfficer________________________________________🧠 TRAIN WITH FORD K9 — ONLINE & IN PERSONLevel up your detection dog training with Ford K9’s full education ecosystem:🔥 ONLINE COURSES & LECTURESOdor Pays System, Air Movement, Cognition, Problem Solving & more👉 https://FordK9.com🔥 FORD K9 MEMBERSHIP (BEST VALUE)Members-only seminars, monthly lessons, exclusive Q&As, full video library👉 https://FordK9.com/memberships🔥 IN-PERSON CLASSES — SANTA ROSA, CADetection Handler SchoolDetection Dog Training ClassOdor Pays Workshops👉 Sign up at: https://FordK9.com🛡️ STRATOS K9 — EVENT & VENUE DETECTION TEAMSPremier Explosive Detection & Firearm Detection Dog teams for:• Large-scale events• Conferences & expos• Concerts & festivals• Corporate security & dignitary operationsOur dogs are specialists, not generalists — one mission, one discipline, no cross-training.👉 Learn more: https://StratosK9.com📩 For event inquiries: [email protected]🐕 CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIALSStratos K9Instagram: https://instagram.com/stratosk9LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/stratosk9Ford K9Instagram: https://instagram.com/fordk9detectionFacebook: https://facebook.com/FordK9Detection

In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Dan Donovan, Founder and Managing Partner of Stratoscope, Ingressotek, Ford K9, and Stratos K9, who recently acquired For Canine and became my business partner. Dan has 30 years in event security, working 13 Super Bowls and 7 Olympic Games, and he's here to expose the hard truths about detection dogs in the private sector.
What We Cover:
Why 90% of event security professionals don't understand what K9 teams actually do
The shocking reality of an unregulated industry (18-year-old security guards need certification, but K9 handlers don't?)
Real incidents from major events - when private dogs saved the day vs. when they failed
The "second dog" problem that wastes time and creates false confirmations
Why handler training matters MORE than dog training
Breaking down barriers: why former military/LE background shouldn't be a requirement
How to actually evaluate K9 providers (stop hiring "Scooby Doo" detection services)
Dan shares real stories from the field, including a tense situation at a 40,000-person tech conference where a dog alert could have shut down the entire event. We discuss the trust gap between law enforcement and private K9 teams, the punishment culture that makes handlers afraid to call alerts, and what needs to change industry-wide.
This episode opens with me presenting Dan with a Naval Special Warfare Multi-Purpose Canine Program challenge coin - one of the rarest coins in the K9 world - as a symbol of trust and partnership.
Whether you're a handler, trainer, event security professional, or just interested in detection dogs, this conversation will change how you think about commercial K9 operations.
Dan Donovan's Companies:🔗 Stratoscope (Event Security Consulting): https://stratoscope.com🔗 Ingressotek (Weapons Detection Technology): https://ingressotek.com🔗 Stratos K9 (K9 Deployment): https://stratosk9.com🔗 Ford K9 (K9 Training & Certification): [Add link if available]🔗 Dan Donovan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ddonovan50/
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:01:09 - Opening & Challenge Coin Presentation
00:03:18 - Dan Donovan's Background & Stratoscope
00:05:12 - The Gap in Event Security (Proactive vs Reactive)
00:08:58 - 90% Don't Understand What K9s Do
00:10:30 - Trust Issues: Law Enforcement vs Private K9s
00:13:18 - San Francisco Conference Crisis Story
00:16:25 - The "Second Dog" Problem
00:17:44 - The Unregulated Industry Revelation
00:19:34 - Certification vs Documentation
00:21:04 - Real-World Handler Failures (0-for-3 Story)
00:23:41 - Handler Training Crisis
00:25:15 - What Handlers Should Actually Be
00:27:00 - Technology Parallels (Nvidia & Ingressotek Example)
00:29:06 - The Punishment Culture Problem
00:32:11 - Breaking Down Industry Barriers
00:33:08 - Success Story: From DJ to Top Handler
00:34:23 - Industry Education Needs
00:35:23 - Building Trust Through Knowledge
00:36:08 - Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up

This special replay episode of K9’s Talking Scents takes listeners back to one of the most insightful conversations ever recorded about the man behind Ford K9 and Stratos K9 — Cameron Ford. Originally aired on Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel, we’re bringing it to our K9TS audience so you can hear Cameron’s journey in his own words.
With more than 25 years in the detection dog world, Cameron shares:
• How he got started in K9 handling and why scent detection became his life’s work
• The evolution of working-dog training from military deployments to civilian law enforcement
• How science, data, and cognition research shaped the Odor Pays system
• Why modern security demands mission-specific detection dogs
• The misconceptions the public still has about K9 teams
• The real responsibilities of handlers in today’s threat landscape
This episode also touches on timely security concerns — including the increasing importance of detection dogs in preventing real-world threats — and how Cameron’s work continues to influence the future of the K9 profession.
Whether you’re a handler, trainer, supervisor, or someone who simply wants to understand the mind behind Ford K9, this replay offers a rare personal look into Cameron’s history and what drives his passion for the industry.

In this episode of K9’s Talking Scents, Cameron Ford sits down with world-renowned trainer Michael Ellis for one of the most in-depth conversations ever recorded on reinforcement theory, over-arousal, odor commitment, reward schedules, and why many detection dog programs unintentionally create false alerts.Together they break down the problems behind “reward-rich” training systems, how reinforcement can become punishing, why omission matters, and how to build dogs who persist, stay committed to odor, and search with accuracy — even in operational environments where rewards rarely come.This episode covers:• Why dogs become toy-obsessed instead of odor-committed• How handlers accidentally create false alerts• Why “continuous reinforcement” destroys operational reliability• Rewarding search vs rewarding finds• The science of frustration, dopamine, and over-performance• The difference between learning behavior and maintaining behavior• Why real-world deployments MUST be represented during training• How to introduce blanks, variable schedules, and expectation violation• "Satan’s Infinite Loop" and how trainers build bad habits into dogs• Why many dogs don’t indicate because they want the search to continue• How to build persistent, reliable, stable detection dogsIf you’re a detection dog handler, trainer, supervisor, or K9 program manager, this is a masterclass.CHAPTERS00:00 — Intro & catching up01:00 — Online education & training libraries02:00 — Are rewards harming performance?05:00 — Reinforcement vs intrinsic motivation07:00 — Over-arousal in detection dogs08:30 — Searching for toys vs searching for odor10:00 — False alerts & frustration12:00 — The “cheat code” problem14:30 — Reward-rich environments vs real deployments17:00 — Continuous vs variable reinforcement19:00 — Training that mirrors real-world operations21:30 — Expectation violation & handler discomfort23:00 — Why easy training creates weak dogs26:00 — Dogs that quit vs dogs that persist28:00 — Reducing rewards without breaking the dog30:30 — Reading search behavior correctly32:00 — Consistency in training fundamentals35:00 — Foundation errors that create future problems38:00 — When to introduce blanks41:00 — Reinforcing end-of-search behaviors44:00 — Fixing continuously rewarded dogs47:00 — Why dogs miss the first odor49:00 — Over-arousal & compensation behaviors52:00 — Indication obsession & unintended consequences54:00 — Odor recognition vs sit/down behavior57:00 — Natural indications & reading the dog59:00 — Satan’s Infinite Loop explained________________________________________🧠 TRAIN WITH FORD K9 — ONLINE & IN PERSONLevel up your detection dog training with Ford K9’s full education ecosystem:🔥 ONLINE COURSES & LECTURESOdor Pays System, Air Movement, Cognition, Problem Solving & more👉 https://FordK9.com🔥 FORD K9 MEMBERSHIP (BEST VALUE)Members-only seminars, monthly lessons, exclusive Q&As, full video library👉 https://FordK9.com/memberships🔥 IN-PERSON CLASSES — SANTA ROSA, CADetection Handler SchoolDetection Dog Training ClassOdor Pays Workshops👉 Sign up at: https://FordK9.com🛡️ STRATOS K9 — EVENT & VENUE DETECTION TEAMSPremier Explosive Detection & Firearm Detection Dog teams for:• Large-scale events• Conferences & expos• Concerts & festivals• Corporate security & dignitary operationsOur dogs are specialists, not generalists — one mission, one discipline, no cross-training.👉 Learn more: https://StratosK9.com📩 For event inquiries: [email protected]🐕 CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIALSStratos K9Instagram: https://instagram.com/stratosk9LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/stratosk9Ford K9Instagram: https://instagram.com/fordk9detectionFacebook: https://facebook.com/FordK9Detection