K9s Talking Scents

How does a detection dog find concealed fish on a boat already covered in fish odor? Captain Royce Ilse joins Cameron Ford to explain the training behind conservation law enforcement K9 work—and what other detection handlers can learn from it.
Royce shares how Texas game warden teams train for wildlife detection, tracking, and article searches. He and Cameron discuss reading behavior before the final response, building confidence on blank searches, distinguishing target species from distractions, and preventing different tasks and rewards from competing with each other.
They also explore dog selection, puppy development, water-search work, and the value of collaboration through the Conservation Canine Officers Association. From trout and shrimp sharing a cooler to shell casings scattered across a hunting field, this episode examines how teams prepare for searches where several familiar odors—and several possible jobs—exist in the same space.

A dog can succeed on its usual training aids and still miss a different version of the target. Steve Stoops joins Cameron Ford to explain what that lesson taught him—and how his experience in law enforcement and special operations shaped his approach to detection training.
Steve discusses building odor value before finishing the indication, using known hides to educate handlers, selecting dogs that can work through human mistakes, and the challenge of balancing detection with apprehension work. He also shares a Baghdad deployment where a dog indicated on explosives behind a wall, while Cameron explores how packaging, training-aid variation, and cognition can affect performance.
The conversation closes with Steve’s experience advising Brad Pitt on combat dog handling for Heart of the Beast, including rehearsing a helicopter scene with a dog and 60 pounds of kit. Throughout the episode, the question remains: does the training prepare the team for the work?

What does it take for a K9 team to move from a tactical entry to an explosive detection search? Former FBI Hostage Rescue Team operator Mike Skinner joins Cameron Ford to discuss the training and dog selection behind that transition—and why the work has to be practiced in the conditions teams may actually face.
Mike shares lessons from HRT deployments, including a Herkimer operation in which his dog repeatedly headed toward an area the team was not yet searching. He and Cameron also discuss detection cues, rewarding at source versus calling a dog back for reward, laser directionals, and what a missed odor at a threshold taught Mike about preparing for the next search.
For handlers and trainers, this conversation comes back to a demanding question: Have you trained the dog for the search you’re about to ask it to do?
STRATOS K9 — EVENT & VENUE DETECTION TEAMS
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Shannon Krieger shares 30 years of military and law enforcement dog training experience—from pioneering SOCOM's canine detection programs to developing the "social gorilla" selection philosophy that changed how we choose working dogs. This episode covers real operational stories, the evolution from direct-action assault dogs to advanced detection capabilities, and the training philosophy that made him one of the most respected figures in the detection dog community.

What We Cover:

The incident that started SOCOM's detection dog program (lost explosives overseas, pre-9/11)
SOCOM selection story: left weapon on cliff, nearly quit, General Miller's response
The Lane Kreitzer kitchen incident: witness to direct-action K9 deployment (knife wielding suspect, multiple breaches)
Dog selection is MORE important than training (the #1 mistake handlers make)
From mean killers to "social gorillas" (why we ditched bite suits and started selecting differently)
The proof of concept: 2 dogs to 8 to 20 to 40 dogs in short period
Working with legendary trainers: Steve Stoops, Wendell Eckland, Lane Kreitzer, Brian Mowrie (Secret Service)
"Our motto: take everything, steal it, make it yours" (knowledge gathering philosophy)
Building your tool garage: having every technique available for different problems
Direct action & counter-terrorism as mission-essential (everything else is afterthought)
The hedgerow discovery: no commands, no force, just rewards (revolutionary training approach)
Why you can't forcefeed the same technique to every dog (400 different ways to train)
Be multidimensional, not singular (adaptability over dogma)
When you solve a problem, the dog gets better (the coolest part of training)
Operational lessons applied to law enforcement K9 programs
HSI tactical canine program (wartime experience translated to federal law enforcement)
Why rigid training methods fail (definition of insanity)
From Afghanistan to digital forensics: evolution of Shannon's career
Working with Mike Deal (LAPD) and other legendary handlers
How SOCOM's approach influenced federal law enforcement nationwide
Training all day long without burning out dogs (the chemistry with Stoops)
Civilian trainers bringing police experience into military programs

________________________________________
🧠 TRAIN WITH FORD K9 — ONLINE & IN PERSON

Level up your detection dog training with Ford K9’s full education ecosystem:

🔥 ONLINE COURSES & LECTURES
Odor 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

🛡️ STRATOS K9 — EVENT & VENUE DETECTION TEAMS

Premier Explosive Detection & Firearm Detection Dog teams for:
• Large-scale events
• Conferences & expos
• Concerts & festivals
• Corporate security & dignitary operations

Our dogs are specialists, not generalists — one mission, one discipline, no cross-training.
👉 Learn more: https://StratosK9.com

📩 For event inquiries: info@stratosk9.com

🐕 CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIALS

Stratos K9
Instagram: https://instagram.com/stratosk9

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/stratosk9

Ford K9
Instagram: https://instagram.com/fordk9detection

Facebook: https://facebook.com/FordK9Detection

Jordana Gamble (former Canada Border Services Agency handler, Food/Plant/Animal canine handler) reveals the world of biosecurity and agricultural detection dogs—the discipline that gets zero love but produces the most finds. Working at Toronto Pearson Airport and international postal facilities, Jordana discusses the challenges, the rivalry with drug dog handlers, and why this is actually the BEST detection dog career.What We Cover:The path to becoming an ag/biosecurity handler: CBSA selection, 10-week academy, dog pairingDrug dog dropouts make excellent ag dogs (motivation differences: food vs. toys)Postal mode detection: endless boxes, short searches, keeping dogs engaged all dayPassenger mode detection: baggage carousels, fluid environment, longer search timesTraining aids: grocery store meat, smoked products, cured items, real food variationThe generalization nightmare: raw vs. cured vs. smoked meats confuse dogsFalse positives: baked goods with apple filling (legal but dog alerts)Real finds: grass cutters, dried monkeys, Iberian ham, endangered species, live animal smugglingThe rivalry: "Apple Dogs" vs. "Sausage Police" vs. Drug HandlersThreat response: African swine flu prevention, bird flu concerns, economic protectionDaily find rates: 10+ interceptions per day (vs. drug handlers going weeks with nothing)Reading your dog after thousands of finds: knowing fish smell vs. rotten ham vs. pork flossFinal response problems: dogs going active on bags (markers saved training)The "dog brain" override: when smell/frustration overrides trained behaviorWhy postal is physically brutal but rewardingHandler advice: never turn down an ag dog positionCareer satisfaction: dogs see work as playground, not just trainingWhy agricultural detection protects economies and industriesThe hidden importance of biosecurity workJordana worked both postal (conveyor lines, thousands of parcels) and passenger (airport baggage) modes. She shares how target-rich environments accelerate handler development—you get hundreds of finds to learn from, versus drug dogs going weeks without positive reinforcement. She also discusses the competitive dynamic with her drug handler husband, who now wishes he had her find rate.Critical Takeaway: "Detection work is detection work. Whether you're looking for drugs, firearms, currency, or food—it's all the same. Don't be too proud for the ag dog."________________________________________🧠 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: info@stratosk9.com🐕 CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIALSStratos K9Instagram: https://instagram.com/stratosk9LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/stratosk9Ford K9Instagram: https://instagram.com/fordk9detectionFacebook: https://facebook.com/FordK9Detection