Developing Training Plans without In-Person Mentors

What to listen for:

Our hosts Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing offer their best tips for creating a training plan and measuring your progress without the help of an in-person mentor.

Crystal sets the stage with a top ten list that includes strategies such as assessing your current skill level, setting long and short-term goals, varying your training environment, incorporating feedback loops, maintaining a balance of fun and stress, and networking with other handlers.

As they kick things off, our hosts shine a light on that critical first step: getting clear on your skill level as a handler, as well as that of your dog. From cataloging strengths and weaknesses, to understanding the detection chain, to assessing your dog’s current trained final response, you’ll get actionable tips on how to elevate your training sessions by varying complexity and environmental conditions.

The Dames of Detection remind us that professional coaching and community support can make or break your training journey. They talk about seeking (and vetting) experts and what to know about certifications in detection work. Drawing from real-life examples, they illustrate how to effectively set up training scenarios, and explain how to craft challenging scenarios to hone your dog’s problem-solving aptitude.

Keeping training engaging and effective is no small feat. In the latter half of the conversation, you’ll learn methods to keep high-energy dogs focused and ensure fluency in critical behaviors, especially during certifications!

Key Topics:

• Crystal’s Top Ten Tips (02:32)
• Connecting With Other Handlers and Online Coaches (9:30)
• Vetting Your Nosework Instructor (14:50)
• Thoughts on Certifications (21:50)
• Problem-Solving With Your Dog: Troubleshooting as a Handler (25:10)
• Prioritization in Your Training (31:49)
• Breaking Down Your Goals (33:09)
• Varying Environments and Simulating Real-World Scenarios (43:49)
• Planning For Consistency and Adjusting as Needed (49:08)

Resources:

• Steve White ProActive K9
• Academy Standards Board
• Organization of Scientific Area Committees For Forensic Science
• K9 Detection Collaborative Ep 72 and 73 with Jens Frank
• FDSA FENZI Training Camp and Webinars
• Crystal in Wisconsin
• Reach out to Robin about her workshop in Tulsa in October

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