K9 Conservationists

Kayla Fratt
  • 4.8 (91)
  • NATURAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to the K9 Conservationists podcast, where we’re positively obsessed with conservation detection dogs! Join us every week as we discuss detection dogs, ecology, conservation, dog behavior, training, and much more. K9 Conservationists is hosted by Kayla Fratt, CDBC and co-founder of K9 Conservationists. Along with her two co-founders, she trains dogs to detect data. Support the work we do at patreon.com/k9conservationists.

  1. 2D AGO

    Mythbusting with Meg Barnes and Paul Bunker

    It’s time to bust some myths and challenge some hot takes of the conservation detection dog world! Join Kayla Fratt (K9 Conservationists), Paul Bunker (Chiron K9), and Meg Barnes (Detection for Good) as they tackle common claims and controversies that impact dogs, handlers, and the field as a whole. From “training your dog on Kong will ruin them”, to “good training can fix anything”, to “working a dog is unethical”. These seasoned professionals break down why these ideas persist, why they’re wrong, and what good, ethical, and evidence based training really looks like.  Hot takes we BUST in this episode include:  If you train your dog on Kong/essential oils you will ruin them! Detection dogs can’t do any other sports or it will ruin them! Good training can fix anything! Your dog wouldn’t do ___ if you were a better trainer! You should starve your dog to make them work harder! Confine your dog to a small kennel for days to “build their desire to work”! Making your dog work is unethical!!! You can’t train directional cues without an ecollar! Force fetch is the only way to teach a dog to retrieve! Our guests: Meg Barnes https://www.instagram.com/detectionforgood/  Paul Bunker https://www.instagram.com/chironk9/  Host: Kayla Fratt Editor: Sara Fangton  Guest logistics: Brooke Schoeder Intern: Evelyn Combs Website: Meg du Bray Mentoring group: Madison Davis

    1h 5m

  2. OCT 23

    How volunteer conservation dog teams are making a difference

    Join Kayla Fratt (K9Conservationist) for a enlightening conservation with Kyoko Johnson and Marlee Monahan (Conservation Dogs of Hawaii), Sally Dickinson (Virginia Tech), and Arden Lumenfall (New York-New Jersey Trail Conference) as we learn about how organizations across the USA are engaging with their communities and using the power of volunteer detection dog teams to help further research and initiatives. Come along as they discuss how volunteers have helped further their causes, how they select dogs, and some of the challenges of using volunteers in the field. This episode also features a science highlight on hard ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) and the effectiveness of detection dogs vs traditional tick drag survey methods https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-024-06519-8  Sally Dickinson - Virginia Tech Sally’s publications  https://data.lib.vt.edu/authors/Sally_Dickinson/11235291  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vtcals?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MW5kN2puMzY1MDQ2bg==   Kyoko Johnson and Marlee Monahan - Conservation Dogs of Hawaii  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/conservationdogshawaii?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MTIyOTljbzF6bjJ3Yw==  Website  https://www.conservationdogshawaii.org/volunteer/  Arden Lumenfall - New York-New Jersey trail conference  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nynjtc_conservationdogs?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=YWQ5Y3VjcjlsdGs=  Website  https://www.nynjtc.org/conservation-dogs/

    58 min

  3. OCT 9

    Alaska Storytime 02: When Dog Preparation Goes Sideways

    In this episode K9 Conservationist co-founder, Kayla Fratt, continues her story about her PhD research and Alaskan field season with a raw and honest look at what “ugly training” really means and why it matters. Kayla shares the realities of working detection dogs in unpredictable weather, adapting when field plans fall apart, and facing the heartbreak of realizing that not every talented dog is a fit for every project. From rough and rain-soaked boat rides to joyful breakthroughs in the field, this episode dives into the art of balancing research, intuition, and compassion in conservation detection dog work.

    29 min

  4. SEP 25

    Alaska Storytime 01: Preparing for Fieldwork

    In this episode of K9 Conservationists, co-founder Kayla Fratt speaks about her PhD research. This episode covers background on the Alexander Archipelago wolf, some past research done by other biologists, and how dogs fit into the picture. She then discusses dog selection, onboarding, and training for this project. This episode ends with Kayla and her field technician Grace missing the ferry to Alaska. Links mentioned in this episode: Genetic Gobeldygook with Ellen Dymit https://open.spotify.com/episode/5oIRUv2sGmVXUYifn7vKee?si=b1b871f994534492 Detection dogs afraid of wolf scat (Vervaecke et al., 2021): https://journals.usamvcluj.ro/index.php/zootehnie/article/view/14092

    51 min

  5. SEP 11

    Incursion Dogs with Ruan & Tina De Flamingh

    In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Ruan and Tina De Flamingh form Green Trax about incursion dogs. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Science Highlight: Domestic Dog Scent Marks Trigger a Behavioural Response in Wild Wolves Where to find Ruan and Tina:   Website  You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists. K9 Conservationists Website | Course Waitlist |  Merch | Support Our Work | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

    1h 16m

  6. AUG 28

    Toy Play to Modulate Arousal with Crystal Wing

    In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Crystal Wing about toy play to modulate arousal.  Links Mentioned in the Episode: Previous Crystal Wing podcast The Moving Canine Science Highlight: Wildlife detection dogs effectively survey a terrestrial amphibian, but differ among individuals, weather and habitat Where to find Crystal: Linktree | FDSA  You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists. K9 Conservationists Website | Course Waitlist |  Merch | Support Our Work | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

    1h 22m

  7. JUL 31

    Phytophthora and Pigeons with Ryan Tate

    In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Ryan Tate about Phytophthora and pigeons.  Links Mentioned in the Episode: Evaluating scent detection dogs as a tool to detect pathogenic Phytophthora species Science Highlight: Should the cocktail training method cause a stir? Training frog generalist detection dogs with combined species samples Where to find Ryan: Website | Facebook | Instagram You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists. K9 Conservationists Website | Course Waitlist |  Merch | Support Our Work | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

    1h 14m

  8. JUL 17

    In the Weeds: Sticky Sage with Sarah Jackson

    In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Sarah Jackson from New York-New Jersey Trail Conference about sticky sage. Links Mentioned in the Episode: None Science Highlight: Impact of variations in training schedules on dogs’ acquisition and retention of an odor detection task Where to find Sarah: Website  You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists.K9 Conservationists Website | Course Waitlist |  Merch | Support Our Work | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

    1h 12m
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4.8
out of 5
91 Ratings

About

Welcome to the K9 Conservationists podcast, where we’re positively obsessed with conservation detection dogs! Join us every week as we discuss detection dogs, ecology, conservation, dog behavior, training, and much more. K9 Conservationists is hosted by Kayla Fratt, CDBC and co-founder of K9 Conservationists. Along with her two co-founders, she trains dogs to detect data. Support the work we do at patreon.com/k9conservationists.

Information

  • Creator
    Kayla Fratt
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    234
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kayla Fratt
  • Show Website
    K9 Conservationists

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