Selecting a Conservation Detection Dog

In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla Fratt talks about considerations when choosing a conservation detection dog, sourcing a dog, and screening a dog.  Episode suggestion: “Don't sacrifice clarity at the altar of generosity”  Call to action: Join pateron!  Discussed in this Podcast:  Considerations:  Make a list of your must-haves from a lifestyle perspective to help which type of dog works best for you. This can be anything from breed type, grooming requirements, size, etc. You should also make a list of “nice to have” and “bonus points”. These are types of things that aren’t a must have, but are still of some importance to you. These are usually aesthetic type desires.  You also need to consider your work lifestyle, whether your dog can handle being off leash around wildlife, water, other dogs, people, etc.  Consider if you’d want to do outreach work at events with your dog. Would a social dog be more ideal, etc.  Travel is something to consider. A dog that thrives on routine may not be best for conservation work.  Most trainers in this field prefer dogs that have a high drive for toys  Consider what kind of dog you like to work with; high drive, low drive, preference for food reinforcement, preference for toy reinforcement, low energy or high energy personality, etc.  Consider the detail level of the work you want to do  It’s very important to consider your skill set and experience with dog handling  Links Mentioned in the Episode: Pandemic Puppy - Where to Get a Puppy Pandemic Puppy - Picking a Breeder Pandemic Puppy - Picking a Puppy from a Breeder Pandemic Puppy - Picking a Shelter Puppy Test for Detection Dogs You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists. K9 Conservationists Website Go Fund Me