PODCAST · science
K9 Conservationists
by Kayla Fratt
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.
Episodes
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The Effects of Breakfast on Detection Dog Performance
How does breakfast affect a detection dog's performance? In this episode, Kayla takes a deep, deep, deep dive into the 2026 paper, "The breakfast effect revisited: Dogs’ scent detection performance before and after a meal." Kayla breaks down the research team's key findings, and why understanding...
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From Scat to SNP: Unlocking Prey Identities in Carnivore Diet with Dr. Charles van Rees
In this Research Review episode, we’re joined by Dr. Charles van Rees to dive into a groundbreaking 2026 paper from Oregon State University (published in Molecular Ecology Resources). We break down how single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panels and non-invasive scat samples (many located by...
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Transitioning handlers
In today's mini episode Kayla Fratt discusses how she prepares her dogs to work with all kinds of different people on and off the field. Starting from dog selection and the steps she takes to insure her dogs are confident around new people. Host: Kayla Fratt Editor: Sara Fangton Sci-comm intern:...
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Don't Take the Maybes with Lauralea Oliver
Join us for a fantastic conversation with Lauralea Oliver of k9inSCENTive about the art of selecting rescue dogs for detection work. With over 25 years of professional experience, Lauralea brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, having selected and placed numerous working dogs with handlers…
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Updates on Barley, K9C, and the podcast
Important updates on Barley (King B), the K9Conservationists crew, and the podcast going forward. As always, thank you all so much for you support. If you would like to make a donation to Barleys lymphoma treatment you can do so here: https://donorbox.org/barley-lymphoma?t=donor_wall#info If you...
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Sniffing out the Spotted Lanternfly as a Newbie with Melissa McCue-McGrath
Connect with Melissa McCue-McGrath! https://melissamccuemcgrath.com/ Melissa McCue-McGrath gets humped and peed on professionally more than she thought she would in this line of work. She has written two books. The first, "Considerations for the City Dog" was written for her clients in Boston who...
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John Schoen and the Tongass Roadless Rule
In this episode, Kayla Fratt sits down with legendary Alaskan wildlife ecologist Dr. John Schoen to explore the past, present, and future of the Tongass National Forest. With nearly five decades of boots-on-the-ground research, John’s groundbreaking work has reshaped our understanding of how...
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Exercise Effects on Detection Dog Acuity with Liza Rothkoff
Kayla Fratt chats with Liza Rothkoff- a 3rd year PhD student at Texas Tech in the K9 olfaction lab- about her most recent paper, "A preliminary study on the impacts of exercise intensity and duration on gastrointestinal temperature and odor detection performance of dogs". They discuss dog...
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Livestock Guardian Dogs and Snakes with the Cheetah Conservation Fund
Today Kayla Fratt is joined by Calum O’Flaherty and Dr. Tim Hofmann from the Cheetah Conservation Fund about to discuss livestock guardian dogs, cheetahs, and a very unique approach snake avoidance training. Snake bites are a huge problem in Namibia. With CCF losing upwards of 10% of their…
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Managing Multi-Year Conservation Dog Projects with Murrelet Halterman
Today, Kayla Fratt is joined by Murrelet Halterman for an in depth discussion on managing multi-year conservation dog projects. Having recently completed three multi-year wind farm projects, Murrelet dives into the challenges of project acquisition, recruiting detection dog handlers, and the...
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The Detection of Buried Targets by Canines by Paul Bunker
Join Kayla Fratt and favorite of the podcast, Paul Bunker to discuss his fantastic new workbook "The Detection of Buried Targets by Canines". Kayla and Paul delve into the challenges of buried hides and how just digging a hole and covering your target doesn't cut it. This workbook is fantastic…
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Using Hounds to Tree Cougars (for Research!) in Yellowstone with Wes Binder
Today Kayla Fratt chats with Wes Binder who studies cougars (also known as mountain lions or pumas) in Yellowstone national park. Learn about this unique (but tried and true) method to find these elusive cats and then how they safely bring the cougars down from the trees to perform vital…
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A Brighter Future for Dogs and People with Caden Cristopher
Join Kayla Fratt and special guest Caden Christopher for this somewhat unorthodox episode of K9Conservationists. Today we're stepping away a bit from conservation detection dogs and imagining what a better world for our canine companions would look like if there were no borders, no financial...
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Picking the Right Puppy for Detection with Lauren Wendt
In this puppy-tastic episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla Fratt chats with Lauren Wendt of Momentum K9 LLC about her years selecting, raising, and preparing puppies for various lines of work. Lauren is a highly, highly accomplished trainer that just so happens to have trained upward of 9 puppies...
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When Conservation Dog Prospects Aren't The Perfect Fit: Featuring Debi Deshon
On this week's episode of K9Conservationists Kayla Fratt chats with Debi Deshon the pack leader of Mussel Dogs and Dogs with Jobs. Debi discusses the process of screening prospect dogs, training, and what happens when the dogs tells her that this job just isn't for them. Connect with Debi and her...
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Raising spaniels for detection with Reetta Kangaslampi and Dr. Natasha Underwood
Join Kayla Fratt, co-founder of K9Conservationists, as she chats with Reetta Kangaslampi, a PhD researcher from the University of Eastern Finland and Dr. Natasha Underwood, an ecologist, environmental consultant, and specialist conservation detection dog handler about their journeys raising…
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Part 2: Emma Gaalaas Mullaney- Heterodox Approach to Selecting and Raising Detection Dogs
If you haven't heard part one- we highly recommend going back and listening to that fist! Then head right back here and listen to this second part of our two part interview with Emma Gaalaas Mullaney, PhD. Learn more about her roll as the director of detection and search and rescue at the Penn…
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Emma Gaalaas Mullaney- Heterodox Approach to Selecting and Raising Detection Dogs
In this episode of K9Conservationists, Kayla Fratt is joined by Emma Gaalaas Mullaney as they discuss her heterodox (unconventional) approach to selecting and raising detection dogs. In this episode, Emma discusses her first detection dog, Toby, and how his unorthodox breed, personality, and…
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Year in Review 2025
Check in with all THREE co-founders of K9 Conservationists as they go over all the highs and lows of 2025. Kayla, Rachel, and Heather discuss their organizational roles, major project wins, team expansion, handler and dog highlights, and lessons learned from fieldwork across Texas, Wyoming…
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Skipper's Story
Ever wonder how a seasoned handler selects their new co-woffer? Kayla Fratt, co-founder of K9Conservationists, walks through her process of how she selected her newest recruit Skipper! Kayla talks about how she went about finding potential candidates, how she screened over 70 dogs, and how she...
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Dogs, Bogs, and Slogs: Inside the Island Wolf Project
Kayla Fratt of K9Conservationists wraps up her Alaska fieldwork mini-series with a deep dive into life on the Island Wolf Project. She shares what a day in the field really looks like from loading the boat at dawn, hiking through temperate rainforests, relentless rain, and working with the…
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A conservation dog book for kids?! With Alison Pearce Stevens
In this episode of K9Conservationists, Kayla Fratt chats with Alison Pearce Stevens, author of Detective Dogs: How Working Dogs Sniff Out Invasive Species. They discuss the inspiration behind her new book, her experiences shadowing detection dog teams, and what it was like to bring the story to...
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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…
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Gundogs and Conservation with Jo Laurens
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Jo Laurens from The Force Free Gun Dogs about gundogs. Links Mentioned in the Episode: None Science Highlight: Switching to marine prey leads to unprecedented mercury concentrations in a population of coastal Alaska wolves Where to find…
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Large Search Area Strategy with Lauren Wendt
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Lauren Wendt from Momentum K9 about large search area strategy. Links Mentioned in the Episode: None Science Highlight: Comparison of mechanical sorting and DNA metabarcoding for diet analysis with fresh and degraded wolf scats Where to…
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Part Two: When Your Dog's Body Can't Keep Up with their Brain with Tiff Shao and Sage Gustafson
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla is back for part two with Sage Gustafson and Tiff Shao about the challenging topic of life with high-energy, high-drive, and/or high-arousal dogs who are injured or sick or otherwise cannot physically perform the behaviors that their brains want…
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Part One: When Your Dog's Body Can't Keep Up with their Brain with Tiff Shao and Sage Gustafson
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla talks with Sage Gustafson and Tiff Shao about the challenging topic of life with high-energy, high-drive, and/or high-arousal dogs who are injured or sick or otherwise cannot physically perform the behaviors that their brains want without causing…
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Spatial Ecology (and Sharks) with Brett Sweezy
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla talks with Brett Sweezy about spatial ecology and sharks. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Science Highlight: Efficiency and Bias in Strip and Line Transect Sampling Where to find Brett: Instagram | Bluesky You can support the K9 Conservationists…
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Breaking into the Field of Conservation Detection Dogs
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla talks about breaking into the field of conservation detection dogs. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Science Highlight: None You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/k9conservationists. K9 Conservationists...
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CWD Dogs with Brenna Aizen
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Brenna Aizen from the Penn Vet Wildlife Futures Program about dogs sniffing out chronic wasting disease. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Science Highlight: Effect of rapid changes in environmental conditions on canine detection of methyl...
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Getting into Grad School with Dr. Charles van Rees
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla is back with Dr. Charles van Rees to talk about getting into grad school. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Science Highlight: Trail vs. thicket: Evaluating conservation detection dog performance in varied terrain Where to find Charles: Website | Lab...
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Cheetah Conservation Fund Dogs with Tim Hofmann
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Tim Hofmann, the Scat Dog Handler, Research Manager and Research Coordinator at Cheetah Conservation Fund about his PhD research using detection dogs and other methods to study cheetahs in Namibia and beyond. Links Mentioned in the…
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Hot Takes with Paul Bunker & Meg Barnes
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Paul Bunker and Meg Barnes about hot takes in the conservation dog training community. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Science Highlight: None this week! Where to find Paul: Website |Facebook |Instagram Where to find Meg: Website |Facebook...
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Plants & Puppies with Kat Serafina
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Kat Serafina about plants and puppies. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Science Highlight: An approach to identify bias in scent detection dog testing Where to find Kat: Website | Facebook You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by...
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Detecting Tea-tree Fingers Fungus with Dr. Nick Rutter and Shari Barmos
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks to Zoos Victoria Wildlife Detection Dog Officer Dr Nick Rutter and Human Surveyor Shari Barmos about Detection Dog Daisy searching for the critically endangered Tea-tree fingers fungus. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Science Highlight: The…
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Sensitivity and Specificity Gone Wrong with Courtney Brown
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Courtney Brown from Einstein K9 about search and rescue, handler scent discrimination, and sensitivity and specificity. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Science Highlight: Conservation detection dogs: A critical review of efficacy and...
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Genetic Gobledeygook: HOW Do We Learn From Scat? with Ellen Dymit
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Ellen Dymit from Oregon State University about Metabarcoding, SNPs, and microsatellites. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Science Highlight: Training of Ecological Detection Dogs for Wolf Scat (Canis lupus) You can support the K9...
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The Conservation Cost of the War on Drugs with Nicholas Magliocca
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Nicholas Magliocca about jaguars, Central American conservation, and the drug war. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Making the Hidden Visible: Accelerated Land-Use Change and Degradation Caused by Narco-Trafficking In and Around Central...
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Boarding "Extra" Dogs with Kerry Ryan
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Kerry Ryan from Dog Adventures Northwest about dog boarding. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Science Highlight: Evaluating and integrating spatial capture–recapture models with data of variable individual identifiability Where to find…
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Platypus Detection Dogs with Naomi Hodges and Dr. Jessica Thomas
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Naomi Hodges and Dr. Jessica Thomas about Detection Dog Kip searching for Platypus burrows within Coranderrk Creek at Healesville Sanctuary Links Mentioned in the Episode: Science Highlight: Conservation Detection Dogs Increase Efficacy…
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Succulent Anti-Poaching Detection Dogs with Esther Matthews
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla is back with Esther Matthews to talk about succulent anti-poaching detection dogs. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Where to find Esther: Website | Instagram | Dog’s Instagram You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at...
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Ocelots, Thorns, and Javelinas with Lauren Wendt of Momentum K9
K9 Conservationists was THRILLED to have the amazing Lauren Wendt of Momentum K9 temporarily join our team to help out in Texas on ocelot surveys. This episode covers many of the challenges and lessons learned on a particularly tricky project. Be sure to listen to our last episode with James and...
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Ocelots in Texas with Dr. Lisanne Petracca and James Helferich
In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with James Helferich and Dr. Lisanne Petracca about the ocelot project in Texas. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Where to find Dr. Lisanne: Website You can support the K9 Conservationists Podcast by joining our Patreon at...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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.
HOSTED BY
Kayla Fratt
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does K9 Conservationists have?
K9 Conservationists currently has 256 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is K9 Conservationists 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...
How often does K9 Conservationists release new episodes?
K9 Conservationists publishes regularly with 256 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to K9 Conservationists?
You can listen to K9 Conservationists on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts K9 Conservationists?
K9 Conservationists is created and hosted by Kayla Fratt.
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