Session Descriptions
Page updated February 5, 2025
The session descriptions are listed below in alphabetical order, by presenter's first name.
Aimee Hurt
Lecture: Conservation Detection Dogs in North America: From Start Up to Grown Up
I’m honored to be one of the people to launch the field of conservation detection dogs in North America, as we know it, nearly 30 years ago. Through that lens, I’ll cover the history, challenges, trends and changes that have brought the field to where it is today, and ideas for where it’s going in the next 30 years. I aim to provide context to increase your understanding of your niche in the field, and provide background that may be helpful when representing the field to clients and the public.
Amanda Ott
Workshop w/Presentation: Oops. Don't Do it Again!
Creating a training plan to prevent or remediate common problem behaviors, specifically interactions with the target odor. Participants will be given a template to help create a training plan with contingencies at each step. We will then split into groups writing out the plan for the dogs in attendance and practice some of the skills discussed with attendees dogs as it applies to them.
Dr. Annegret Grimm-Seyfarth
Lecture: International perspectives: CDDs in Central Europe
Conservation detection dogs (CDD), also called wildlife detection dogs (WDD) in our region, are still a rather uncommon method in ecological research or conservation work in Central Europe. Despite they are not well known on the broad scale, the number of institutionsdeploying CDDs and the variety of projects they are involved in has been growing rapidly over the last 10-15 years. In contrast to other large organisations, Central European CDDsare usually kept in private households, similar to practices with other working dogs, such aspolice or customs dogs, SAR and HR dogs. Dogs are then deployed in the organisations withwhich the dog handlers are associated. This may include a direct employee status as well assubcontractor status, self-employment or managed voluntary work. CDD handlers are often also members of CDD associations, which aim at networking and exchanging about the method, but also occasionally common training sessions, distribution of requests for the useof CDDs and developing a certification for CDD teams.In this talk, I will give an overview on the deployment of CDDs in (Central) Europe as well as some associations on CDDs. I will then present some details about our own researchprojects, in particular method evaluations and comparisons with (European) standardmonitoring methods. In my working group, we focus on the European otter as well asamphibians. Last, I will give some insights into a project where we trained and deployed volunteer CDD teams, focussing on opportunities and challenges.
Christina Brewster
Lecture: Predation Substitution for Working Dogs
Predation substitution training is using what the dog wants to do naturally but redirecting that in a way that will keep you, your dog and the wildlife safe. In this presentation attendees will learn what the safe parts of the predatory chain are, and which ones are not. This presentation will cover the science behind how your dog’s mind works and that can be utilized to your advantage. Included in this presentation will also be some games that attendees can try at home with their dogs.
Dr. Cindy Otto
Workshop w/Presentation: Hot Dogs! Strategies to help mitigate heat injury
In this workshop, we will address the science of canine heat acclimation and cooling. Heat injury is one of the most preventable causes of injury, retirement, and death in working dogs. The first step in preventing injury is recognition of the signs of heat stress. We will teach dogs to perform the voluntary head dunk, a proven way to rapidly decrease core body temperature after exercise, and a great way to rinse the eyes and nose.
Dr. Cindy Otto
Workshop w/Presentation: Injury prevention for canine athletes
Working dogs are performance athletes. Like all professional athletes, a proper fitness plan is essential to limit injury. In this workshop, we will review common injuries of working dogs and introduce dogs and handlers to the basics of Canimetrics, a measurable way to improve canine fitness.
Collette Yee
Lecture: Wildlife Research and Ecological Monitoring Study Designs for Detection Dog Teams
Conservation Detection Dog Teams (CDDTs) are a relatively new and evolving noninvasivemethod gaining acceptance in ecological monitoring and wildlife research projects worldwide.CDDTs locate a variety of odors, including those of invasive and endangered species, viruses,illegal wildlife products, and other cryptic odors. Incorporating CDDTs into researchmethodologies requires careful consideration to design effective surveys.In contrast to conventional survey methods designed around human abilities (e.g., visualsurveys) or capture techniques (trap success), there is a scarcity of research that focuses ondesigning studies for CDDTs, both in terms of their strengths and limitations. In the absence ofguidance, CDDTs are often deployed on projects that follow protocols not tailored to dog teams.This can result in suboptimal data collection and potential harm to the dogs.When projects are designed in collaboration with experienced CDDTs, the research objectivescan be more effectively aligned with the dog teams' natural abilities and strengths. This ensuresthat teams are better equipped to carry out their duties and that dog health and welfare areprioritized.Given the limited understanding of CDDTs' abilities in conservation detection, it is crucial topromote appropriate study designs to advance our knowledge in this field. In this presentation,we will examine study designs that have successfully achieved their research objectives whileadapting to the inherent capabilities of CDDTs. We also discuss lessons learned from these experiences, as well as other instances where alternative designs were employed.
Kayla Fratt
Lecture: How to break into the field
There’s no clear path to becoming a conservation detection dog practitioner. Job postings are few and far between, and the road to full-time employment and stability can be winding. Today we will discuss the options available for continuing education, what sort of education is appropriate at which stages, and — maybe most of all — what we can do to build ladders and help others succeed behind us. This talk is a call for knowledge co-creation, mentorship, and frank discussions of where the field can improve to support its next generation of teams.
Kyoko Johnson
Workshop: Effective Searches through Intentional Handler Movements and Long Line Handling
Conservation dog teams work in an array of environments and on projects with varying needs. As handlers, it is our job to support our canine partners and ensure that an area is covered in the most efficient and effective manner possible. In many conservation settings, a dog may be run off leash. However there are situations when a handler may choose to run a dog on leash, whether it’s for safety reasons or the need to detail an area. When running a dog on leash, the search can be greatly influenced by the handler in both supportive and unsupportive ways.This hands-on session will focus on enhancing the search and teamwork through intentional handler body movements and long line handling techniques. We will explore canine agility-based concepts, such as positive and negative body pressure, front and rear crosses, pivots and turns, and how they may be applied to detection dog handling. These practical skills will help to optimize flow, search patterns, and area coverage; while minimizing leash tension and frustration for both handler and dog.Join us for this hand-on session to refine your handling techniques and improve the effectiveness of your dog’s scenting abilities.
Laura Holder
Lecture: The Mental Game: Developing resilience and stamina to be your canine's best partner
This presentation will focus on mental fitness skills, providing practical techniques to build psychological resilience in challenging field environments. Participants will learn visualization methods, strategies to transform frustration into opportunity, and tools for maintaining emotional balance and cognitive performance. Skills shared in this lecture will help enhance focus, adaptability, and psychological stamina that can be easily accessed in both professional and daily life scenarios.
Lauralea Oliver
Lecture: Crafting Sustainable Futures: Standard Operating Procedures for Effective Conservation Dog Programs
Creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) ensures consistency, quality, and efficiency within your working conservation dog organization. This process includes: establishing canine and handler training and validation standards, ensuring project safety and reduce the risk of errors, facilitating deployment consistency by offering clear guidelines for canine trainers and handlers, and maintaining credibility and accountability in a largely unregulated industry. Additionally, SOPs help maintain organizational knowledge, improve communication, and enable practical performance evaluation, ultimately contributing to overall operational excellence.
Lauralea Oliver & Tracy Darling
Roundtable: Right Dog, Right Job: Candidate dog evaluation
Lauren Wendt
Workshop: FUNctional Field Obedience
In the field, detection skills are just one piece of the puzzle—your dog also needs impeccable obedience to perform at their best. Whether it’s responding instantly to a recall, executing a life-saving emergency stop, or following your directional cues, these behaviors can make or break your success. We’ll cover techniques to not only train these essential skills but to instill them in a way that transforms your dog’s mindset—from simply following commands to genuinely wanting to comply. These skills will help you build a partnership rooted in trust, reliability, and enthusiasm for the work.
Lauren Wendt
Lecture: The Puppy Advantage: Building Confident & Resilient Searchers
Transforming a puppy into a resilient, confident, and unstoppable searching machine takes more than luck—it’s a journey of intentional training and connection. We will explore strategies to give your puppy the best possible start toward becoming a top-tier conservation detection dog. From igniting their natural drive to search, to boosting environmental confidence, and cultivating a rock-solid working relationship, you’ll gain the tools to shape a partnership that thrives in the field and delivers results.
Michele Lovara
Workshop w/Presentation: Trap Release Workshop
This presentation covers the essentials of safely rescuing dogs from various traps, such as snares, leg-hold traps, and conibears. Attendees will also learn how to assess the situation, prioritize the dog’s well-being, and take immediate action while minimizing harm. It will highlight the importance of understanding how each trap works and the potential risks to the dog’s safety. Key tools for releasing trapped dogs, such as cable cutters, ropes, and trap opening gear, will be discussed. We'll discuss areas where traps are commonly found and how to stay vigilant, particularly in wilderness, rural, or hunting regions. Additionally, attendees will be able to gain hands-on practice with traps to practice techniques learned.
Dr. Nathan Hall
Lecture: Exercise effects on canine detection
Detection dogs often work over extended distances, time and terrain. Little work, however, has evaluated the impact of exercise on continuous detection capabilities. In a recent series of studies, we have evaluated detection dog odor detection capabilities while working on a treadmill and while working in various environmental (temperature and humidity) conditions. This talk will summarize the findings that illustrate when detection capabilities might be compromised for a working dog. This talk will highlight how environmental conditions and exercise effort contribute substantially to ongoing detection capabilities.
Dr. Nathan Hall
Lecture: Working in target lean environments
Dogs are trained to find target odors. This leads to typical training scenarios that have a high density of target odors to reinforce finds and maintain search behavior. In many field searches, however, dogs work in target lean environments with very few or no targets. This creates a big discrepancy between typical training conditions and fieldwork, causing performance decrements. This talk will discuss the research on this topic and what techniques are available to help mitigate performance decrements when filed conditions provide very few targets.
Dr. Ngaio Richards
Lecture and Roundtable: Identifying and mitigating risks of toxic substances exposure for dog teams
The overall aim is to develop a framework for identifying potential risks before setting foot in the field with dogs. This interactive round table discussion will serve as a coordinated information-sharing and -gathering session. It will feature considerations of:• What do we, as canine professionals, deem to be ‘toxic substances’?• What is ‘acceptable risk’?• Strategies and approaches for identifying the likeliest exposure scenarios• Tools for avoiding common assumptions/misperceptions when assessing risk• Options for mitigating exposure and risk, focusing on prevention• Chronic long-term exposure versus acute exposure risks and repercussions• How and when to develop a checklist of questions with project partners• Common (mis)perceptions of toxic substances and poisoning hazards• The role of the veterinarian and other canine care professionals• Complimentary resources (eg ASPCA Poison Control Ctr)• Briefly, mitigating our own inputs of toxic substances (eg flea and tick treatments)Participants are encouraged to come with questions, and will have the opportunity to share experiences or concerns that have arisen for them. A synopsis of the session will be provided to all participants, and made available to all conference attendees afterwards.
Paul Bunker
Lecture: Achieving Clear Odor Communication and Reducing False Responses in Detection Dogs
Effective detection work begins with establishing clear odor communication between the canine and handler, a process that starts during the imprinting phase and continues throughout the dog’s career. In this presentation, Paul Bunker shares his proven methodology for reducing false positive alerts—often referred to as false responses—in detection dogs. Drawing on extensive experience, Paul will outline the protocols he employs to minimize false responses during training and operational searches. Through detailed case studies and lessons learned, attendees will gain a thorough understanding of how these methods have been applied successfully. Paul will highlight how his approach has achieved a remarkably low false response rate of 0.14% during research trials, with consistent results in operational deployments. This session provides actionable insights for trainers and handlers striving for precision and reliability in their canine teams.
Paul Bunker
Workshop: Canine Training Protocols for Detecting Buried Targets
This presentation offers handlers an in-depth introduction to the protocols and methodologies used to train canines for detecting buried targets, including nests, plants, contamination, and reptiles. Drawing on 25 years of buried target detection with canines, the presenter shares proven tools and techniques, tailored to the unique challenges of the conservation canine field. Attendees will gain insight into the adaptation of these protocols for conservation, environmental monitoring, and field research contexts. This session equips participants with foundational knowledge and practical strategies to optimize canine detection success in diverse and demanding environments.
Renea Counter
Workshop: Play with Purpose: Strengthening Bonds Through Connected Play
Is your dog running hot laps or chewing on a ball instead of engaging with you during play? While self-reward has its place, fostering connection during play strengthens the bond between handler and dog, creating a more balanced and synchronized team. This session will explore strategies and resources to enhance your play connection. We’ll work with each team to identify play styles that best suit the dog, the handler, and the demands of the work.
Sally Yannuzzi & Anna Ciecka
Lecture: Both Ends of the Leash: Identifying, Training, and Supporting Novice Detection Dog Teams
With a common goal of working alongside our canine partners for environmental and wildlife surveys, conservation detection dog programs can take different operational approaches. At WEST, we take the approach of identifying, training and supporting an existing team of guardians and their dogs. While this approach is not suitable for every conservation dog project, we’ve trained and hired over 80 detection dog teams who’ve successfully monitored for bird and bat fatalities at wind facilities. We discuss our approach to identifying prospective teams and describe our strategies for supporting them along their detection dog journey: from virtual training, through in-person evaluations, and finally with field-season support. Each dog and handler-in-training has their own unique learning histories and reinforcers. While we start with a standard, science-backed training platform, we’ve learned to recognize promising foundational characteristics at both ends of the leash and provide flexibility in helping both learners be successful.
Dr. Simon Gadbois
Lecture: What are Wildlife Conservation Canines teaching us about wildlife, field conditions, field methodologies, and olfaction?
After almost 20 years of research on conservation canines, and 35 years training dogs for tracking and trailing, I still learn with amazement from our four-legged research assistants. I am also surprised by how much this literature is often disconnected from ethology (of the dog, and of the target species), and from the long tradition in olfactory (animal) psychophysics (the study of sensory processing in animals). I will discuss a few phenomena and issues in this line of work: Working with “sometimes scentless” species, the impact of field conditions on scent, the absurdity of transects, and detection theory to assess the precision and accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) of your dog.
Search Dog Foundation
Golf Cart Tour: Search Dog Foundation Campus
Join the SDF crew on a "Lay of the Land" golf cart tour of 125-acre campus including Search City, rubble piles, train wrecks, etc. Meet at Showgrounds/Registration Desk.
Search Dog Foundation
Walking Tour: Canine Pavillion
Join the SDF team on a walking tour of the Canine Pavillion with an in-depth look at SDF’s programs and processes including: kennel, enrichment and interaction management, data collection, fitness program, etc. Meet at entrance to Canine Pavillion.