In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla Fratt talks about considerations when choosing a conservation detection dog, sourcing a dog, and screening a dog.
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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:
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