The Police K9 Training Podcast with Jeff Meyer

In this episode Jeff Meyer is joined by detection expert Cameron Ford to tackle a common problem: narcotics dogs that perform well inside but become distracted, avoidant, or ineffective when searching vehicles on traffic stops. They break down likely causes (low reinforcement value, negative associations, or flooding by repetitive, stressful exposures) and outline a practical progression to restore motivation and reliable searching on cars. Key topics covered include identifying the root cause of vehicle avoidance, dialing training back to simple contexts, building reinforcement history and value for cars, using rituals and signals (for example a special collar routine) to predict fun, and staged exercises where a trainer teases a vehicle and the handler pays the dog quickly on odor acknowledgement — not always waiting for a full trained final response. They also discuss changing locations/cars, varying reward schedules (roughly 60% positive to avoid over‑expectation), the role of quick reward timing ("pay on sniff"), limited pairing with reward items if necessary, and how handler relaxation and clear start/finish cues (e.g., saying "all done") improve outcomes. Cameron and Jeff emphasize avoiding flooding (recreating stressful traffic-stop conditions repeatedly), preventing handler frustration from cascading into poorer performance, and tailoring the progression to each team. They note most cases are fixable with consistency: simplify the task, create value, reward early, then rebuild duration and precision. To contact Jeff Meyer, email him at: [email protected] To see more about Jeff and the classes that are offered go to: www.Policek9Training.net Thanks to this shows sponsors: AceK9.com ______________________________________________________________________________ KATS K9 Record Keeping www.katsplatinum.com ______________________________________________________________________________ Ray Allen K9 https://www.rayallen.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________ The Next Level K9 https://www.thenextlevelk9.com/ _____________________________________________________________________________ For information about the Colorado K9 Conference https://coloradok9conference.com/

Host Jeff Meyer welcomes trainer Eric Stambrough for a focused Q&A episode in his Police K9 Training Podcast series. After a summer break Jeff is launching shorter question-and-answer shows; this episode addresses a common field problem: how to "reset" police dogs that have been trained for decades with overly high e‑collar stimulation and now react with stress, vocalization, leash‑targeting or inconsistent drive. Jeff and Eric walk through practical, step‑by‑step methods to rebuild control and trust using the e‑collar properly. Key techniques discussed include starting work on leash, using negative reinforcement (pressure on/pressure off) at very low levels, short, repeated reps (two short sessions of ~10 reps), layering the collar over known behaviors (heal/come), and rewarding with food or praise. Eric describes a practical progression: initial trust‑building with low stim and leash guidance, one or two days of focused negative reinforcement, then transition to brief taps or tone as a consequence while always returning stimulation to the lowest effective level. Jeff emphasizes avoiding collar dependence and training the dog to perform reliably without constant stimulation. Both trainers stress that numbers are situational — use what the dog needs in that environment and always come back down once control is achieved. To contact Jeff Meyer, email him at: [email protected] To see more about Jeff and the classes that are offered go to: www.Policek9Training.net Thanks to this shows sponsors: AceK9.com ______________________________________________________________________________ KATS K9 Record Keeping www.katsplatinum.com ______________________________________________________________________________ Ray Allen K9 https://www.rayallen.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________ The Next Level K9 https://www.thenextlevelk9.com/ _____________________________________________________________________________ For information about the Colorado K9 Conference https://coloradok9conference.com/

Join host Jeff Meyer and legal expert Mike Kmiecik on the Police K9 Training Podcast for a focused legal update on Florida v. Harris. This episode breaks down the Supreme Court’s landmark decision, what it actually says about drug-detection dogs, and how handlers and agencies should interpret and apply the ruling on the street and in court. The discussion covers the Court’s view on field performance (its limits and relevance), the possibility of residual or undetectable odors, and the important caveat that any certification-based presumption is "subject to conflicting evidence." To contact Jeff Meyer email him at: [email protected] To see more about Jeff and the classes that are offered go to: www.Policek9Training.net Thanks to this shows sponsors: AceK9.com ______________________________________________________________________________ KATS K9 Record Keeping www.katsplatinum.com ______________________________________________________________________________ Online Class Click Here k-9services.com _____________________________________________________________________________ Ray Allen K9 https://www.rayallen.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________ The Next Level K9 https://www.thenextlevelk9.com/ _____________________________________________________________________________ For information about the Colorado K9 Conference https://coloradok9conference.com/

In this Part 2 episode of the Police K9 Training Podcast, host Jeff Meyer continues his conversation with Cameron Ford to finish the list of seven essential skills for detection dog handlers. The discussion covers points three through seven: consistency and fairness in training, adaptability and creativity when simulating real-world scenarios, handler self-awareness and discipline, diligent record keeping and reflection, and maintaining emotional balance under pressure. Cameron and Jeff share real-world examples and practical strategies: how to mirror operational protocols in training to avoid learned violations of expectation; creative training venues and setups (Home Depot, stadiums, crowds, coolers) to replicate challenges like wind, contamination, and distractions; the importance of rituals, tactile signals, and reading your dog to avoid handler-induced cues; and the value of variable reward schedules to prevent false alerts. They also stress the need for documentation, video review, peer critique, and a growth mindset that embraces accountability. To contact Jeff Meyer email him at: [email protected] To see more about Jeff and the classes that are offered go to: www.Policek9Training.net Thanks to this shows sponsors: AceK9.com ______________________________________________________________________________ Online Class Click Here k-9services.com _____________________________________________________________________________ Ray Allen K9 https://www.rayallen.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________ The Next Level K9 https://www.thenextlevelk9.com/ _____________________________________________________________________________ For information about the Colorado K9 Conference https://coloradok9conference.com/

Join Jeff Meyer and guest Art Lopez, director of the Utah POST K9 Program, as they dig into real-world issues facing police K9 teams. The conversation focuses on administrative and operational challenges: rushing deployments, “chasing the bite,” and changing tactics simply because a dog is present. To contact Jeff Meyer email him at: [email protected] To see more about Jeff and the classes that are offered go to: www.Policek9Training.net Thanks to this shows sponsors: AceK9.com ______________________________________________________________________________ Online Class Click Here k-9services.com _____________________________________________________________________________ Ray Allen K9 https://www.rayallen.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________ The Next Level K9 https://www.thenextlevelk9.com/ _____________________________________________________________________________ For information about the Colorado K9 Conference https://coloradok9conference.com/