Jeff Talks with Eric Stambro about detection training

About this episode

Jeff Meyer and Eric Stambro discuss contemporary detection dog training techniques and strategies.

Join host Jeff Meyer and special guest Eric Stambro for a deep-dive into contemporary detection dog training. In this episode they unpack the concept of "pay on a sniff," marker training vs. direct reward systems, how to reinvigorate and shape reliable alerts, and practical tactics for vehicles, buildings, and large impound searches. Topics covered include: what paying on a sniff means and why it emphasizes odor value over formal final responses; direct vs. indirect reward systems and how both can be used; timing and use of verbal markers and squeaky toys as bridges to build dopamine-driven search motivation; intermittent and variable rewards; and specific approaches for fixing bookmarking, handler-influence, and false-alert problems. Practical, street-tested examples and tips are discussed throughout: using blanks and unknown hide counts to build reliability on negatives; positioning odors in the middle of vehicles to prevent dogs from racing around cars; removing handler influence by having dogs work out of sight; charging a verbal marker and increasing sniff duration before teaching a final; and how to structure training to prevent performance drop-offs from the training lot…

People in this episode

Host: Jeff Meyer

Guest: Eric Stambro

Topics covered

• detection dog training
• pay on a sniff
• marker training
• reward systems
• reliable alerts
• search tactics

Keywords

• detection training
• odor value
• verbal markers
• dopamine-driven motivation
• false alerts
• handler influence

Sponsors

AceK9.com

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