In this episode, Cameron Ford interviews Stu Phillips, an operational K9 handler and trainer. Stu shares his journey of working with military working dogs and transitioning to civilian work as a detection dog handler. He discusses the challenges and requirements of working with passive screening drug dogs in high pedestrian environments. Stu also talks about his experience working with explosive detection dogs during the London Olympics. The conversation concludes with Stu's work training whiskey barrel detection dogs and the process of training dogs to detect low-level odors. In this part of the conversation, Stu Phillips discusses the importance of recording and timing in dog training. He then shares the story of the whiskey dogs and the challenges he faced training them. He also talks about his work with tobacco detection dogs and the unique qualities he looks for in these dogs. Finally, he emphasizes the importance of reading your dog and incorporating blank searches into training. In this conversation, Stu Phillips and Cameron Ford discuss various topics related to detection dog training and handling. They cover the use of a middle position and reinforcing different search outcomes, the challenges of conservation detection work, the pros and cons of using Kong as a training tool, advice for handlers working with their first detection dog, and the differences between Springer Spaniels and working Cocker Spaniels. Stu Phillips also shares how people can connect with him and the services he offers. You can reach out to Stu on Instagram @bwyk9 Website http://www.bwycanine.co.uk CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:19 Getting into Dogs and Working with Military Working Dogs 02:09 Transitioning to Civilian Work and Training Detection Dogs 03:36 Working as a Passive Screening Drug Dog Handler 04:55 Working in High Pedestrian Environments with Passive Screening Dogs 06:40 Qualities of a Dog for People Screening 08:16 Memorable Deployment with a Passive Screening Dog 09:02 Transitioning to Explosive Detection Dogs for the Olympics 19:46 Challenges and Issues with Contracting Companies 33:12 Training Whiskey Barrel Detection Dogs 39:40 Dog Selection and Training for Low-Level Odor Detection 48:51 Training Process and Proofing for Operational Readiness 51:24 The Importance of Recording and Timing 55:22 The Whiskey Dogs 59:27 Tobacco Detection Dogs 01:09:14 Challenges of Tobacco Detection 01:19:40 The Importance of Reading Your Dog 01:28:32 Qualities of a Tobacco Detection Dog 01:32:19 Training with Blank Searches 01:39:45 Using a Middle Position and Reinforcing Different Search Outcomes 01:41:41 Conservation Detection and the Challenges Faced 01:51:25 Pros and Cons of Using Kong as a Training Tool 02:04:32 Advice for Handlers Working with Their First Detection Dog 02:11:52 Differences Between Springer Spaniels and Working Cocker Spaniels 02:20:32 How to Connect with Stu Phillips and the Services He Offers