Heather Stieler joins us on HFA to discuss three types of K-9 Training Log software that are available for handlers to use. Heather calls the Texas Hill Country home but was raised all over the US. She currently works from home as a Software Specialist. Heather became interested in SAR as a way to serve her community in a fun and exciting way that also included her Malinois’ Ren and Misha. Heather and K9 Ren are a certified live area/air scent search team through IPWDA. Heather and K9 Misha are ...
Mar 27, 2025•52 min
Michelle Metzner joins us on HFA for the second time to discuss troubleshooting the Recall/Refind for Live Find dogs. Michelle has been a SAR handler for over 30 years and has fielded multiple search dogs over the past 3 decades. Michelle is a leader on the K-9 Emergency Response Team based in Wisconsin and is also a K-9 Handler for Wisconsin Task Force 1. Additionally, she has served as a lead K-9 evaluator for the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) for many years. In part two w...
Jun 23, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 15
In this episode of HFA Christy Bormann joins us to discuss Category 5 K9 and their process of taking shelter/rescue dogs and turning them into search K-9s. Christy has been involved in K-9 Search and Rescue for over 20 years and has done both Wilderness SAR and Urban SAR throughout her history in Search and Rescue. Christy is a founding member of Category 5 K9 and serves as the K9 Training Coordinator for Texas A&M Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue Team. Christy has certified and deployed...
Apr 26, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 14
In this episode of HFA Dr. Mark Marsolais joins us to discuss evaluating prospective SAR K9s utilizing the Brownell-Marsolais scale. Mark Marsolais is a Professor of Criminal Justice and Security at Thomas College. Sam Houston State University awarded him a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice. In addition to his doctorate, Professor Marsolais has a B.S. degree and M.A. degree in Psychology. He specializes in teaching criminal justice, policing, homeland security, conservation law, evidence, critical issue...
Mar 31, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 13
In this episode of HFA Ian Maslin joins us to discuss the importance of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) for SAR responders. Ian is a Certified Traumatologist from the Traumatology Institute and Certified from UMBC in Critical Incident Stress Management. He is an Advanced Approved Instructor with The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. A Peer CISM responder with British Columbia Search and Rescue Association, and Emergency Support Services. He is also a Community Care Nu...
Mar 20, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In this episode of HFA Tim Baird joins us to discuss selecting the right breeder and puppy for your next SAR K9. Tim has been working with detection dogs for nearly 30 years, starting as a Patrol K9 handler before transitioning into a detection K9 handler. In his years working with dogs Tim has helped support K9 programs for many government agencies including the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Tim also helped develop the Vapor Wake program created by Auburn Unive...
Feb 24, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Season 1Ep. 11
In this episode of HFA Paul Bunker joins us to discuss imprinting your detection K9 on odor. Paul has been working with detection K9s for over 40 years in various aspects of detection. Starting with his 2 decades of experience handling detection K9s during his time in the U.K. military, followed by nearly 20 years of working with the U.K. and U.S. military training and deploying explosive detection K9s. Most recently Paul formed Chiron K9 based in San Antonio, TX to focus on research and support...
Feb 09, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Tiffanie Turner and Dr. Ben Alexander joins us on HFA to discuss the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University (FACTS). Tiffanie and Ben have been involved in SAR for over 20 years each, in for the last 10 years they have conducted seminars at FACTS for cadaver dog handlers. In this episode we give an introduction to what FACTS is and what handlers can expect to learn when attending. Make sure to stay tuned for Part 2, where we discuss the lessons that Tiffanie and Ben have learned ...
Sep 01, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Michelle Metzner joins us on HFA to discuss how to teach the Recall/Refind to Live Find Dogs. Michelle has been a SAR handler for over 30 years and has fielded multiple search dogs over the past 3 decades. Michelle is a leader on the K-9 Emergency Response Team based in Wisconsin and is also a K-9 Handler for Wisconsin Task Force 1. Additionally, she has served as a lead K-9 evaluator for the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) for many years. If you are looking to train your Area...
Jun 14, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Jerry Bradshaw joins us on HFA to discuss Variable Reinforcement Schedules in detection dog training. Jerry has over 30 years' experience in training detection, patrol, and tracking dogs for law enforcement agencies and militaries both domestically and internationally. In addition to professionally training working dogs, Jerry has also won national titles with his personal dogs in the competitive protection sports of Schutzhund and Protection Sports Association (PSA). Jerry currently serves as t...
May 27, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Season 1Ep. 7
In this episode of HFA we continue our discussion with Sonja Nordstrom on Selecting and Starting a Human Remains Detection dog in Part 2 of the conversation. In Part 2 we discuss in detail different methodologies of exposing dogs to odor, in addition to the odor imprinting process for green dogs. We also discuss dedication to odor, proofing off non-target odors and the all important TFR (mistakenly referred to by me as "FTR"). This episode is a great guide to HR handlers who are thinking of how ...
Apr 02, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Sonja Nordstrom joins us on HFA to discuss how to select a dog for Human Remains Detection (HRD) work, as well as how to start training with the dog to prepare for real world deployments. Sonja is a retired FBI Special Agent and has nearly three decades of K-9 search and rescue experience, additionally Sonja competed in Mondio Ring, French Ring, and IPO for nearly 10 years. In addition to K-9 SAR and protection dog sports Sonja serves as a judge and trainer for UKC Nosework competitions. Sonja i...
Mar 09, 2023•1 hr 40 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Nadine Conner joins us on HFA to discuss how to get started in K-9 Search and Rescue. Nadine is a Master Trainer and evaluator for AMPWDA and a Lead Trainer at FACTS , in addition to being a professional dog trainer with nearly 20 years of experience working with dogs. This is a great episode for people who may be interested in joining a search and rescue team, and provides a great overview of the process of getting started. In this discussion we discuss the type of people who can do search and ...
Feb 26, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Suzanne Elshult joins the show to discuss her 20+ year career in K-9 Search and Rescue. We discuss Suzanne's dog Keb who won the American Humane Society's Hero Dog Award for Search and Rescue as well as her book "A Dog's Devotion: True Tales of a K9 Search and Rescue Team". https://suzanneelshult.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ADogsDevotion https://csdk9.org/ https://k9ff.org/...
Feb 09, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Former Texas District Court Judge Kelly Case joins the show to inform our listeners of the legal implications of search and rescue that all K-9 Handlers should be aware of. Kelly Case has spent time as a Texas District Court Judge, Assistant District Attorney, and Criminal Defense Attorney and he provides us an overview of the legal aspects of search and rescue that's vitally important for all SAR team members to be aware of. Hunt-Find-Alert: Facebook Page Trejos v Texas (K9 Application of the N...
Jan 27, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Welcome to Hunt-Find-Alert the podcast covering everything K-9 Search and Rescue related. This episode is a brief overview of the podcast and is a precursor to the exciting upcoming conversations that we will have. Hunt-Find-Alert Facebook Glossary of Terms: AMPWDA = American Mantrailing, Police & Work Dog Association AWDA = American Working Dog Association NSDA = National Search Dog Alliance SDONA = Search Dog Organization of North America HRD = Human Remains Detection...
Jan 17, 2023•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1
