News

Why I no longer follow the Kong hype
Why I no longer follow the Kong hype
Over the last decade, I have watched the rise of what I call the “Kong culture” in detection dog training. In some circles, it has become almost a religion. Question... Read more...
Beyond the scent wall: building trust through double blind detection and UV training
Beyond the scent wall: building trust through double blind detection and UV training
Beyond the scent wall: building trust through double blind detection training, UV confirmation, and better detection dogs Walk through social media today and you will see countless videos of detection... Read more...
The hidden battle inside a detection dog’s mind
The hidden battle inside a detection dog’s mind
Understanding SD, S-Delta, reward conflict, and decision making Detection dogs do much more than simply “find odor.” A great detection dog is constantly making decisions. Every second during a search,... Read more...
Open or closed mouth in detection dogs
Open or closed mouth in detection dogs
Science, beliefs, and common sense In the K9 world, few topics create stronger opinions than how a detection dog should search. One of the most repeated statements is: “A good... Read more...
Punishment in dog training: when simple thinking becomes dangerous
Punishment in dog training: when simple thinking becomes dangerous
When simple thinking becomes dangerous One of the most dangerous phrases I hear in dog training is: “He knows it, so he has to show it.” At first, that sentence may... Read more...
When passion becomes belief: A wake-up call for the K9 world
When passion becomes belief: A wake-up call for the K9 world
When passion becomes belief: A wake-up call for the K9 world It has been a remarkable week in the K9 world. A week that challenged long-held beliefs, exposed weaknesses in... Read more...
Imprinting odors and laser or imprinting bad habits?
Imprinting odors and laser or imprinting bad habits?
There is something fascinating about the detection dog world. We live in a time where science has never been more available to trainers. We have access to decades of operational... Read more...
Why double blind detection training changes everything
Why double blind detection training changes everything
Why double blind detection training changes everything Detection handlers all over the world share the same challenge: How do we train dogs and handlers to work confidently in real operational double... Read more...
TraceOdor™ A new beginning for detection dog training
TraceOdor™ A new beginning for detection dog training
TraceOdor™ a new beginning for detection dog training For many years I have worked with detection dogs in operational environments around the world. During those years I kept asking myself... Read more...
Material & odor integrity in detection dog training
Material & odor integrity in detection dog training
Why I care so much about the materials we use When people think about detection dog training, they often focus on the dog, the odor, or the reward system. And... Read more...
Are we working too clean?
Are we working too clean?
Here’s the uncomfortable thought that keeps coming back to me after all these years working with detection dogs: I’m not sure we are preparing our dogs well enough for the... Read more...
The courage to think for yourself in dog training
The courage to think for yourself in dog training
This week, I responded to a post on social media. Almost immediately, my words were interpreted in ways I hadn’t intended. My motivation was questioned, and I found myself being... Read more...
Building the Future of Detection Dog Training
Building the Future of Detection Dog Training
The global K9 detection community is filled with passionate trainers, innovative thinkers, and highly dedicated professionals. Around the world, thousands of handlers and trainers work every day to develop dogs... Read more...
Why I Do What I Do
Why I Do What I Do
A reflection on science, dogs, and the promise that shaped my mission Recently someone asked me a simple question: Why do you do what you do? It is the kind... Read more...
Camera dogs in operational work: training, failure, persistence, and what the field really teaches you
Camera dogs in operational work: training, failure, persistence, and what the field really teaches you
How it all started in 1996 In 1996 I began working on something that, at the time, sounded unrealistic to many people: dogs equipped with camera and communication systems that... Read more...
Creative K9 training vs. copy-paste protocols
Creative K9 training vs. copy-paste protocols
Why real innovation is born in the field, Not on the training ground There is a fundamental difference in the K9 world that is rarely spoken about openly, yet everyone... Read more...
Trust the nose, not the eyes: visual bias in detection dog training
Trust the nose, not the eyes: visual bias in detection dog training
In the world of detection dog training, we rely heavily on the dog’s nose, it’s the ultimate tool for locating target odors. But what happens when dogs begin using their... Read more...
Can a dog work for different handlers?
Can a dog work for different handlers?
Performance in dog training is often discussed in terms of technique. We talk about learning theory, reinforcement schedules, marker timing, criteria, and consistency. These concepts are important and they form... Read more...
Bullying in the K9 world. Stop tearing others down!
Bullying in the K9 world. Stop tearing others down!
  Why does self-promotion in the K9 world so often come with tearing others down? Almost daily I see trainers publicly humiliating colleagues. Ripping people apart in the comments. Blocking... Read more...
Integrate UV technique into your detection
Integrate UV technique into your detection
At ACT! we keep pushing the limits to help you to train detection to the next level For more than six months I tested a wide range of UV liquids... Read more...
Human scent and gloves, when to question the assumptions
Human scent and gloves, when to question the assumptions
Human scent and gloves, when to question the assumptions In detection dog training we frequently see the use of gloves, tongs or clamps when handling targets odors to prevent contamination... Read more...
Vapor pressure, the silent game-changer in detection training
Vapor pressure, the silent game-changer in detection training
Vapor pressure, the silent game-changer in detection training Every serious detection dog trainer talks about motivation, indication, and reliability. But very few talk about something that quietly influences all three:... Read more...
Are you ready for what’s coming? The future of K9 training Is here.
Are you ready for what’s coming? The future of K9 training Is here.
Many years ago, in the thick of special operations with my radio‑ and laser‑guided dogs, I had a conversation with my commander. We looked at our dogs, looked at the... Read more...
Don’t just follow the crowd but create your own path
Don’t just follow the crowd but create your own path
Don’t just follow the crowd but create your own path In the dog training world, I see something happening more and more often: people playing it safe. They follow. They... Read more...
Electronic analyzers & detection dogs
Electronic analyzers & detection dogs
Learning Beyond the Target Odor In forensic and operational work, electronic analyzers such as the Gemini Analyzer are often used to identify narcotics and explosives. These advanced instruments use Raman... Read more...
Why a perfect passive alert doesn’t guarantee operational success
Why a perfect passive alert doesn’t guarantee operational success
In the world of detection dog training, too many trainers begin with the indication, the passive alert. They put all their focus on shaping a dog into giving a perfect,... Read more...
The Dark Side of K9 training
The Dark Side of K9 training
Believes, hype, cult or fraud? The K9 world is full of passion, energy, and dedication. Every weekend, thousands of handlers train their dogs in nosework, tracking, trailing, detection, search and... Read more...
Why Kong, balls, and food fail as first detection odors
Why Kong, balls, and food fail as first detection odors
Why starting detection training with Kong, tennis balls, or food creates more problems than solutions Introduction (Link to NL version)  Detection dog training has always balanced between tradition and science.... Read more...
The illusion of success – why double blind training Is essential
The illusion of success – why double blind training Is essential
Every week I am surprised and often saddened when I see professional K9 trainers advertise new tracking courses where handlers proudly walk their own tracks. Or when well-known detection dog... Read more...
Understanding reinforcement through the stages of detection dog training
Understanding reinforcement through the stages of detection dog training
Understanding reinforcement through the stages of detection dog training I recently asked my online community of detection dog trainers a deceptively simple question: "What do you reinforce when you train your... Read more...
Be the change agent the K9 community needs
Be the change agent the K9 community needs
Change agents are essential for driving progress in the K9 community. Without them, we remain stuck in outdated methods, ineffective training techniques, and, worst of all, a culture of polarization... Read more...
Building a supportive and inspiring dog training community
Building a supportive and inspiring dog training community
Social media has the power to connect people, share knowledge, and inspire positive change. But it also has the power to divide, create conflict, and fuel negativity. How we use... Read more...
Kong as a Detection Odor: Are We Thinking Critically?
Kong as a Detection Odor: Are We Thinking Critically?
The use of Kong as a detection odor has become almost a standard in many training programs. It’s copied, repeated, and promoted—often without trainers truly questioning what they’re doing and... Read more...
Garbage can science: the driving force behind K9 training innovation
Garbage can science: the driving force behind K9 training innovation
Garbage can science: the driving force behind K9 training innovation Innovation rarely begins as a polished masterpiece. More often, it starts as a messy process—a bold idea paired with a... Read more...
The role of science, common sense, and data in dog training
The role of science, common sense, and data in dog training
The role of science, common sense, and data in dog training Recently, some of my posts about science and data in dog training sparked incredible discussions. These conversations made me... Read more...
Bringing back integrity: building an inclusive and safe K9 community
Bringing back integrity: building an inclusive and safe K9 community
The K9 community is one of passion, dedication, and a shared love for working with dogs. It’s a space where trainers, handlers, scientists, and dog enthusiasts come together to share... Read more...
Pseudoscience in dog training
Pseudoscience in dog training
In the world of dog training, the line between proven science and anecdotal claims is often blurred. The rise of self-proclaimed experts and anecdotal “proofs” based on pseudoscience poses significant... Read more...
The chicken or the egg? Protocols, data & experience
The chicken or the egg? Protocols, data & experience
The chicken or the egg: How protocols, data, and experience shape dog training Over my decades of experience as a dog trainer—working with special police operations, creating innovative training techniques,... Read more...
Happy New Year, K9 Community!
Happy New Year, K9 Community!
As we step into 2025, I want to pause and reflect on the incredible journey we’ve shared over the past year. To each of you who’ve supported me and been... Read more...
Simon Prins ACT! Online Courses: Elevating Detection Dog Training for All Levels
Simon Prins ACT! Online Courses: Elevating Detection Dog Training for All Levels
Simon Prins ACT! Online Courses: Elevating Detection Dog Training for All Levels Training detection dogs is both an art and a science, requiring a balance of theoretical understanding, practical application,... Read more...
A Positive Update: Strength, Gratitude, and Hope
A Positive Update: Strength, Gratitude, and Hope
With Christmas and the New Year approaching, I want to take a moment to share an update on my situation and express my deepest gratitude. It has been truly heartwarming... Read more...
Mastering the Art of Detection: The Direct Odor Imprint (DOI) Method
Mastering the Art of Detection: The Direct Odor Imprint (DOI) Method
In the world of detection dog training, methods abound. Each trainer has their preferred approach, often shaped by their experiences and needs. Over the course of my 25-year career in... Read more...
Understanding the Role of Bridges and Keep-Going Signals in Dog Training
Understanding the Role of Bridges and Keep-Going Signals in Dog Training
Training dogs is an art and a science. Whether your goal is to nurture a detection champion, a loyal patrol dog, a wildlife detection partner, a service animal, or simply... Read more...
Turning Darkness Into Light: A Journey of Reflection, Gratitude, and Resilience
Turning Darkness Into Light: A Journey of Reflection, Gratitude, and Resilience
  Dear friends, colleagues, and readers, Life has a way of catching us off guard, shifting our perspective when we least expect it. For many years, I dedicated myself wholeheartedly... Read more...
The Power of Change: Why Data and Structure are Key to Dog Training Success
The Power of Change: Why Data and Structure are Key to Dog Training Success
As Albert Einstein once said, “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” Darwin’s idea of “Survival of the Fittest” echoes the same concept: the ones who adapt, survive.... Read more...
A Call for Unity: Let’s Learn, Grow, and Rise Above the Hate
A Call for Unity: Let’s Learn, Grow, and Rise Above the Hate
This message calls for understanding, patience, and openness. It reinforces the idea of community, resilience, and meaningful engagement, while directly addressing the problem of hostility on social media. Read more...
Why Every Dog Trainer Needs to Be Using Cato Boards
Why Every Dog Trainer Needs to Be Using Cato Boards
If you’ve been searching for a game-changing tool to elevate your dog training, it’s time to discover the power of platform training with Cato Boards. These simple yet highly effective... Read more...
Imposter Syndrome
Imposter Syndrome
During my workshops around the world, I consistently encounter a common challenge among dog trainers across different cultures: what psychology calls “imposter syndrome.” It’s the trainer who begins introductions with... Read more...
Understanding Your Dog: Beyond Stimulus and Response
Understanding Your Dog: Beyond Stimulus and Response
Training a dog involves more than just giving a command and expecting an immediate response. There’s a whole process between stimulus and response, and this is why I encourage repeated... Read more...
The weakest link
The weakest link
In the hierarchical structure of detection operations, the dog is often undervalued, positioned at the lowest tier as a "bio-sensor." Yet, it remains the most crucial and capable sensor, bridging... Read more...