News

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...