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 who has spent serious time in operational work recognizes it immediately.
On one side, there are creative trainers. Trainers who are willing, and able, to solve real operational problems. They look at what is actually needed, not what is popular or easy to sell. They combine creativity, deep knowledge, scientific principles, and perseverance to design systems that must work outside the comfort of a training field. Under pressure. In uncertainty. In environments where failure is not an option.
On the other side, there are trainers who primarily focus on making money. They copy existing training modules, repackage them with new terminology, and present them as original inventions. Their work looks polished online, but it rarely survives contact with reality.
My own K9 career was never built on copying what others were doing. It grew from solving real operational problems that had consequences beyond scores, titles, or marketing claims. Every system I developed had to function in the real world, not just during a demonstration. And that distinction still matters.
From operational need, not from trends
When dogs were first integrated into tactical and investigative scenarios where no dogs had worked before, the objective was not innovation for innovation’s sake. The goal was simple and uncompromising:
Create reliable behavior that supports real operations.
That meant dogs capable of gathering intelligence, protecting teams, and supporting evidence-based investigations, often in environments that were chaotic, unpredictable, and hostile.
There was no template to copy. No course to buy. No influencer to follow. We had to design from zero.
Seeing dogs make a tangible difference in real cases, preventing harm, finding critical evidence, supporting teams under stress, remains one of the most meaningful aspects of my professional journey. That kind of success does not come from trends. It comes from responsibility.
Innovation before it was a buzzword
Long before “innovation” became a popular label in the K9 world, we were already developing and deploying new concepts because we had no alternative.
Among those developments were:
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Laser-guided and radio-directed dogs
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Camera dogs for intelligence gathering
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Hard surface tracking in complex urban environments
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Passive alert systems suitable for tactical contexts
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Direct odor imprint protocols
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Specially designed target odors
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Dogs trained to place, retrieve, or manipulate electronic devices
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Sensor-supported training and data collection
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Structured multi-dog operational protocols
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And later dogs working together with robots in real operations
These were not trends.
They were solutions, built from necessity.
Some of these projects remain restricted for obvious tactical reasons. Others have gradually found their way into police, military, special units, and later into sport, nosework, and civilian training environments.
That migration often creates an illusion: people see the end product, but not the years of problem-solving, failure, sleeples nights, redesign, and testing behind it.
Why copying is not innovation
Copying is easy.
Understanding is hard.
True innovation is not about what you do, but why you do it, and whether you can explain, test, adapt, and defend that choice under pressure.
Copy-based training usually collapses when:
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Context changes
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Stress increases
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Environmental variables multiply
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Assumptions are challenged
Operational training exposes weaknesses immediately. There is no room for slogans, vague explanations, or magical thinking. Either behavior holds up, or it doesn’t. That is why operational environments are the ultimate truth-tellers in K9 work.
The influence of science and mentorship
This work was never a solo effort. I had the privilege of learning from exceptional trainers and scientists around the world, including Bob Bailey and Marian Bailey. Their influence profoundly shaped how I think about behavior, learning, and training design.
From them, I learned to move beyond routines and habits toward:
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Principles instead of recipes
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Measurement instead of opinion
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Clarity instead of complexity
They taught me that good training is observable, measurable, and adjustable. If you cannot explain what you are doing in simple terms, you probably do not understand it well enough. That lesson alone has saved me, and many others, years of wasted effort.
The real foundations of successful K9 development
Despite what marketing suggests, successful K9 systems are not built on gadgets or slogans.
They are built on:
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Patience
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Data
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Analysis
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Skill
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Perseverance
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Curiosity
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The willingness to fail, reflect, and adapt
Most importantly, they require critical thinking.
That means:
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Not repeating claims like a parrot
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Not turning context-dependent ideas into universal rules
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Not confusing correlation with causation
Instead, it means testing, measuring, and staying honest about:
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What works
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Where it works
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Why it works
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And where it does not work
This honesty is uncomfortable, but essential.
Against polarization, for progress
I believe K9 progress should be inclusive, not divided by ego, secrecy, or branding wars.
Knowledge should be shared, with proper credit.
Experience should be contextualized, not absolutized.
Training should help people think, not just follow.
Good instruction is feedforward, not gatekeeping.
It builds confidence.
It encourages curiosity.
It empowers trainers to adapt, not imitate.
The moment a trainer stops thinking independently and starts copying blindly, development stops, no matter how advanced the tools look.
Teaching trainers to solve problems
This philosophy is exactly what you can expect in my upcoming workshops.
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You will not receive a checklist to memorize.
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You will not be told to “just trust the method.”
Instead, you will learn how to:
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Build strong, resilient behavior chains
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Design training that holds up under real operational conditions
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Apply science in practical, field-ready ways
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Analyze behavior instead of labeling it
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Develop creative problem-solving skills
You will be challenged to step outside your comfort zone, while rediscovering how much fun serious, thoughtful training can be.
Because real learning is energizing, not limiting.
From the field to education
Everything I teach is rooted in operational experience. Not theory disconnected from reality, but principles tested where failure has consequences. That does not mean there is only one right way. On the contrary. It means there are better questions, clearer feedback loops, and more effective ways to evaluate progress.
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When trainers understand why something works, they gain freedom.
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When they only know what to do, they remain dependent.
My goal has always been to create independent thinkers, not followers.
A new chapter: sharing without dilution
My completely updated website is now live and provides a clear overview of:
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My work and background
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The systems and protocols developed over decades
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Tools and training concepts
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And the 2026 international workshop plans
This is not about selling shortcuts.
It is about sharing depth, without dilution.
Visit https://simonprins.com/
Explore the world behind these methods.
Join me in the next step of K9 innovation and education.
Final thoughts
Real progress in the K9 world does not come from copying louder voices. It comes from quiet competence, tested ideas, and honest reflection.
Stay curious.
Stay critical.
Keep thinking.
That is where real innovation lives.