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 @bwyk9Website http://www.bwycanine.co.ukCHAPTERS00:00Introduction and Background01:19Getting into Dogs and Working with Military Working Dogs02:09Transitioning to Civilian Work and Training Detection Dogs03:36Working as a Passive Screening Drug Dog Handler04:55Working in High Pedestrian Environments with Passive Screening Dogs06:40Qualities of a Dog for People Screening08:16Memorable Deployment with a Passive Screening Dog09:02Transitioning to Explosive Detection Dogs for the Olympics19:46Challenges and Issues with Contracting Companies33:12Training Whiskey Barrel Detection Dogs39:40Dog Selection and Training for Low-Level Odor Detection48:51Training Process and Proofing for Operational Readiness51:24The Importance of Recording and Timing55:22The Whiskey Dogs59:27Tobacco Detection Dogs01:09:14Challenges of Tobacco Detection01:19:40The Importance of Reading Your Dog01:28:32Qualities of a Tobacco Detection Dog01:32:19Training with Blank Searches01:39:45Using a Middle Position and Reinforcing Different Search Outcomes01:41:41Conservation Detection and the Challenges Faced01:51:25Pros and Cons of Using Kong as a Training Tool02:04:32Advice for Handlers Working with Their First Detection Dog02:11:52Differences Between Springer Spaniels and Working Cocker Spaniels02:20:32How to Connect with Stu Phillips and the Services He Offers