Greetings ,

Welcome to the April Issue of The Chiron Briefing

April is shaping up to be a busy and exciting month for Chiron K9, with a number of training events, new projects, and continued growth within our professional community.

This month, I’ll be spending time in the United Kingdom delivering detection dog workshops with several excellent organizations. I’ll be working with Carter Pet Services in Warwickshire, Endeavour K9 in Wales, and Nosework Games in Wiltshire, supporting handlers and trainers as they develop their skills in detection work. These workshops are always a great opportunity to share practical training methods, exchange ideas, and strengthen the professional detection dog community.

Back in Texas, we will also be hosting an Exploring Odor Seminar in San Antonio with Dr. Lauryn DeGreeff, one of the leading experts in analytical chemistry and odor science. This seminar will focus on understanding how odor behaves in the environment and how detection dogs interpret scent in real-world conditions—knowledge that is critical for anyone serious about detection training or operational deployment.

On the canine front, we have a new addition to the Chiron K9 team—a female Labrador who will begin her journey as a detection dog. It’s always exciting to start the process with a young dog and build the foundations of odor work from the beginning. Alongside her, we also have several dogs currently in training for an upcoming conservation detection project, which continues to expand the role of canines in environmental protection and wildlife conservation.

Our Detection Dog Lab community on Skool continues to grow steadily, and it has been great to see the level of discussion, learning, and collaboration developing there. This month, I will also be introducing (or have just introduced) an enhanced subscription membership level that includes additional premium content, deeper training discussions, and expanded resources for those who want to take their detection dog knowledge to the next level.

The Detection Dog Lab

As always, thank you to everyone who continues to support the work we are doing at Chiron K9. Detection dogs remain one of the most powerful biological sensors available to us, and it is encouraging to see the field continue to grow through research, training, and collaboration.

More updates, training insights, and project news follow in this month’s briefing.

-Paul Bunker and the Chiron K9 team

Thorndyke's Law of Effect

This sign is on the wall of The Chiron Detection Dog Lab. 

Biothane Long Line

Back in the day we used rope or canvas long lines for training and deployments. The rope would burn your hands and the canvas would snap easy! 

Just like a lot of things in training we have moved on and now there are a variety of materials available to help training and handling our canines. 

One of those progressions is the introduction of biothane into the canine world. 

Weather resistance

Biothane doesn’t absorb water.
Rain, mud, snow—doesn’t matter. It stays the same weight and doesn’t become heavy or waterlogged like nylon.

Easy to clean

You can literally hose it off and it’s clean.

Durability and longevity

Biothane is extremely tough. It resists abrasion, doesn’t fray like nylon, and won’t rot like leather.

Reduced tangling and drag

Biothane tends to glide over vegetation rather than snag into it.

Low maintenance

No conditioning (like leather), no drying protocols (like nylon).

Of course, you get what you pay for and cheaper versions can crack and snap. So invest wisely. 

Temperature Reading Microchip

Checking your canines temperature before, during and after training and work should be a part of your Standard Operating procedure. 

A high temperature before you start training or work, can be a good indicator of illness such as an infection, meaning you should not be working your canine. 

It is just as important to check the temperature during and after training and work to ensure heat stress is not an issue. Canines, especially active ones, can suffer heat related injuries even on days we may think are cool. Humidity, activity, canine age, terrain, work duration can all influence a canine's body temperature. 

The easiest way I find to monitor temperature without having to stop the canine for too long and not stress it by being invasive with a thermometer is to use a temperature microchip. This is a good indication of the canine's temperature and while not 100% accurate (it is teh core temperature that is of concern) it is a good source of information of the canines running temp. 

I use the HomeAgain chip and reader. Which unfortunately has recently risen in price by $10 so I assume as its an imported (to USA) product. HERE

This paper is the follow on research from the "Innovation below the surface: development of a canine underwater search training device for submerged scent detection" paper I highlighted in last months The Chiron Briefing. 

Assessing the Capabilities of Oil Detection Canines to Detect Submerged Weathered Oils in a Boreal Lake discusses the results of an underwater target (oil) detection study with Chiron K9. 

The results of the study are extremely encouraging both for the future of underwater detection of oil by canines but also the Canine Underwater Search Training Device I developed. 

Published paper HERE

Force Free Gundog Training - Precision and Progression

I’ve just finished reading Force-Free Gundog Training: Precision and Progression by Jo Laurens, and it’s an excellent training resource. If you train off leash detection and want to progress your skills and polish your canine this is the book for you. 

While its aimed at gundogs a lot of the skill, such as whistle stop and directionals, are transferable between disciplines. 

What I like is the structure. Like my own workbooks Jo uses a clear, progressive system. Jo has taken what can often be overcomplicated tasks and broken them down into something that is both understandable and practical without losing quality.

I really like Jo’s methodology. It’s built on clarity, precision, and progression—three things that are often talked about but rarely executed well in training plans. The way she layers behaviors and builds reliability without force shows a strong understanding of both learning theory and real-world application.

Overall, I really like Jo’s work. This is another book that is well thought out, practical, and clearly built on experience rather than theory.

Definitely worth a read.

Looking to advance your skills in detection dog training and handling? Chiron K9 provides tailored mentoring (virtual and in-person), practical workshops, and expert conference presentations worldwide. Whether you’re seeking one-on-one guidance or group learning opportunities, our programs are designed to help you grow with evidence-based practices and real-world experience.

Thank you for reading this issue of The Chiron Briefing. If you enjoyed it, feel free to share it, forward it, or send me suggestions for future topics. Until next month—train well and take care.

Paul Bunker & the Chiron K9 team