This podcast is all about Detection Dogs we talking training, working the dog in the real world, starting a new dog or have an experienced dog, this show is for you. Calling all Detection dogs, Sniffer Dogs, those who compete in Nosework / Scentwork sports. If you work a detection dog that sniffs out bombs, drugs, guns, cell phones, electronic devices or anything else this podcast is for you
This podcast is all about Detection Dogs we talking training, working the dog in the real world, starting a new dog or have an experienced dog, this show is for you. Calling all Detection dogs, Sniffer Dogs, those who compete in Nosework / Scentwork sports. If you work a detection dog that sniffs out bombs, drugs, guns, cell phones, electronic devices or anything else this podcast is for you
In this episode of K9’s Talking Scents, Cameron Ford welcomes back Tim Houweling to share lessons learned from his recent Texas flood deployment — a 21-day operation that tested handlers, dogs, and entire teams across 120 miles of devastation.
Tim walks us through:
🐕🦺 The realities of long deployments in extreme heat and humidity
💡 Lessons on conditioning, acclimatization, and handler fitness
⚖️ The debate over rewarding dogs during real deployments
📋 Why blanks and negative searches matter just as much as finds
🌊 The unique challenges of water, mud, and wide-area flood searches
This episode dives deep into how handlers adapt, how dogs contextualize environments, and what it really means to trust your K9 when lives are on the line.
🔗 Learn More and Support:
👉 HD Search Dog Fund (Upcoming Disaster Dog Training)
👉 The S.I.R.E.N. Project (First Responder Mental Health)
💼 Sponsors:
🚨 Become a Member:
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro & Why Tim Returns
01:20 – Texas Flood Deployment Overview
03:30 – First Responders & Task Force Activation
05:45 – Mission Ready Packages & Team Makeup
08:15 – Challenges of 21-Day Deployments
12:00 – Heat, Acclimatization & K9 Conditioning
17:20 – Trusting Your Dog in Real Searches
21:45 – The Debate: Rewarding in Real Deployments
28:00 – Reading Dogs Under Stress & Context Cues
34:00 – Why Blanks & Negative Searches Matter
40:30 – Real-World vs Training Environments
45:00 – Handler Fitness & Long-Term Readiness
50:00 – Takeaways & Lessons for K9 Handlers
55:00 – Closing Thoughts & Resources