The Police K9 Training Podcast with Jeff Meyer

Host Jeff Meyer welcomes trainer Eric Stambrough for a focused Q&A episode in his Police K9 Training Podcast series. After a summer break Jeff is launching shorter question-and-answer shows; this episode addresses a common field problem: how to "reset" police dogs that have been trained for decades with overly high e‑collar stimulation and now react with stress, vocalization, leash‑targeting or inconsistent drive.
Jeff and Eric walk through practical, step‑by‑step methods to rebuild control and trust using the e‑collar properly. Key techniques discussed include starting work on leash, using negative reinforcement (pressure on/pressure off) at very low levels, short, repeated reps (two short sessions of ~10 reps), layering the collar over known behaviors (heal/come), and rewarding with food or praise.
Eric describes a practical progression: initial trust‑building with low stim and leash guidance, one or two days of focused negative reinforcement, then transition to brief taps or tone as a consequence while always returning stimulation to the lowest effective level. Jeff emphasizes avoiding collar dependence and training the dog to perform reliably without constant stimulation. Both trainers stress that numbers are situational — use what the dog needs in that environment and always come back down once control is achieved.
 
To contact Jeff Meyer, email him at: JeffMeyer1@outlook.com
To see more about Jeff and the classes that are offered go to: www.Policek9Training.net  
 
Thanks to this shows sponsors:
 
 
AceK9.com
______________________________________________________________________________
KATS K9 Record Keeping  www.katsplatinum.com
______________________________________________________________________________
 
Ray Allen K9      https://www.rayallen.com/ 
____________________________________________________________________________
The Next Level K9    https://www.thenextlevelk9.com/ 
 
 
_____________________________________________________________________________
For information about the Colorado K9 Conference https://coloradok9conference.com/ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Host Jeff Meyer sits down with longtime K9 instructor Gary Haddon for an in-depth episode on detector-dog operations, training philosophy, and real-world deployment. The conversation focuses on obedience to odor: how to bring the dog to the hunt, not the toy, and shape dogs to ignore visual and food distractions while staying laser-focused on scent. Gary and Jeff compare reward strategies (primary rewards vs. markers), building distance, leash-counter techniques, proofing with distractors, and practical ways to teach dogs to re-engage on source odor versus non-productive odors.
 
 
To contact Jeff Meyer, email him at: JeffMeyer1@outlook.com
To see more about Jeff and the classes that are offered go to: www.Policek9Training.net  
 
Thanks to this shows sponsors:
 
 
AceK9.com
______________________________________________________________________________
KATS K9 Record Keeping  www.katsplatinum.com
______________________________________________________________________________
 
Ray Allen K9      https://www.rayallen.com/ 
____________________________________________________________________________
The Next Level K9    https://www.thenextlevelk9.com/ 
 
 
_____________________________________________________________________________
For information about the Colorado K9 Conference https://coloradok9conference.com/ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

In this episode Jeff Meyer is joined by Bill Lewis to walk through the Rosenbaum (San Jose) K-9 case and the legal and practical lessons that followed. The conversation covers the appellate denial of qualified immunity in 2024, why that decision drew national attention.
To listen to the first episode about this case scroll back to October 4, 2024, for the episode titled "Shocking Ruling on K9 Case"
 
To contact Jeff Meyer, email him at: JeffMeyer1@outlook.com
To see more about Jeff and the classes that are offered go to: www.Policek9Training.net  
 
Thanks to this shows sponsors:
 
 
AceK9.com
______________________________________________________________________________
KATS K9 Record Keeping  www.katsplatinum.com
______________________________________________________________________________
 
Ray Allen K9      https://www.rayallen.com/ 
____________________________________________________________________________
The Next Level K9    https://www.thenextlevelk9.com/ 
 
 
_____________________________________________________________________________
For information about the Colorado K9 Conference https://coloradok9conference.com/ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join host Jeff Meyer and special guest Eric Stambro for a deep-dive into contemporary detection dog training. In this episode they unpack the concept of "pay on a sniff," marker training vs. direct reward systems, how to reinvigorate and shape reliable alerts, and practical tactics for vehicles, buildings, and large impound searches. 
Topics covered include: what paying on a sniff means and why it emphasizes odor value over formal final responses; direct vs. indirect reward systems and how both can be used; timing and use of verbal markers and squeaky toys as bridges to build dopamine-driven search motivation; intermittent and variable rewards; and specific approaches for fixing bookmarking, handler-influence, and false-alert problems.
Practical, street-tested examples and tips are discussed throughout: using blanks and unknown hide counts to build reliability on negatives; positioning odors in the middle of vehicles to prevent dogs from racing around cars; removing handler influence by having dogs work out of sight; charging a verbal marker and increasing sniff duration before teaching a final; and how to structure training to prevent performance drop-offs from the training lot to real deployments.
 
To contact Jeff Meyer, email him at: JeffMeyer1@outlook.com
To see more about Jeff and the classes that are offered go to: www.Policek9Training.net  
 
Thanks to this shows sponsors:
 
 
AceK9.com
______________________________________________________________________________
KATS K9 Record Keeping  www.katsplatinum.com
______________________________________________________________________________
 
Ray Allen K9      https://www.rayallen.com/ 
____________________________________________________________________________
The Next Level K9    https://www.thenextlevelk9.com/ 
 
 
_____________________________________________________________________________
For information about the Colorado K9 Conference https://coloradok9conference.com/ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Host Jeff Meyer sits down with guest Michael Nesbeth to preview Nesbeth’s keynote and new class “From Puppy to Police Dog” at the Colorado Canine Conference. The conversation weaves practical training philosophy with real-world examples drawn from decades of working with police and detection dogs, and highlights what handlers can apply whether they raise puppies or work with adult imports.
 
To contact Jeff Meyer, email him at: JeffMeyer1@outlook.com
To see more about Jeff and the classes that are offered go to: www.Policek9Training.net  
 
Thanks to this shows sponsors:
 
 
AceK9.com
______________________________________________________________________________
KATS K9 Record Keeping  www.katsplatinum.com
______________________________________________________________________________
 
Ray Allen K9      https://www.rayallen.com/ 
____________________________________________________________________________
The Next Level K9    https://www.thenextlevelk9.com/ 
 
 
_____________________________________________________________________________
For information about the Colorado K9 Conference https://coloradok9conference.com/ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Host Jeff Meyer welcomes Dr. Tiffany Wettin — a veterinarian specializing in equine and small-animal chiropractic, acupuncture, and alternative therapies — to discuss how pain can masquerade as
Practical takeaways include adding a pain/health check to the handler’s toolbox before moving straight to additional training, building a preventive relationship with a qualified chiro/acupuncture vet, and recognizing early signs so adjustments can prevent career‑ending compensations. The episode closes with sponsor mentions (AceK9 heat alarms and CATS canine activity tracking software) and encouragement for handlers to broaden their approach when a reliably trained dog suddenly changes behavior.
 
 
To contact Jeff Meyer, email him at: JeffMeyer1@outlook.com
To see more about Jeff and the classes that are offered go to: www.Policek9Training.net  
 
Thanks to this shows sponsors:
 
 
AceK9.com
______________________________________________________________________________
KATS K9 Record Keeping  www.katsplatinum.com
______________________________________________________________________________
 
Ray Allen K9      https://www.rayallen.com/ 
____________________________________________________________________________
The Next Level K9    https://www.thenextlevelk9.com/ 
 
 
_____________________________________________________________________________
For information about the Colorado K9 Conference https://coloradok9conference.com/ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Host Jeff Meyer returns to discuss common training mistakes he sees in police canine programs and how those mistakes lead to avoidable bites and liability.
 
To contact Jeff Meyer, email him at: JeffMeyer1@outlook.com
To see more about Jeff and the classes that are offered go to: www.Policek9Training.net  
 
Thanks to this shows sponsors:
 
 
AceK9.com
______________________________________________________________________________
KATS K9 Record Keeping  www.katsplatinum.com
______________________________________________________________________________
 
Ray Allen K9      https://www.rayallen.com/ 
____________________________________________________________________________
The Next Level K9    https://www.thenextlevelk9.com/ 
 
 
_____________________________________________________________________________
For information about the Colorado K9 Conference https://coloradok9conference.com/ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Host Jeff Meyer sits down with legal expert Mike Kmiecik of Sheepdog Guardian for a focused legal update for patrol K9 handlers. Over the course of the episode they unpack recent case law, discuss practical training and deployment habits, and share operational tips meant to reduce risk to officers, bystanders, and suspects while improving search effectiveness.
The conversation centers on the long-standing duty to give a clear K9 warning and a meaningful opportunity to peacefully surrender, tracing the doctrine from Kua v. City of Minnetonka through more recent Eighth Circuit decisions (including Adams v. City of Cedar Rapids and the February Cameron decision). Mike and Jeff explain how courts treat the warning requirement, when exceptions may be justified, and why courts increasingly expect officers to articulate on the record why a warning would have increased risk if they choose to forego it.
Practical takeaways for handlers include: use amplified PA announcements when feasible; re-announce when changing floors or crossing barriers; allow time for surrender; avoid turning warnings into a rote signal to immediately release the dog; let the dog acclimate so you get a better search; and consider community alerts to protect civilians. They also stress documenting confirmation of announcements—bodycams, perimeter officers on the radio, and supervisor notes—to shut down later disputes about whether warnings were heard.
Mike and Jeff dig into report-writing and supervision: write reports for skeptical reviewers (not just fellow officers), have supervisors trained in canine standards review reports, and consider delaying final high‑level use‑of‑force reports until memory consolidation (several sleep cycles) to improve accuracy. They also discuss how poor articulation of decisions in reports has led to avoidable litigation and how a few extra minutes of clear explanation can prevent long legal fights.
 
To contact Jeff Meyer, email him at: JeffMeyer1@outlook.com
To see more about Jeff and the classes that are offered go to: www.Policek9Training.net  
 
Thanks to this shows sponsors:
 
 
AceK9.com
______________________________________________________________________________
KATS K9 Record Keeping  www.katsplatinum.com
______________________________________________________________________________
 
Ray Allen K9      https://www.rayallen.com/ 
____________________________________________________________________________
The Next Level K9    https://www.thenextlevelk9.com/ 
 
 
_____________________________________________________________________________
For information about the Colorado K9 Conference https://coloradok9conference.com/