The Police K9 Training Podcast with Jeff Meyer

Jeff talks to the founder of Shield 616

On this episode of the Police K9 Training Podcast host Jeff Meyer speaks with Jake Skifsted, founder of the nonprofit Shield 616. Jake shares the origin of the organization after his experiences responding to active shooter events in Colorado Springs and explains how Shield 616 rapidly grew into a nationwide mission to provide life-saving equipment and community support to first responders.
 
Listeners hear specifics about the Colorado K9 Conference in mid-June, including Shield 616’s special event: a Topgolf tournament and dinner on June 16th provided through donations for conference attendees. J
 
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/ 
 
 
 
 
 

How K9 Conditioning and Double-Blind Searches Improve K9 Performance on the street

Host Jeff Meyer sits down with Steve Colburn to explore two practical, field‑proven approaches for improving police K9 teams: a structured treadmill conditioning program and regular double‑blind training days. Expect an in‑depth look at why conditioning matters, how to implement treadmill work safely and effectively, and how double‑blind exercises both test and teach handlers and dogs.
 
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  
To Contact Steve, email him at steve.colburn@cityofloveland.org 
 
Thanks to this shows sponsors:
 
 
AceK9.com
______________________________________________________________________________
KATS K9 Record Keeping  www.katsplatinum.com
______________________________________________________________________________
 
        Online Class Click Here      k-9services.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/ 
 
 
 

Effective Engagements with Howard Young

In this episode host Jeff Meyer welcomes veteran trainer Howard Young back to preview his "Effective Engagement" station at the Colorado K9 Conference and share practical, street-tested canine training advice. Howard describes how he transitions dogs from controlled training into real-world police work using exercises that expose dogs to unusual stimuli without over-relying on bite suits.
 
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
______________________________________________________________________________
 
        Online Class Click Here      k-9services.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/ 
 
 
 

Colorado K9 Conference Instructor Eric Stanbro

Join host Jeff Meyer and guest Eric Stanbro as they preview the Colorado K9 Conference in Colorado Springs (June) and dive into practical, street‑tested K9 training. 
Eric explains his updated "e‑collar without conflict" approach: using the tone as a negative marker, long‑tone recalls versus short‑tone leaves, and the new "tone precursor" (tone → move → release) and "tone sandwich" (tone, stim, tone) techniques to reduce handler redirects and keep dogs focused. He also reviews the "power of twos" (correct the first response, pay the second) to eliminate lingering and cheap shots during bite work.
 
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
______________________________________________________________________________
 
        Online Class Click Here      k-9services.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/ 
 
 
 

From Puppy to Patrol Dog with Mike Nesbeth

In this episode Jeff Meyer welcomes Mike Nesbeth to preview his keynote at the upcoming Colorado K9 Conference. He discusses his long-time passion project breeding and raising Malinois (one to two litters a year), the advantages of raising dogs locally (complete life-history, tailored police-dog preparation), and why North American production differs from large European kennels.
Key training philosophies covered: prioritize horsepower before brakes, avoid making puppies "sticky" to handlers, and build innate curiosity and hunt value early. Mike outlines progressive training stages and ages: early loose food-luring and weight gain, marker/clicker work and shaping targeted behaviors around 8–12 weeks, building duration for hunting and tracking through many reps, and introducing leash/e‑collar pressure later (commonly around one year) applied to pre-shaped, away-from-handler behaviors. He explains why detection and patrol skill development overlap (hide-and-seek and building-search games early) and stresses that detection success often hinges on commitment and hunt duration rather than just early obedience.
 
 
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
______________________________________________________________________________
 
        Online Class Click Here      k-9services.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/ 
 
 
 

Colorado K9 Conference Instructor Jay Crafter on Tracking

Join Jeff Meyer and Jay Crafter for a deep dive into tracking.
Topics covered include: Jay’s path into tracking and conservation; procuring and selecting dogs; handler selection and development; planning realistic training that fits limited resources; real-world operational challenges (armed poaching patrols, dangerous field conditions, language and cultural differences}.
 
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
______________________________________________________________________________
 
        Online Class Click Here      k-9services.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/ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Case Study: Bomb Dog Miss of Real Find Changed Training for This Agency

In this episode Jeff Meyer interviews Gord McGinnis, a veteran K9 trainer from Metro Vancouver, about decades of police canine experience and a pivotal real-world incident that prompted a scientific study on explosive-detection generalization. 
 
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
______________________________________________________________________________
 
        Online Class Click Here      k-9services.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/ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Jeff Interviews Mike Kmiecik on K9 Case Law, Seminars & Expert Work

In this episode host Jeff Meyer sits down with Mike Kmiecik of Sheepdog Guardian for a wide-ranging interview that pulls back the curtain on canine case law research, jurisdiction-specific training, and running a national K9 education business. Mike shares his path from 28 years in law enforcement — nearly 20 years as a working K9 handler — to inheriting and expanding Terry Fleck’s legal research platform and turning it into a practical resource for handlers and attorneys.
The episode weaves in personal perspective: Mike’s early interest in policing, his long career as a handler, the difficulty of balancing family life with the demands of K9 work, and the decision to retire from patrol to pursue training full time. 
 
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
______________________________________________________________________________
 
        Online Class Click Here      k-9services.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/