Welcome to Forged in Fundamentals, the K9 podcast built for handlers, trainers, and dog enthusiasts who believe that great dogs start with great foundations. Brought to you by Fundamentals First K9 Training, we dig into proven training principles, real-world stories, and expert insight from the field. Whether you’re working patrol, sport, or pet obedience, this show will help you strengthen the bond, sharpen the skill, and master the fundamentals that build better K9s.
Episode 6 - K9 Handler and Trainer Ian Austin of Veritas Kennels
In this episode of Forged In Fundamentals, K9 handler and trainer, Ian Austin of Veritas Kennels and I discuss leash handling skills. We dive into leash related problems in the world of dogs and considerations for pet owners and working K9 handlers. Ian gives us a glimpse into his upcoming course he will be teaching around the country.
23 Feb 2026
Episode 5 - Tracking K9’s with James Stiltner of Kingdom K9
In Episode 5 of Forged in Fundamentals, we sit down with tracking instructor James Stiltner for a deep dive into the art, science, and application of tracking with working K9s.
This episode goes far beyond “just lay a track and hope for the best.” We break down teaching methodologies from foundation to advanced problem-solving, discuss how to build clarity and independence in your dog, and explore the nuances that separate average tracking teams from truly dependable operational assets. From scent theory and track aging to handler influence and troubleshooting contamination issues, this conversation is built for serious trainers and working K9 handlers.
29 Nov 2025
Cameron Ford - Episode 4
In this episode I sit down with Cameron Ford of Ford K9 to discuss developing puppies in detection and enhancing your detection dogs training.
20 Nov 2025
Dr. Daniel Walters - The PetPT - Episode 3
In this episode, I talk with pet physical therapist Dr. Daniel Walters about the benefits of K9 physical therapy, how he got his start in the field, and simple tips you can use to help keep your dog—pet or working K9—healthy, strong, and moving well.
26 Oct 2025
Matt Foster -Kingdom K-9 -Episode 2
In this episode, John Gray and Matt Foster discuss the intricacies of K9 training, focusing on the differences between military and domestic operations, the importance of selecting the right dog, and the role of decoy training. They explore the transition from military to law enforcement K9 work, the significance of networking within the community, and the integration of pet training techniques into working dog training. The conversation highlights the challenges and rewards of training dogs, emphasizing the need for patience and understanding in the process. Additionally, they share insights on upcoming training classes and the importance of community engagement in the K9 training world.
7 Oct 2025
Training Otters in SAR
In this exclusive interview with Michael Hadsell, we dive into how he and his Asian small clawed otter Splash are “making a splash” in the search and rescue world with his live find/humans remain detection trained otter!
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