Simon Prins ACT

09/10/2025

Our brand-new odor cases are here! From mini to max, each case is waterproof, airtight, and built tough to protect your training materials wherever you go. Available in different sizes and options, you can even choose which products go inside your case. Compact, professional, and made for detection trainers who want reliable gear. Which setup fits your training best? Check www.detectiondogshop.com for more information!

14/09/2025

To all early adopters and influencers in the detection dog world:
Trainers, here’s a tough question for you:

Do you want to train your detection dog on the odor of a Kong, unstable, full of countless VOC’s, and so loud it can easily confuse your dog?

Or do you prefer to work with a stable, scientifically proven training odor like NOTA, designed for clarity, reproducibility, and to get the very best out of your dog?

Or… would you go straight to the real operational target odor with Getxent, giving your dog a direct imprint on the exact odor it will encounter in the field?

The choice you make determines not only what your dog learns, but also how reliable your results will be in real operations.
What would you choose for your training program? Find more information in our blogs on www.detectiondogshop.com

13/09/2025

Hoe start de opleiding van een detectie hond?

K9 professionals gebruiken bij de start van de training Getxent en/of NOTA. Zij blijven weg pseudo geuren of oefen geuren als Kong en tennisballen om imprint-, en latere operationele problemen te voorkomen.

Wat is nu het verschil tussen Getxent en Nota?
Met Getxent werk je altijd met echte geuren die langdurig en constant worden afgegeven. Geen pseudogeuren die te veel afwijken, maar realistische bronnen waar honden echt op leren.

NOTA daarentegen is een wetenschappelijk onderbouwde trainingsgeur die nergens in de echte wereld voorkomt. Daarmee kun je een hond tot in perfectie trainen én objectief meten of hij gezond en betrouwbaar werkt. Bovendien kun je NOTA gebruiken op plekken waar echte stoffen verboden zijn, zoals luchthavens of defensieterreinen.

Samen geven Getxent en NOTA ons de mogelijkheid om honden veilig, precies en toekomstgericht op te leiden. En in tegenstelling tot Kong met vele VOC’s die bekend staat als een luide geur is de dampspanning van Getxent en NOTA veel,lager zodat je detectiehond heel nauwkeurig leert zoeken. Hoe gebruik jij Getxent of NOTA in je training? Of heb je er vragen over? Neem contact met ons op of bekijk onze blogs https://detectiondogshop.com/nl/pages/nl-info

12/09/2025

My recent post about the DOI method created a strong response in the detection dog community. Reading through your comments, I was reminded of something important:

There are still trainers who think critically, ask questions, and dare to go beyond mainstream methods. That deserves recognition.

Popular approaches like the Kong method, dopamine box, odor boxes, metal tubes, or odor pays all share the same challenge:
• They take a lot of time
• They can confuse new handlers and dogs
• They don’t always provide clarity

But in detection dog training, clarity is everything. You get what you reinforce.

From the very beginning, ask yourself:
• What is my end goal?
• In what context will this dog operate?
• Do I understand overshadowing, v***r pressure, and odor recognition?
• Can I calibrate my dog?
• Am I avoiding shortcuts and subtle handler cues?

Key principles when imprinting your detection dog:
• Stay away from pseudo odors or substances used in the operational field
• Choose a clear target odor and a method that makes sense for both dog and handler
• Gather and analyze your training data
• Build so much confidence that both dog and handler can work double-blind

If you want to challenge mainstream beliefs (often based on tradition, not science), read more here:
Detection Dog Blog

Due to medical reasons, I am not teaching hands-on workshops at the moment. I plan to restart in 2026. Until then, you can learn more in my online course: Direct Odor Imprint Online Course

Keep questioning. Keep learning. Keep innovating. Keep pushing.

12/09/2025

My recent post about the Direct Odor Imprint (DOI) method created quite an impact in the detection dog community. Reading through the comments and requests for more information, I am reminded of something important:

There are still trainers out there who think critically, ask questions, and dare to explore beyond the mainstream ideas. That deserves praise.

Many well-known methods, whether it’s the Kong method, dopamine box, metal tubes, odor pays or odor boxes all share the same challenge: they take a lot of time, can confuse new handlers, dogs and don’t always provide clarity.

In dog training, clarity is everything, it's all about criteria. You get what you reinforce. From the very beginning, you need to know:
- What is your end goal?
- In what context and environment will you operate?
- Understand topics as overshadowing, v***r pressure, odor recognition tests, target odors, training odors and distractions.
- Be able to calibrate your detection dog.
- be aware of Clever Hans, your subtle cues ans context cues.
- Stay away from short cuts, do the hard and necessary work!

If you want to dive deeper and challenge some mainstream training beliefs (that are often based on tradition instead of proof), I invite you to read my blogs here: https://detectiondogshop.com/nl/blogs/news

When you start imprinting your detection dog:
- Stay away from pseudo odors or substances you might encounter operationally.
- Choose a clear target odor and a training method that makes sense to both dog and handler.
- Gather and analyze your training data.
- Build so much confidence in your dog, yourself and your student that they are ready to work double-blind.

Due to medical reasons, I’m not giving hands-on workshops right now, but I plan to restart them in 2026. Until then, you can start exploring the DOI method online and bring your training to the next level. Read my blogs, check the online courses for details. Keep questioning. Keep learning. Keep innovating. Keep pushing!

For those eager to learn more, my Direct Odor Imprint online course is available here: https://detectiondogshop.com/nl/collections/act-online-courses

Unlock your dog’s full potential with ACT Online Courses — designed for trainers who want to take their skills to the next level. Whether you’re just starting out or already an experienced professional, our courses offer practical, science-based methods that truly make a difference. Dive into ...

08/09/2025

Are you ready for an update?
We keep pushing the limits of detection dog training!

By combining Getxent tubes with NOTA as odor, we calibrate our dogs to precise, scientific standards. To ensure absolute clarity in training criteria, we use the ACT! Smart Rings, allowing us to reinforce at exactly the right moment and to run truly double-blind sessions, even in the middle of heavy distractions. Do you want to know more? Check detectiondogshop.com for the latest news or contact us directly.

07/09/2025

Clever Hans is still alive in K9 training. Every week I see trainers “helping” their dogs by:
- Walking their own tracks
- Tossing a Kong the moment the dog alerts
- Knowing exactly where the odor is hidden

It looks successful. But it’s an illusion. Without double blind training, your dog learns to read YOU, not the track, not the odor.

That’s why so many tracking and detection dogs fail when it’s double blind , and why fragile dog-handler teams break when it matters most.

I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. And I know the way out. Check my latest blog on detectiondogshop.com / blogs

04/09/2025

We’ve expanded and improved our Getxent product range to give you more choice, more flexibility, and even better results. From now on, you’ll find a wider selection of odors available – including Euro currency – and for the first time ever, the unique Getxent NARCOKIT.

The NARCOKIT is a compact case containing 8 impregnated Getxent tubes in separate vials: 2× co***ne, 2× ma*****na, 2× fentanyl, and 2× methamphetamine. Each tube provides around 150 hours of training time, safe for both dogs and humans, and no license required.

And there’s more good news: selected Getxent products are now available from our ready-to-ship stock, meaning 24-hour delivery straight from our facility in Europe. Fast, safe, and fresh.
- More odors, including Euro
- The new Getxent NARCOKIT
- 24-hour shipping option
- Europe's most competitive price
Visit our webshop today and discover the new Getxent range – innovation designed to make your detection dog training easier, safer, and more effective. www.detectiondogshop.com

29/08/2025

As the official dealer of CATO Boards in Europe, I receive many great questions and feedback from trainers about how to use them most effectively. I started importing CATO Boards after seeing with my own eyes how powerful they are in training.
I use them in many different ways: for obedience, detection work, radio-controlled guidance training, laser training, hunting training, as a metal anchor – and more.

This week I’d like to share a beautiful example from Sander Dijksma, showing how he uses free shaping to teach a young dog to go to a CATO Board. I really admire Sander’s skills – his patience, timing, and sharp observation make this a wonderful example of shaping in action. There are many ways to implement CATO Boards in your training. Here you see shaping – but what method do you prefer, and why? I’d love to hear your experiences! Ready to start? Get your own CATO Board in my online shop: www.detectiondogshop.com

28/08/2025

We often get so caught up in the rush of daily life that we forget to pause and enjoy moments of true inner peace. Give yourself permission to slow down. Take time to relax, breathe, and refocus on what truly matters. Time is precious, and so are your physical and mental well-being.

21/08/2025

When I was trained as a young K9 instructor, senior trainers often told me: “If things go wrong on Monday, it’s because you didn’t train in the weekend.” I didn’t argue back then, but my experience has always been different.

Recently, I wasn’t able to train my dog for five months due to illness and long stays in the hospital. Last week I managed my first short walk with her, and today I saved all my energy for one special thing: a blind search. Someone else had hidden NOTA.

Even after five months without detection games or exposure to NOTA, she worked with focus, showed fast passive alerts, and full energy. For me, the lesson is clear: dogs don’t need daily training. They need a good relationship, enrichment and they need good, solid training that lasts over time. And NOTA provides exactly the kind of challenge I need as a trainer.

After 30 minutes working together I was completely exhausted and needed to rest. She curled up and slept on top of me.

So here’s my question to you:
- Do detection dogs really need training every day?
- Or is strong conditioning enough to carry them through breaks in training? I would like to hear your thoughts.

20/08/2025

A unique course for police and military K9 professionals !

When I started my career in special forces, I already had trained many dogs. But when Bob and Marian Bailey asked me to train chickens, I was completely out of my comfort zone.

At first, I laughed. Then, I felt scared—because deep down I knew I didn’t have enough knowledge about animal training. Chickens are very different from dogs, but the lessons I learned from them changed everything.

During this period, I discovered what real training means: a combination of theory and practice, gather and analyse data, making protocols and follow science. Besides, it’s not enough to understand the theory—you also need to master the mechanics and put it into action.

For police and military K9 professionals, this is a unique opportunity: step out of your comfort zone and experience the same eye-opening training that transformed my perspective 30 years ago.

Bob and Kirsten will guide you through these steps, challenge your assumptions, and help you see animal training from a completely new angle. For more information check out

https://www.kirstenschickenworkshops.com/campaigns/view-campaign/BA0SbZzAIKqxHbP3XGOTbGFU5ScdZ8eksbECqm6_m8S9LoVn9en8GuLNu9zP8J0kF1PMYAA1OPpxh5YYaxtqrHqT2VPv4rEw