K9 Bellator Pty Ltd

02/11/2026

A little shoutout to Halo and Mies.

Halo is the most serious but sweetest girl, with the energy of a working cocker spaniel. And Mies seems to think she is the same size as Halo and has the same temperament. I don’t think anyone has told her she’s a little spaniel 😂

Oh sorry, according to the public, she’s a little wiener dog 😂🌭

01/11/2026

How long does it take to train a detection dog?

I get asked this a lot, and I always find it a difficult question to answer. I’m passionate about this work, so what starts as a simple question usually turns into a much longer conversation.

There is so much more to consider than whether a dog can find an odour. What work are we preparing the dog for? Who will be handling them? And how does that particular dog develop through the training?

So I decided to write about it, what goes into the training, the different stages, and why the answer depends on the dog in front of us.

It's the question I get asked most often, and the honest answer starts with a list of questions back. Here's what really shapes how long it takes to train a detection dog.

26/10/2026

Most people know detection dogs find explosives and drugs. Fewer know they’re also helping stop ivory, rhino horn, pangolin scales and live reptiles from being smuggled across borders, from Nairobi airport to customs posts in China and India.

It’s detection dogs doing something good for a much bigger cause. Of course, the work comes with a lot of complexity, and every country faces its own challenges.

In 2023 I did a six-week anti-poaching course in South Africa to see first-hand what this work takes. Six weeks sleeping under a bush, no shampoo, scorpions wandering past my sleeping bag and bats flying into my hair. I learned more in that time than I could have imagined, and it gave me a deep respect for the people who do this every day.

It’s a field I have a real interest in, and I’m lucky to have close friends who’ve worked in it. I put together a short overview.

Detection dogs aren't only finding explosives and drugs. Around the world, they're helping stop wildlife trafficking at airports, ports and borders. Here's what that work looks like, and why it matters to me.

24/10/2026

How involved should the handler be in the search?

Someone recently asked me about a detection dog that missed a hide inside a pallet wrapped in stretch wrap. It made me think about something we don’t talk about enough: the handler being actively involved in the search.

We put a lot of work into teaching our dogs to search independently, giving them space and staying out of their way. I agree with that, especially when you’re building a young dog. But operationally it’s not always that simple.

When I search freight, I keep my dogs close for safety, and I’m often physically part of the search. With stretch-wrapped pallets I might cut openings so there’s air the dog can actually work. In biosecurity, handlers press on luggage to push air out through the seams. With tech dogs, you may need to open a cabinet or drawer so the dog can get access.

When searching houses for mould or termites, you might need to grab your gear and check something in the moment. It’s easy to say “just crate your dog whilst you do that”, but that’s not always possible. You make decisions on the spot and your dog is part of that.

So would we rather not cut a hole in that pallet, and risk the dog missing on a real job because we didn’t want to contaminate the area? Or teach the dog that this is part of the work, and it needs to keep going whilst we complete the search together?

Of course this all depends on capability and context. I’m not saying you start opening and pressing on an unattended bag with your explosive detection dog. Common sense is probably one of the most important things as a handler.

If a dog has only ever searched with the handler hanging back, it’s no surprise when it stops and watches you the moment you start cutting or opening things. That’s what we taught it.

I see this as proofing. Work closer to your dog, move around it, handle objects and change the environment whilst it keeps searching.

I’m not showing the dog where the odour is. I create access, manage the environment and keep us safe. Finding the odour is still the dog’s job.

Independence doesn’t mean the handler has to stand still.

04/10/2026

Different deployment styles ask different things of a detection dog.

Most of our work involves freight screening and venue sweeps, with occasional vehicle searches or work near checkpoints.

But one of the things our dogs can find hardest is simply being visible and remaining on standby. There might only be an occasional unattended bag to search, but that can ask more of the dog in front of us than people realise.

We spend a lot of time developing dogs that are motivated, active and ready to search. We prepare them for long working days. But what happens when the job requires them to stand still, settle or wait for something to happen?

Or switch off, then suddenly switch back on to search one bag?

Honestly, I wouldn’t find it easy either if someone told me to rest, then woke me up to do one task before going back to resting again.

I’ve seen this across different detection capabilities. Not every dog is suited to every deployment style, even when they are very good at finding their target odour.

These are demands our jobs can involve, and they need just as much consideration in training and dog selection as the searching itself.

Over the next three months, you’ll probably see our K9 Bellator dogs out and about quite a bit, especially if you’re heading to events at Sydney Olympic Park.

The girls are getting ready for a busy few months, and this weekend they kicked things off with Noah Kahan ✨

16/09/2026

Recently, five of our handlers and seven of our dogs travelled to Melbourne to support another detection dog company, DDA, as part of the wider security operation surrounding the NFL.

I am incredibly proud of how our team handled this deployment. We worked across day and night shifts, providing coverage around the clock while managing, resting and rotating our dogs throughout some very long days.

It was a high-pressure environment for us as handlers as well. There were long hours, changing requirements and a lot happening around us, while still needing to stay focused on our dogs, make good decisions and be ready to work when required.

One of my biggest takeaways from the experience was seeing just how many people and different layers of security come together behind the scenes for an event of this scale.

We worked alongside some amazing people from completely different backgrounds. Everyone had their own role and responsibility, but ultimately we were all in it together and working towards the same outcome. We made new friends, heard some incredible stories and learnt a lot along the way.

For me, it was also a good reminder of how much we actually ask from our working dogs.

A dog can be confident, environmentally stable and doing really well in training, but that doesn't automatically mean they are ready for an operational environment.

There is a lot they have to learn that has nothing to do with finding odour.

The days can be incredibly long, different crowds, noise, unfamiliar environments, people constantly moving around them and dogs! different routines, waiting around and then suddenly being asked to switch on and work. That experience takes time to build and it is not something we can replicate in training.

And the same goes for the handler. The person on the other end of the lead needs experience too. You have to be able to read your dog, recognise when they need a break, manage them properly and still make good decisions when there is pressure around you.

And amongst our seven dogs was Abba. ❤️

At nine years old, she is slowly getting closer to retirement after many years working beside me. Watching her just take everything in her stride made me pretty proud of her.

She even managed a small appearance in the news story, looking particularly tiny surrounded by all those giant men.

See if you can spot her!

And I can't finish this without mentioning Charlie, the resident Labrador at the Hyatt.

Seven working dogs arriving (from our end) at his hotel and Charlie was an absolute gentleman about the whole situation. 😂

He was an amazing host to our dogs and definitely deserves a little bit of the spotlight himself. ❤️

23/08/2026

Over the last couple of months, we’ve had different dogs with different capabilities come through our training program.

My go-to dogs have always been Cockers, Pointers and Malinois, so it was good to be humbled again by a Labrador and a Springer Spaniel. 😅

This project was something new for me too, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. Both dogs brought something completely different to the table and reminded me again that as a trainer, you have to stay adaptable, problem-solve and sometimes change direction.

From the people who breed and develop these dogs, to those who prepare and train them, educate the handlers and support their progression into the operational field there are a lot of people involved before a working dog lands where they need to be.

Buck and Ivan have now finished their time with us and are moving into the next part of their journey with their handlers.

A lot of credit goes to the people behind the scenes who believed in this project, invested heavily in it and were willing to get something new off the ground. Without that trust and commitment, none of this would have been possible.

If you suspect mould or require the services of Buck or Ivan, head over to Mould Dogs Australia and follow the boys as they move into the operational field.

29/07/2026

The past couple of months we’ve had a few students in our care who will soon be heading back to their organisations.

It’s been a really enjoyable challenge although I think it almost broke my brain at times. 😂

We’ve had the opportunity to develop dogs across four different specialist detection disciplines, with every dog working towards a different operational role and end picture.

We’ve also been working away in the background on a webinar for operational explosive detection handlers about smart and safe searching. We spend a lot of time talking about developing good dogs, but that’s only one part of the picture. Good operational teams need good handlers too.

The quieter part of the year is coming to an end and we’re getting ready for another busy operational season. ✨

28/07/2026

What is the operational end picture?

I think one thing we don't talk about enough in the detection dog world is the operational end picture.

A lot of the focus is on the beginning. Imprinting the dog on odour, getting a solid indication and getting the dog searching. This is all important.

But I sometimes wonder if we become so focused on getting the dog started that we don't spend enough time thinking about the end picture.

What capability is this dog being developed for?
What is expected of this dog operationally?

Because the reality is that not every detection dog has the same role.

Some dogs may only ever search a single unattended bag, while others might screen hundreds of bags in an airport in a single day. Some dogs search people standing in a line-up, while others have to work through moving crowds where people don't stop, don't notice the dog and sometimes accidentally hit them with luggage.

Some dogs are expected to locate a tiny source of odour hidden in a cluttered room. Others are expected to clear an entire stadium. Some dogs work kilometres of bushland looking for an endangered animal, while others are searching for an invasive plant species.

They're all detection dogs, but they're very different jobs.

The way we expect those dogs to search is different too. Sometimes we're looking for a dog that can efficiently cover large open areas and use the wind to its advantage. Other times we want a dog that slows down, works methodically and doesn't miss the smallest detail.

That's why I think the operational end picture matters.

Over the years we've trained dogs that could find odour, searched well and had a solid indication, but simply couldn't cope with the environment they were expected to work in. They weren't poor detection dogs; they just weren't suited to that particular operational role.

At the same time, I remember one of the best German Shorthaired Pointers we ever had back in the Netherlands. He was probably one of the best detection dogs I've worked with, but he wasn't comfortable around random people. In a lot of operational roles, that would have been a deal breaker.

But his operational role was searching the Port of Amsterdam. He wasn't expected to work through crowds or interact with the public. He spent his days searching shipping containers and industrial areas, and he absolutely loved his job.

The dog hadn't changed. The operational picture had.

If you have a good understanding of what you're trying to develop, you can start making training decisions that set the dog up for success. The environments you train in, the experiences you expose the dog to, the reinforcement system you build, and understanding the strengths and limitations of the dog in front of you all become part of that process.

The reality is that most people only ever see the dogs that made it.

They don't see the dogs that were good at the basics but never quite made it into the operational role. Dogs that searched well, recognised odour and had a reliable indication, but simply weren't suited to what the job eventually demanded.

Because the picture is much bigger than teaching a dog to find odour in a controlled training setup.

The real challenge begins when the environment is no longer controlled by us.

So whether you're developing a dog for your own job, a client, or simply starting a young dog without a clear end picture yet, I think it's worth asking these questions from the beginning.

What capability am I training for?
What is expected of this dog operationally?
How many target odours will it eventually need to recognise?
What environments will it need to work in?
And is the dog standing in front of me suited to that role?

You won't always have all the answers straight away, and that's ok. But I think asking these questions early gives you a much better chance of developing a dog that isn't just good at finding odour, but is also suited to the job you're preparing it for.

21/07/2026

Expression of Interest – Detection Dog Scent Carousel

We’re looking to see if there is any interest in another production run of our custom-built scent carousels. Because lately we got a lot of requests!

The scent carousel has become a big part of our own training. Training multiple dogs across different detection disciplines, it allows us to have multiple target odours set up at once and provides a consistent setup for odour recognition, controls and distractors, indication work, odour recognition testing, and general detection training, particularly when training on your own.

The carousels are custom manufactured to a very high standard, so they aren’t inexpensive. If there is enough interest to place a larger order, the cost per unit can be reduced. Same for the detection boxes.

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