Few figures have had as lasting an impact on the K9 world as Jerry Bradshaw — founder of Tarheel K9, co-creator of PSA, and host of the Controlled Aggression podcast. In this special episode, Jerry sits down with K9's Talking Scents to reflect on the evolution of dog sports, detection dog methodologies, and the delicate balance between science and experience in modern training.

We go deep into:

The birth and rise of PSA (Protection Sports Association)
Why rigidity in traditional dog sports pushed trainers to innovate
The importance of adaptability, breed diversity, and age inclusivity
Marker training vs direct reward — and why the debate might be overblown
The danger of taking online training out of context
Why failure in training is not only inevitable, but essential

If you’ve ever debated technique, struggled with online misinformation, or wondered how the greats think about training philosophy — this episode is for you.

00:00 - Intro & Meet Jerry Bradshaw
01:05 - The Origin of PSA
08:10 - Evolving Dog Sports & Breeds
14:20 - Why PSA Skipped Detection
18:14 - Changes in Detection Work
28:39 - Science vs Experience
35:40 - Simplifying What Matters
45:07 - Detection Training Methods
55:00 - Social Media & Misinterpretation
59:12 - The Value of In-Person Learning
01:07:03 - Advice for Handlers
01:13:15 - Double Blind & Real-World Readiness
01:17:39 - Collaboration Over Division
01:21:26 - Where to Find Jerry
01:22:55 - Outro

#120 Learning To Adapt with Jerry Bradshaw