The Origin Story of Cameron Ford: K9 Training, Scent Detection & the Making of a Modern Handler

This special replay episode of K9’s Talking Scents takes listeners back to one of the most insightful conversations ever recorded about the man behind Ford K9 and Stratos K9 — Cameron Ford. Originally aired on Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel, we’re bringing it to our K9TS audience so you can hear Cameron’s journey in his own words.

With more than 25 years in the detection dog world, Cameron shares:
• How he got started in K9 handling and why scent detection became his life’s work
• The evolution of working-dog training from military deployments to civilian law enforcement
• How science, data, and cognition research shaped the Odor Pays system
• Why modern security demands mission-specific detection dogs
• The misconceptions the public still has about K9 teams
• The real responsibilities of handlers in today’s threat landscape

This episode also touches on timely security concerns — including the increasing importance of detection dogs in preventing real-world threats — and how Cameron’s work continues to influence the future of the K9 profession.

Whether you’re a handler, trainer, supervisor, or someone who simply wants to understand the mind behind Ford K9, this replay offers a rare personal look into Cameron’s history and what drives his passion for the industry.