King & Co Detection

14/12/2024

Walkies for Alfie 🐾

As a detection newbie still in training, Alfie often gets left behind at home when we complete our morning surveys. Even though I'm pretty tired on our return (thanks 4am starts and 10+km hikes), young Alfred still needs his own stimulation.

Even when getting a dog for a job, it's important to think about how you'll satisfy their physical and mental needs when they're not working. Dogs aren't robots that you can switch off when they're not actively on the job. Will their type of energy suit your home life, not just your work life?

I like field labradors because they love a play, a sniff, a solid morning of work. But they also love a cuddle and a good nap. And as someone running her own business alone, having down time is really vital for me.

So this mornings enrichment for Alfie was a nice sniffy walk, some water retrieves at the river, followed by a snuggle on the couch 🥰

03/12/2024

Imagine this, but all over a dog.

It's certainly that time of year again when the grass seeds dry up and attach themselves onto everything and everyone. They can bury themselves into fur and between tiny crevices, often becoming well hidden.

We spend a long time after the days surveys checking the dogs from head to toe (and between every toe!).

While grass seeds can be found anywhere, the most common places we find them are the chest, between and under the toes and most especially between the hock joint and the paw pad on the back foot -the only way to remove them here is by rubbing a good brush up and down this area.

Working on handling skills with your dogs to allow all sorts of grooming, poking and prodding is essential for a conservation dog team.

28/10/2024

We have just finished our first wind farm detectability trials and are very pleased to announce a 100% detection rate!

The purpose of these trials is to test the efficacy of the dog team in finding their targets (bird and bat carcasses) across a range of varying ground conditions.

It is great to have confirmation that I am doing all the right things as a trainer and handler 😊

So proud of the dogs!

📷: Mallory Vistnes

22/10/2024

Let's talk mental health.

I am working in my dream career 🎉🍾🙌
But that doesn't mean it's always easy and fun.

I love my job 😍❤️‍🔥🥰
But that doesn't mean I'm always cheerful and overjoyed at work.

I get to spend all my time with my best friends 👯‍♀️🐶😄
But that doesn't mean we always get on.

Yes, being a conservation dog trainer and handler, and running my own business is amazing. I wouldn't change it for anything else. But it's not always rainbows and butterflies. It can be physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting.

We are expected to feel constantly happy and positive and grateful for having such an incredible job. And it can be very disheartening when inevitably this isn't the case.

This intense pressure to be happy all the time is called 'toxic positivity'. Of course, trying to be positive in general is a great strategy. But when it turns excessive and leads to avoidance of any negative emotion, it actually robs us of healthy emotional expressions and becomes harmful.

Sometimes you wake up and you don't feel like going to work. Sometimes you're tired because you've been getting up hours before dawn for days, weeks, months, and then getting rained on and scratched from bush bashing and your dog keeps stopping to eat poo and it's ok to feel a little frustrated and angry and sad. It doesn't mean you don't love your job or are not grateful enough for what you have. It just means life is happening and sometimes it sucks.

"Being happy is a fluid thing. Some days we are going to be happy and some days we won't. And it's those days we don't that help us really appreciate the days we do. It's hard to appreciate happiness if it's just a constant."
-Professor Brock Bastian, Social Psychologist at the University of Melbourne.

Be kind to yourself and let yourself feel. All of your emotions deserve acknowledgement and validation.

If this resonates with you, below are a couple of podcast episodes that really made me feel seen and may help you too.

"When Your Dogs Are Your Coworkers - And Work Is Hard" by K9 Conservationists.

"Toxic positivity - when happiness becomes harmful" by All In The Mind.

25/09/2024

Goodness gracious.

The nature of conservation dog work means we are often hit with unexpected surprises. We plan and prepare for lots of possible scenarios, but there is so much that we can't control.

The past few weeks have been particularly tough with one thing after another sent our way. Poor Marie has been in the middle of it all. But she hasn't let anything dampen her motivation!

I am so proud (and honestly in awe) of her resilience. I hope that one day I can face challenges with the same grace that she can.

In the mean time, I should probably keep working on my "surprised face"... 😂

📷:

16/09/2024

Happy 1st Birthday Alfie!!!

I feel so lucky to have this cheeky little butt in my life. He can make me laugh no matter my mood, motivates me with his very (very!) persistent determination and shares his whole heart every day.

He is already living up to his pedigree name: "Alfred The Great".

26/08/2024

Happy International Dog Day from a superstar in the making! 🌟

While Alfie is still only at the beginning of his training, he has started joining the team for half surveys.

And this has already proved beneficial after he found a feather spot by himself today.

So proud of my little man and very excited for his future 🤩

29/07/2024

New skill acquired: Tour Guide.

Over the past few weeks, Kingston has hunted truffles with an audience. This was a new experience for him, and he surprised me by taking it all in his stride.

Thank you to for having us. It was fantastic to see that King works so well around a crowd, and we loved learning more about how truffles are farmed.

27/07/2024

The Goof

Alfie is certainly growing into himself both physically and psychologically.

He's full of life, cheeky and a happy go lucky lad. He's the class clown for sure. And this photo captures him perfectly.

I love my silly little butt ❤️

📷: Tiffany Chapple

20/06/2024

Enjoying the view after a job well done

10/06/2024

🙊

04/05/2024

Young Alfred is growing into a little man!

12/04/2024

You know your dog best. If you think there is something wrong, don't be afraid to push for help, to get a second opinion, to go somewhere else.

This is what a dog in a lot of pain looks like.

This is what a dog with a foreign body in her intestines looks like.

Just because a dog can brighten up when doing things they love or they are excited at the vets does not mean they are not in pain.

This is a picture of Nettle a year ago, after not eating for days, being really quiet and not herself.
She still run and retrieved toys and I was told she is “too full of beans” to be really unwell.

Please do advocate for your dog if you think something is wrong and do investigate if you have a suspicion they are in pain.

05/04/2024

You can now vote for me in the Young Achiever Awards People's Choice! 🤩
https://awardsaustralia.app.do/2024-7news-young-achiever-awards-nswact-people-s-choice

🌟 Rachel Charles 🌟

Awards Australia Career Achievement Award

Rachel Charles of Yass Valley is propelling conservation efforts forward. Rachel founded King & Co Detection, a groundbreaking endeavour, to harness the power of detection dogs. Using this innovative and non-invasive approach, she safeguards endangered species and their ecosystems. Her journey from animal shelters to ecological consultancy showcases resilience and entrepreneurial spirit. She mentors aspiring conservationists, instilling values of compassion and integrity. Rachel also empowers her community by volunteering with rescue groups and shaping industry guidelines for canine welfare. She is a member of the ‘Australasian Conservation Dog Network’ Canine Welfare Group, which provides specific guidance for conservation dogs.

🗳️ Vote here: https://awardsaustralia.app.do/2024-7news-young-achiever-awards-nswact-people-s-choice

02/04/2024

Kingston didn't believe me at first that I wanted him to search with a bag on his head 😂

Thanks to the OutFox Field Guard, we can survey in areas with grass seeds and baits without stress of another expensive vet visit.

Shout out to for shipping in less than 1 hour from order placement. Absolute legends.

(Not a paid sponsorship, just sharing an awesome piece of equipment)

20/03/2024

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY MR KING!

My superstar, my sweet baby angel, my best friend. Kingston has been with me from the very start of this journey. King & Co literally wouldn't have been established without him.

He enjoyed an early morning wind farm survey, a nap on the couch (he likes being big spoon), and a very special lunch: apple and banana pancakes topped with pear and berry sauce, strawberries and sardines 😋

15/03/2024

Do you think Marie knows it's not her turn next...? 🤔

While it isn't always easy working with dogs, they always make me laugh and I wouldn't trade them for anything.

I love that they are so expressive, both in their faces and actions. Who's ever heard their dog huff and sigh after you tell them it's too early for dinner?

They've got emotions and wants and needs. They are conscious beings capable of so much understanding. And I am grateful that I get to see this every day... even if it is through Marie scowling at me 😅

11/03/2024

6 weeks vs 25 weeks

Alfie with his sister, Gen.