#120 Learning To Adapt with Jerry Bradshaw

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