INNOVATIONS

At ACT!, innovation isn’t a trend. It’s in our DNA.

What you often see today on social media as “modern K9 innovation” was, for us, already operational in the 1990s, developed under extreme pressure, in real missions, where creativity and precision could mean the difference between life and death. Laser-guided detection dogs? Radio-controlled camera dogs? We designed the protocols, built and deployed them in 1996. Hard surface tracking? Protocols with multiple dogs working simultaneously? Dogs implemented in covered operations? That was our daily reality. Detection work using specific trace and tracking odors, robotic combinations, dogs equipped with all sort of sensors, dogs placing electronics? Those elements trace back to our pioneering work in special operations.

Back then, we weren’t following trends, we were creating solutions. We designed the foundations of training systems that are now offered by instructors worldwide. What’s now mainstream was once experimental and operational. And I didn’t do it alone. A huge part of that journey was learning from the best, Bob and Marian Bailey. They helped shape me into a solid behavioral specialist, because this work goes far beyond dog training. It’s about translating operational needs into reliable behavior, under extreme distraction and real-world conditions. It’s about asking better questions, being open to new answers, and constantly evolving.

At ACT!, this drive to innovate has never stopped.

We’ve developed the first canine camera systems, directional radio and laser tools, odor delivery systems (ODDs), and scent mixtures that push the limits of what’s possible. We integrated electronics, sensors, and computer systems into training tools, not to replace the dog, but to understand behavior more precisely and optimize learning. We redesigned training environments with data in mind. We used sensors in scent wheels. We tracked performance and refined protocols. We improved not only what dogs can do, but how we teach trainers and handlers to work with them. Innovation isn’t just about hardware. It’s about mindset, design, strategy, and purpose. That’s why ACT! continues to lead, not just by what we build, but by how we think. I’m proud to see so many of these once-radical ideas now saving lives, solving serious crimes, fighting terrorisme and supporting K9 teams around the world. It’s proof that when you combine science, creativity, and real-world need, you can build systems that last.

So next time you see a laser-guided dog, a orange training cone, a K9 camera system, a hard surface tracking dog or a multi-dog protocol, remember: these aren’t just cool tools, they’re part of a legacy built on experience, courage, and innovation. Stay curious. Stay safe. And enjoy the journey of training.

Discover what’s new in the world of K9 detection training.

There is always something happening at Simon Prins ACT! Stay up to date with our latest innovations, training tools and developments by regularly visiting DetectionDogShop.com. You will also find our blogs there, where we explore new ideas, current discussions, practical experiences and the latest science in detection dog training. Looking for more inspiration? Visit our YouTube channel for training videos, product demonstrations and practical ideas.

You can also join our FREE online Detection Dog Academy Community. We deliberately created this community outside Facebook, Instagram and other traditional social media platforms, so your learning and conversations are not controlled by algorithms. It is an inclusive place for curious trainers and handlers from around the world. Ask questions without being judged, share experiences, challenge ideas and learn from each other. We don’t need to have all the answers individually. Together, we have an incredible amount of knowledge.

The ACT! Result Tracker Methode

Are you prepared for the latest breakthrough in detection training? Get ready to revolutionize your detection work with the all-new ACT! Result Tracker Method ©! This innovative system empowers you to maintain double-blind conditions, even during solo training sessions. Elevate your detection training to unparalleled heights with our specially designed ACT! Result Tracker Method allows you to precisely pinpoint ‘hot’ targets and distractions. But that’s not all – your training data is seamlessly transmitted to your preferred spreadsheet format! Every crucial data point is meticulously logged, enabling you to analyze failures and successes easily. Whether you prefer Numbers (Apple) or Excel (Windows), rest assured we’ve got you covered every step of the way! You will find a handheld scanner in the box, 24 different target stickers, and 24 different distraction stickers! This will give you a very powerful data log about your detection training! When your dog finds a target, scan the code for the immediate result. When your display shows ‘TARGET,’ reinforce it! Displays show ‘Distraction’, then reset! This gives you valuable insights into your training, and now double-blind training is easy! See how Lily Strassberg (USA) training Vaya to find the target between multiple distraction odors!

Protocols and data

Perhaps our most significant and straightforward innovation was collecting data and writing protocols in 1997. After meeting Bob and Marian Bailey, it became clear that only data would give us objective information. “Are you better off now than you were this morning?” Would Bob ask me after every training session? Collecting data was the key to making better protocols!

Collecting and analyzing data, simple but not easy!

Our first protocols dated from 1997. We started to collect training and operational data from which we produced our protocols. It’s exciting for us to see more trainers begin to use protocols, progression plans, and collect data. Nowadays computers are a great help! Want to see how modern data forms look like? Click this link to 3 target data form

SOME INTERESTING EXAMPLES

You will find many of our products in our online shop or will encounter them during our active workshops. Some of these products are only suitable for police or military operations. Many of them are wonderful achievements within general detection training. And a few of them are still classified and not in the open.

K9 camera systems

The first camera system for dog Andor we developed in 1996. It was bulky, heavy but did the job. The equipment was around 6 kilos and these days just a few hundred grams.

Data note books

In the ACT! online shop you will find these specially designed data notebooks! They will help you to gather your data during training. With this data, you can make your training protocols better and see the progress in your training

Keep Going System

The Keep Going System (KGS) was developed to better communicate with dogs during training and operations. We invented the hardware, software and wrote the training protocols

Sensor Data scent wheel

Scent wheels are fantastic to train detection dogs. These scent wheels are equipped with intelligent and sensitive sensors. The computer is analyzing the performance of the dog, and data is sent directly to your iPhone, iPad, or MacBook

Line up formats for ORT's

Odor Recognition Tests (ORT’s) will give objective information about the performance of the detection dog and the handler. We developed different ways to set up ORT’s in an easy way!

We like to help you to develop your ideas

If you want to go fast, go alone – if you want to go far, go together

Hardware development

Over the years, we built our network, we know where to find a quality, and we have a unique team of engineers around us that can help us develop and make what is in your mind.

Software development

Our software engineers are also working with their dogs in many sports disciplines. They understand their software; they understand dogs. Together we are building a new future

And our dogs love to work with all this technology