31/01/2020
Basic methods to train your dog to detect or to sniff...
DEFINING TASKS....
Defining Tasks Drug detecting dogs need to learn basic on and off-leash obedience, control, and be able to focus on their task in distracting environments.Training this ability takes weeks to months of practice, to establish strong responses to obedience commands and the ability to tune out distractions that are often present in public environments where a drug dog needs to work, like bus terminals, airports and border crossings. Drug dogs are also taught a signal or alert to perform and indicate they have located drugs. This behavior is often taught separately at first, and then associated later with detecting the drug scent. The signal to the dog's handler that the drug scent has been located may be a ‘sit and look’ at the handler, or another behavior that has been taught. Drug-detecting dogs are allowed to investigate an area, usually on-leash, but sometimes off-leash, such as a storage or luggage facility or hub. When the dog locates a drug scent they immediately signal their handler by performing the target behavior, such as sitting and looking at their handler, and are immediately rewarded with a toy and play time. Drug dogs are usually taught to be completely obsessed with their toy and playing with their handler, so they will work hard to detect drug scent for the opportunity to play.
GETTING STARTED....
Dogs that are going to be used for drug detection need to be taught basic obedience commands that can be used in public places. To train a dog to detect drug scents, trainers need to use samples of the drugs. This will require licensing and certification by law enforcement agencies to have access to samples, or trainers can use commercially available substitutes that mimic the smell of various drugs. Most drug detection dogs are taught to detect with the use of a toy that they get to frequently play with. A toy that will stand up, like a Kong, or can be easily replaced, like a white towel, is appropriate.
THE ASSOCIATE WITH TOY METHOD
STEP 1: PLAY
Provide a specific toy and play with your dog often. Use play with the toy as a reward for basic obedience commands.
STEP 2: HIDE TOY
Start hiding the toy in a box and teach your dog the game ‘find it’. Start with fairly easy locations and let your dog see you hide the toy. Gradually make hiding spots more complex.
STEP 3: HIDE SCENTED TOY
Start hiding the toy along with the scent of the drug to be targeted. Either cover the toy in the scent, wrap the toy in the substance, or hide the drug scent with the toy. Command your dog to ‘find it’. Your dog will learn to associate the smell of the drug with the toy. When your dog finds the toy with the drug scent, play with your dog with the toy as a reward.
STEP 4: VARY HIDING
Start hiding the toy and scent in more complex locations.
STEP 5: REMOVE TOY
Gradually move to just hiding the drug scent and commanding ‘find it’. When the dog locates the drug, produce the toy and play with the dog and the toy.
STEP 6: MAKE COMPLEX
Use more complicated hiding places and introduce distractions. Reward locating the drug scent with play with the favorite toy when the dog is successful. Ignore unsuccessful identifications.
CTTO...
SANA MAKATULONG :) MGA KAASO :)
Learn how to train your dog to detect drugs using associate with toy, shape signal, and match to sample methods.
