Canine Search Specialist Training

1. Canine Search Specialist Training Unit 6: Direction and Control

3. Unit Objective Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to describe and apply the basic principles of canine directability when working with your canine

4. Enabling Objectives • Explain the rationale supporting canine directability • Describe the importance of training in small increments, and the use of good timing and effective reinforcement in teaching and combining the foundational skills • Effectively proof and problem solve directability

5. Directability

6. Directability • Directability is control at a distance • It is an important aspect of the total search canine

7. Directability (continued) The effective search canine has • Search drive • Focuses on task • Agility • The strong search drive overrides agility concerns

8. Directability (continued) The effective search canine has • Bark Alert • Commits to live victim with a strong, sustained alert • Directability • Works independently, but can be directed from a distance by handler

9. Directability (continued) • Enables the canine to • Cover areas that may be unsafe for the handler • Be directed to areas he may not have covered or away from areas previously covered • Be directed away from dangerous areas

10. Be fair to your canine • Map out a game plan • Be clear and concise • End exercise with dog wanting more

12. Teaching canine to respond to one command from the beginning reduces distraction and inattention problems

13. Foundational Skills

14. Foundational Skills • Go out • Hup • Halt • Stay • Re-direct

15. Definitions • Targeting—canine, at the handler’s side, focuses attention in the direction indicated by handler • Go out—canine moves away from handler in direction indicated • Hup—jump on an object at direction of handler • Halt—immediate response to handler’s command from a distance

16. Definitions (continued) • Stay—to remain stationary at handler’s command from a distance until next command given • Re-direct—move dog right, left, back or recall • Release word—canine is released from any command and free to enjoy reward • Proofing—assuring that canine understands the exercise by asking the canine to perform under variety of conditions and distractions

17. Teaching the Foundational Skills

18. Teaching the Foundational Skills • Step 1—Teaching the Foundation • Step 2—Combining Foundation Skills • Step 3—Moving in any Direction • Step 4—Advanced Directability

19. Step 1—Teaching the Foundation “Go Out” • Canine will move away from the handler in the direction indicated • Important to train incrementally • Canine understands the “go out” command when he consistently, at your command, moves in the direction you target him with no visible reward

20. Go Out

21. “Hup” To jump on an object at direction of handler Canine understands “hup” when he will, on one command, hup on object without handler body motion and from any position Use caution with young dogs Step 1 (continued)

23. Step 1 (continued) “Halt” • Immediate response to command from a distance • Canine understands the “sit” or “down” when he will immediately respond to your command from any distance and no matter what else he is doing

24. Halt

25. Step 1 (continued) “Stay” and “Wait” • To remain stationary at the handler's command from a distance until the next command is given

27. Wait

28. Re-direct • Handler gives signal for canine to go another direction

29. Re-direct

30. Step 2—Combining Foundation Skills • Be consistent in commands and hand signals • Provide a quick reward

31. Step 2 (continued) Using one object • Start with hup, sit, and fast reward • Then do hup, sit, stay, and reward • Then do go out, hup, sit, stay, and reward

32. Step 2 (continued) Using two objects • Teaching the canine to go back

33. Step 2 (continued) Left and right • Teach canine to turn around and go back before left and right and work it more often • Practice targeting

35. Step 2 (continued) Using three objects • “Handler roulette”

36. Step 3—Moving In Any Direction Using a baseball diamond • Begin with a small pattern or a full-size course • Do not always do a full course • Sometimes reward and release after one base

37. Step 4—Advanced Directability Advanced directability means being able to move the canine in any direction, anywhere

40. Step 4 (continued) Proofing Assuring that the canine understands the exercise by asking the canine to perform the task under a variety of conditions and among distractions

41. Step 4 (continued) Proofing (continued) • Must be included in training process • Intensified as canine progresses • Must be fair

42. Step 4 (continued) Proofing Principles • Using different types of objects • Using unstable (but safe) objects • Changing locations • Sending canine farther than regulation course • Adding distractions (toys, animals, food) • Practicing directability

43. Troubleshooting • Needs multiple commands • Anticipates directions • Drifts toward handler • Distracted on object • Difficulty with going from pitcher's mound to second base

44. Field Demonstration

45. Time for a video! “Directability”

47. Unit Summary and Evaluation

48. Unit Summary • Explain the rationale supporting canine directability • Describe the importance of training in small increments, and the use of good timing and effective reinforcement in teaching and combining the foundational skills • Effectively proof and problem solve directability

49. Unit Evaluation Please fill out the evaluation on this unit