Canine Search Specialist Training

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Canine Search Specialist Training
Unit 6 Direction and Control
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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

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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

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Directability
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Directability

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

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Directability (continued)

• The effective search canine has
• Search drive
• Focuses on task
• Agility
• The strong search drive overrides agility concerns

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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

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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

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Be fair to your canine

• Map out a game plan
• Be clear and concise
• End exercise with dog wanting more

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

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Foundational Skills
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Foundational Skills

• Go out
• Hup
• Halt
• Stay
• Re-direct

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Definitions

• Targetingcanine, at the handlers side, focuses
  attention in the direction indicated by handler
• Go outcanine moves away from handler in
  direction indicated
• Hupjump on an object at direction of handler
• Haltimmediate response to handlers command from
  a distance

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Definitions (continued)

• Stayto remain stationary at handlers command
  from a distance until next command given
• Re-directmove dog right, left, back or recall
• Release wordcanine is released from any command
  and free to enjoy reward
• Proofingassuring that canine understands the
  exercise by asking the canine to perform under
  variety of conditions and distractions

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Teaching the Foundational Skills
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Teaching the Foundational Skills

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

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Step 1Teaching 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

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Go Out
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Step 1 (continued)

• 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

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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

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Halt
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Step 1 (continued)

• Stay and Wait
• To remain stationary at the handler's command
  from a distance until the next command is given

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Wait
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Re-direct

• Handler gives signal for canine to go another
  direction

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Re-direct
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Step 2Combining Foundation Skills

• Be consistent in commands and hand signals
• Provide a quick reward

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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

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Step 2 (continued)

• Using two objects
• Teaching the canine to go back

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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

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Step 2 (continued)

• Using three objects
• Handler roulette

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Step 3Moving 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

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Step 4Advanced Directability

• Advanced directability means being able to move
  the canine in any direction, anywhere

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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

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Step 4 (continued)

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

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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

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Troubleshooting

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

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Field Demonstration
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Time for a video!

• Directability

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Unit Summary and Evaluation
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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

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Unit Evaluation

• Please fill out the evaluation on this unit