May 20, 2011
When I was trained in tracking dogs, every training officer was vehemently opposed to using food. Can you shed some light on this subject?
Full Question:
In one of your articles you mention that a dog should be trained in FST before going on to TTD. I am a civilian operational SAR Dog handler and have received the majority of my training from members of the RCMP PDS (including Gary Murray -retired). Unless something has changed, every officer (including a PDS Supervisor) were vehemently opposed to using food. Maybe on the odd occasion a hot dog would be used to help a particular dog over a problem.Anyway, I'm not looking to poke holes in your knowledge and/or what you write. If you can shed some light here, that would be most appreciated.
Thanks Ed.
John
Ed's Answer:
TTD should not be done with dogs that are under 12 months of age.
1. Police departments cant justify spending man hours raising and training puppies so they start with dogs that are older 14 to 18 months (or older)
2. Civilian handlers time is free. They can raise puppies and they can imprint tracking. People who want to do this need to start puppies with FST tracking and this is done with food. It can be done from 8 weeks to 12 months. Then the dog is switched to TTD.
The part you miss (and many police K9 trainers) is that when FST is done properly it is all motivational training. Motivational training molds behavior and hurts nothing.
Those who are negative about training with food don’t understand the process. They don’t understand marker training and they are missing out on a HUGE motivational part of dog training. Anyone who is vehemently against using food in training needs more experience and training themselves.
There are only 4 ways to motivate a dog:
1. Motivate with food
2. Motivate with a prey item (toy)
3. Motivate with handler praise (less than 1 % can do this though all phases of training)
4. Motivate with Force.
There are NO OTHER WAYS to motivate a dog. To take food out of this process is foolish. In fact I say it’s irresponsible to not teach yourself how to work with it.
1. Police departments cant justify spending man hours raising and training puppies so they start with dogs that are older 14 to 18 months (or older)
2. Civilian handlers time is free. They can raise puppies and they can imprint tracking. People who want to do this need to start puppies with FST tracking and this is done with food. It can be done from 8 weeks to 12 months. Then the dog is switched to TTD.
The part you miss (and many police K9 trainers) is that when FST is done properly it is all motivational training. Motivational training molds behavior and hurts nothing.
Those who are negative about training with food don’t understand the process. They don’t understand marker training and they are missing out on a HUGE motivational part of dog training. Anyone who is vehemently against using food in training needs more experience and training themselves.
There are only 4 ways to motivate a dog:
1. Motivate with food
2. Motivate with a prey item (toy)
3. Motivate with handler praise (less than 1 % can do this though all phases of training)
4. Motivate with Force.
There are NO OTHER WAYS to motivate a dog. To take food out of this process is foolish. In fact I say it’s irresponsible to not teach yourself how to work with it.
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