April 29, 2011
How can I increase the scratch indication on my drug dog?
Full Question:
EdMy dog is doing well with the introduction of (drugs pseudo). He knows the scent and what to do but his scratching could be more intense. Is this because he is just starting training? It seems like he will scratch then he stops and waits for me to open the box, knowing he is getting his reward. How can I get him to scratch better?
Ed's Answer:
There are many possible answers to this question.
The first thing I would want to look at is the drive of the dog. Dogs that have not been properly selection tested are not going to do well on indications. Dogs with good drive will always do better. I tell people that a properly selection tested dog will cover for an inexperienced trainer. Dogs with weaker drives need better trainers.
If a dog is looking to the handler for a "primary find" (one where the reward item is hidden with the drugs) he has not been rewarded properly by the handler in the past. In early training the handler has either made the dog scratch too long or he has not made the game fun enough.
Drug dogs are always rewarded for the intensity of the indication. It makes no difference if that intensity is only 3 or 4 scratches as long as they are a burst of energy. If the handler waits too long and misses his opportunity for a reward he has created a problem. There are things he can do to help:
The first thing I would want to look at is the drive of the dog. Dogs that have not been properly selection tested are not going to do well on indications. Dogs with good drive will always do better. I tell people that a properly selection tested dog will cover for an inexperienced trainer. Dogs with weaker drives need better trainers.
If a dog is looking to the handler for a "primary find" (one where the reward item is hidden with the drugs) he has not been rewarded properly by the handler in the past. In early training the handler has either made the dog scratch too long or he has not made the game fun enough.
Drug dogs are always rewarded for the intensity of the indication. It makes no difference if that intensity is only 3 or 4 scratches as long as they are a burst of energy. If the handler waits too long and misses his opportunity for a reward he has created a problem. There are things he can do to help:
- He can tie the reward into the area of "the find". This can be accomplished by using string tied to the towel so the dog has to tear and pull the find out of the hiding place.
- The toy can have a fish line tied to the towel. When the dog indicates and the handler opens the find the toy can be popped out of the find and come alive. This increases the dogs intensity to chase and find its prey item.
- It's important to remember that drug finds need to follow the “HARD FIND- EASY INDICATION” and “EASY FIND-HARD INDICATION” rule. This basically means that if the find is an easy find we expect a very active strong indication. If the find is difficult we do not expect the same kind of an indication. (Use easy indications when the dog is getting tired in real searches.)
- The handler can build the drive for the scratch by standing behind the dog and enthusiastically encourage the dog to "GET YOUR GIFT" as he pops the dog on the side. The handler can grab his dog around the front of the chest and pull him back a couple of feet (away from the find) as he encourages the dog to “GET HIS GIFT.” This builds frustration and frustration builds drive.
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