April 29, 2011
I don't reward my dog on a real search unless the drugs are found. I am concerned about rewarding my dog for a false indication. What's your opinion?
Full Question:
Ed,I have a question about rewarding dogs on an actual search. I know some handlers who will give a the dog the toy when the dog alerts on a vehicle in a real search. The toy is given at the time of the alert before any drugs have been found.
I personally do not do this. I am afraid of rewarding the dog for an alert that might not be right and reinforcing an improper behavior. Part of me says 'trust the dog' and the other part says 'don't reward what you don't know'. In training I often will give my dog a simple 'good boy' and a pat on the side rather than the toy so he does not know for sure when he alerts that he toy will 'appear.'
The same handlers who do the reward also carry a ?loaded? (drug odor in or on) the toy. This is also something that I do not do. My thinking is that if I am going to have the "wind currents" working for me. How can a toy with a load of dope in my back pocket make things easier for the dog?
What are your thoughts?
Thanks,
Doug
Ed's Answer:
You are 100% wrong in your approach to this training.
If your training is correct your dog will not false indicate. Once a dog is trained to the odor of narcotics, all of his training should be on proofing. That's how you learn to trust your dog. If you do not properly reward your dog (which you are not doing) you will end up with a half trained dog who does not do very good drug work.
There is nothing wrong with carrying a loaded dummy in training, but it should not be done in normal street work. The bottom line is most finds in training should be primary finds, that's how super drug dogs are made.
If your training is correct your dog will not false indicate. Once a dog is trained to the odor of narcotics, all of his training should be on proofing. That's how you learn to trust your dog. If you do not properly reward your dog (which you are not doing) you will end up with a half trained dog who does not do very good drug work.
There is nothing wrong with carrying a loaded dummy in training, but it should not be done in normal street work. The bottom line is most finds in training should be primary finds, that's how super drug dogs are made.
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