Since there is no forum for wilderness airscent, this seems like the next-best place for this thread.

I'm looking for some suggestions regarding a new GSD on our team. She's training in wilderness airscent, and I know that there are probably a couple of people on this board who know a little about this.

Anyway, here's the problem.
1) The dog won't range. She stays right next to her handler, sometimes behind him (in tall grass). When she hits the scent cone, she's marvelous, but we need to get her to range. One thing our head trainer suggested was that the handler move faster, and when the K9 does range, even a little, praise her in small doses, so that she knows she's doing the right thing. Any other ideas?
2) The dog has no interest in playing. Once she gets the toy, play is over. She will not "out", but will run back to her handler, losing all interest in the "subject". This one's got me a little stumped, since my own K9 is a natural retriever; if you act like a goofball, he'll gladly join in. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> This GSD is different; you could do backflips naked while singing the Star Spangled Banner, and she would not have any interest. It's almost as if she doesn't know how to play, or doesn't want to.

It's ultimately up to her handler to train her, and if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. But, I'd like to help him as much as possible. I think the dog has a lot of potential, if we can troubleshoot these behaviors, and I'd like to see them succeed.

You have one of two things going on here: It's either a dog that should not have been selected for the work or a handler who has not done the proper foundation on the dog (or maybe both.

If a dog won't play then it should not be out there trying to do excercises that require play. The training should focus on that and clear that proble before other tasks are added. Tell you friend to get the video I did with Bernhard Flinks on building drive focus and grip. If the dog can do this work that training will teach handler and dog how to play in a positive manner that can be used in the work. If it will not work in this method - can the dog and don't waste time on it. Not ever dog is cut out for this work.

If he can get it to play then you need to do short simple searches. If the dog understood the task (and had the correct drive) it would not be behind the handler.

This is gonna sound like a wise crack, but it isn't. Swanston, what do you see in the behavior of the dog that makes you think it has potential?

Just to make sure I'm not lost...it does happen kinda easy.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> The dog clings to the handler UNTIL the dog gets in the scent cone? Or does the dog search, but still does not range away from the handler?

Great responses, thank you.

Ed, I will suggest the tape. I'm in agreement that her training should not advance until we can see some changes in the basic behaviors that are troubling us (the rest of the team); this is what we've been telling the handler, but I'm not sure how much is getting through. At any rate, we have a six month probationary period, at which point, if the dog has not advanced to where we think she should be, the team has the option of "canning" her.

VanCamp, what makes me think she has potential is that when she hits the scent cone, she works it beautifully. She just totally lights up. If these other behaviors can be changed, then she'd be fantastic. If not, then I can accept it. I'm not emotionally invested in this particular dog succeeding (she's not my dog! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> ); I'd just like to give her a reasonable chance.

Kevin, I've seen her do both. She will search, but not ranging much further than 20-30 feet max, and not without frequently "checking in" or looking back at her handler. I've also seen her "cling" to the handler. When the handler takes her close enough to the scent cone, she takes right off to work it. I think that there is a lack of confidence there. Just not sure if it can be worked through or not, as it could be a temperamental issue, or it could be lack of foundation in the training, or a combo of both.

My feeling, which is shared by the rest of the team, is that she should only be doing runaways right now.

Nerve problem? Meaning, the dog falls out of drive when handler gets too far away?

Just a thought.

Joy, It's a good thought, actually. It's one of the possibilities that I have been considering. There are some other indications in her behavior in that direction. However, I think the tape may be very helpful, as I don't believe that her handler has worked her in drive to any great degree. Maybe she's just confused, and with the proper foundation (if the handler is willing to take some steps back in her training, and take the time to lay the foundation), will gain enough confidence that we'll see improvement in these areas of concern.

So she will leave the handler to go work a scent?

So she will leave the handler to go work a scent?

Yes.