Hi . . . this is my first post to this Web Board and I hope this gets through correctly!

I am the proud and very lucky owner of a multi-task SAR K9 and Leerburg Dog, K9 Dillon. We are currently engaged in a water cadaver search for two teenage drowning victims. We are searching in an emotionally charged setting as our boat drivers are family members of the deceased victims. Dillon is a very high drive and handler sensitive dog. . . always trying to please me. HE always gives 120% in whatever I ask him to do with great gusto . . . like I said I am very lucky!

Our training has not prepared me for his reactions to all this emotion on the boat while doing his job. He has given several areas of interest for the Sheriff dept. and has been confirmed by two other cadaver dogs. However his consistent cadaver alert whether on land or water is to bark, each time he started showing interest in an area in this search scenario, our boat drivers became very emotional to Dillon's change in behavior and start crying . . .Dillon's behavior change is starting to whine, leaning over the boat, pawing at the water and trying to taste it. However, when the relatives of these victims start this (understandable) behavior, Dillon becomes very, very concerned and worried and his whole posture changed and he would go to them and then back to me whinning. I would reassure him, tell him it's all right, your a good boy, tell him to get back to work, find the Nehpoo.

This is a DISTRACTION we have never encountered before to work through, distractions never have bothered him before while working on a search, he is always very focused and serious. Does anyone have any suggestions for me to work through this? We are still being deployed on this search. Note: Dillon has one water cadaver find to his credit at this time, and two live finds. We have been in SAR for 1 1/2 yrs. We also are working toward a Schutzhund title . . .
Thank you for any advice!

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AS with most dog training, there comes that event that is just extremely difficult to replicate in a training scenario. In training we can go through many of the motions, but the emotion of an actual situation is just something that is rarely captured in training. Experienced handlers and trainers use these situations to: 1. increase thier knowledge for additional training 2. use the situation at hand, as a learning experience for the dog. My advice, remember the training that got you to where you are, and continue using it.

DFrost

Thank you for your words of wisdom and encouragement, David . . . indeed, we need to work through this. *TRUST YOUR DOG* is the message going through my head, AGAIN.
This is just yet another part of my dog's personality that I need to consider when reading him in the field. Such a tough boy on the protection field with a caring heart of gold.

Wendy,
David is 100% correct. I dont envy your situation at all. It seems your partner is very in touch with the human emotion surrounding him but it is a distraction. I dont know the particulars in your search but it seems that having someone emotionally tied to the victims on board with you is a bad idea. Obviously this is affecting your dogs' working ability somewhat. I understand that Dillons' usual alert is to bark but I have seen cadaver dogs that do whine and/or paw at the water for an alert. A dog only has so many options in that kind of enviroment when it comes time to to let the handler know he is getting odor. Good luck.....Howard

Hi Howard . . . yes, it certainly is not the ideal situation for someone emotionally attached to the victim for the obvious stated reasons, however, there are limited resources for boats with the Sheriff's dept., and family members are employed by Mercury Marine, who donated boats for searching.
Dillon's alert intensity is dependant on amount of scent, as you stated, but with this distraction of family emotion, I am being cautious in reporting his interest as a definite alert, but stating he had strong interests in these areas, as we are not proofed in our experiece in dealing with this *emotion situation/distraction*. The results of the divers and dragging of these areas will tell the final story, I hope there will be recovery of these two teens in the next couple of days.
It's a hard call, I trust my dog but don't want to give false hope or bravado either.
Being a civilian handler, I am very glad to have the opportunity to discuss this with you/others on this WEB Board. Thank you so much for your time, ideas, and feedback!!!

What you are doing should be commended. I understand you are in a sensitive spot, but to be a good/successful handler you must do what all good handlers do. You must give your dog every opportunity to succeed. What you can do is change the things in your power to make sure he performs with maximum effectiveness. This means that someone with a potload of tact should speak to these family members and convince them that it is best if they dont accompany you on the search as it is possibly prolonging the search because the dog is distracted within the emotioally charged atmosphere. Just a suggestion.....Howard

Yes, we discussed this extensively in our debriefing today. We are currently on standby. What a lesson to be learned from this for sure. Thank you so much for your input-It is very much appreciated! Now, Dillon and I are changing gears preparing to trial this weekend . . . gonna have some fun!

hallo wendy,
first i got to say i am not famlier with cadaver search not to mention on water.
however, it sounds right what david and howard wrote you!
the problem is very obvious, you have a dog who's doing a good job on a normal day and then the same dog is havig a problem, with a person who react to the dog's changes.
i would say to solve this you should try to get some one else to drive the boat this time.
next time (hope you won't have next time...) try working on it but in my opinion it's not going to be easy since faking emotions is not an easy thing to do!
we know it...
and even more the dog does!!!
my twp cent's...
good luck!!!!
edo

THANKS EDO . . . YOUR TWO CENTS IS VERY APPRECIATED AND NOTED!! . . . IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO FAKE ANY EMOTION WITH DILLON - HE'S A VERY TUNED IN DOG, BUT FOR SURE THIS EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT US THE IMPORTANCE OF AN IMPARTIAL BOAT DRIVER! THAT WILL BE REQUESTED AS NEEDED TOOLS FOR THE CALL-OUT POLICE DEPT. - #1 IMPARTIAL BOAT DRIVER.
CAN'T EXPRESS ENOUGH, WHAT A GREAT FORUM THIS IS TO DISCUSS TRAINING OR REALITY ISSUES IN THE FIELD, IT KEEPS ONE/OR A TEAM FROM DEVELOPING TUNNEL VISION! THANKS AGAIN!

Hey Wendy is there a reason you are YELLING AT US?

It is so much easier to read text on this board when it isn't in all CAPS. That is also kinda considered raising your voice in netspeak.