I've not had a dog yet that ever missed a target that the handler knew the location. Funny how that works.

DFrost

 Quote:

I've not had a dog yet that ever missed a target that the handler knew the location. Funny how that works.

DFrost

With my cadaver material, I always have someone else set out the material for me and then walk all over the area so the dog can't trail into it.

The only time I know where it is in advance is if we have an issue (e.g., dog alerts on fringe, misses, etc.) or if we are training a new type of source.

With another dog I found no matter what I did I could not mask the subtle cues of my body language and the dog shifted his focus to me.

<<<The only time I know where it is in advance is if we have an issue (e.g., dog alerts on fringe, misses, etc.) or if we are training a new type of source.>>>

Amen.

I challenge all my handlers with the same words. If you don't know what your dog can't do, you'll never know how good he is.

DFrost

One thing that is promising is that the company states that a TATP pseudo is on the way.
Now, i don't like to see maintenence work done on pseudo. But, TATP is so damned dangerous that training on it is a real problem (accessing it is a problem too and when you can it likely will be one gram). This may be a next best thing approach to a n issue that really plagues us and that is training on TATP and HMTD.

For that, I may have to change my way of thinking. At least there is a good reason for using psuedo there. We have worked it with the help of a forensic chemist, but we sure don't like to mess with it.
I would probably use it for that very reason.

DFrost

matt, execpt of sensitive materials such as tatp and nitros what exectly are the advantages of not using the real thing?

oh and another question, do you know for afact that thos puesodeos have the same aromatics molokolary air and solid scattering like the real materials?

Let me add my 2 cents. I work security for a private company. We are not allowed to have "real" explosives per company policy. Therefore we are forced to train with XM products. Our dogs go through detection school with real explosives, and do not show much if any change in behavior when put on XM training aids. We also train with various law enforcement and military dog teams and our dogs have never had an issue switching between XM and real explosives. Furthermore, I have only noticed maybe two MWD have trouble with our XM aids.I will have to say I did not get a chance to see those two dogs work on other training aids so I can't say for sure if the XM stuff was thier only issue.
We had an FBI dog work our aids and he showed no hesitation alerting on the XM stuff. You just have to let the aids set up a bit longer than normal. Also our dogs annually certify on real explosives with out issue.
Just my experience here. I will say also that I would not truly trust the psuedo stuff if my dog didn't do so well when I get to get him on the "real" thing. I think as long one can occasionaly get on some real explosives everyonce in a while it's not a problem. I hope this helps.
-Luke