K..one thing at a time...LOL
If you have a field and the dog is given a command to search a area, we limit it in size re-group and move if need be...and there is a chunk of metal I guess this to me is what doesn't "fit." I think this might be one of those things that you need to train and see for it to make total sense. We hid a gun yesterday for one of the dogs. It sat for about 10-15 mins and was buried under leaves. The person who dropped the gun did not handle it. It was picked up w/ a pen by the trigger guard. The dog searched the area, which was about 10ft by 20 ft and found the gun. It ignored a pair of cotton gloves, which had been there for about two months, and he ignored some smaller pieces of trash that had been there for about the same time period. I can only guess the dogs can smell that many of these things smell "the same" or have the "same" cover odor. The gun on the other hand did not have this consistent "same" odor, thus it did not belong. Being that we can't smell what they do, I don't know how else to explain it. It only took the dog about 45 seconds to find the gun. I wish I could explain it with real science, but I'm just not that smart. I can only explain the way it works for us, and how we teach it. So far numerous dogs I've trained for Depts have made correct evidence finds on guns, knives, clothing and yes missing keys. Sorry if the explanation is lacking.

Oh yea..forgot one thing David,...we train metal(guns, knives, tools, keys etc), leather(wallets, purses etc) plastic (tools, small toys tec) and wood..though I might add that most "wood" items have plastic or metal attached to them, hammers and things such as this. Ok, now what other question did I miss?..LOL

I get the drift of how you train, and what you are explaining. Thank you for making it clear.

Josh says: Ok, now what other question did I miss?..LOL

You seem to be missing the answer to my problem Josh. Or was you're last post supposed to help me solve my problem? Again my questions are in my second and third post of this thread.

Thanks...... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Josh, am I correct in assuming that you start with wood or leather articles and work up to metal objects later?

Glenn, if your dog is having problems looking for anything other than a ball, it might be a drive issue. It might be you have taught him to use his eyes and over play the ball game. I wish I could tell you more, but it's hard without knowing the dog.

J Parker, I normally start w/ metal object. I start so the dogs can see you toss it, so they don't need their nose right away. I also start with metal as most, not all but most are not as happy with the taste of metal as they would be of wood or leather. In this way it's easier to get the down than have the dog happy to grab the item right off the ground.

Josh, interesting. It seems as if you do a lot of scent work "in reverse", so to speak, of what I am accustomed to. No offense intended, just a bit curious.