I've been teaching scent boxes to my Mal, and when I line the boxes up I always mix it up. He knows the command and the odor he's looking for. He knows the alert I'm looking for.
My problem is that he is trying to prompt the reward by touching the first box he comes to. He doesn't alert (scratch), but he does touch. When I repeat his command he gets his nose involved and gets the right box and gives the correct responce every time (without looking up). This happens even when a majority of his finds are primary. I was told to maybe speed him up on the search aspect instead of letting him go check the boxes on his own to leash him up and search them moving quickly.
He only just started this since I've been using food reward for other training aspects (of course the food comes from me).
I thought that I should take away all boxes except the hot one until he gets back on track again, and gradually add other boxes.
What do you guys think?
Do you need more info to assess?
Howard Knauf Webboard User Reg: 09-24-2003
Posts: 1555
Loc: Melbourne, Florida
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Lynn,
Picking up the pace while working him on lead sshould fix the problem. Try this as well...when the dog tries to get his reward by touching the first box he comes too, give him very stern verbal corrections and immediately put him away for about ten minutes. If there are other dogs working with you, let yours watch as they do their search. Bring him back out again and start over. If he repeats his nonsense you do the same thing as before. He should learn on the first or second time that no fun, reward or further work resulting in reward will occur if he keeps up this unwanted behaviour. Howard
Thanks,
I'll try that.
I was previously just ignoring any responce that wasn't the one I wanted. I would repeat the command and wait for the desired result. Of course I only do this when I know the dog is at that level.
I don't want to do the work for the dog, or confirm for the dog, since I can't do that on "real" searches.
I'll let you know how your suggestion works.
Thanks again.
Howard Knauf Webboard User Reg: 09-24-2003
Posts: 1555
Loc: Melbourne, Florida
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Lynn,
Good thinking. At the end of the day you have to be able to trust your dog 100% during unknown searches. Fixing this problem now will build your confidence in him....Howard
OK,
I've been working on this. I've done several configurations of boxes. Empty, Loaded, E, E, E/
E,E,E,E,L.....
Tyler does seem to do better when I move faster. I've also noticed that he likes to walk beside the boxes placing a foot on each one, but not soliciting for a reward until we get to the loaded one. Speed must give them less time to think.
Now with Ali I have been working on committing to the odor/resistance work.
We are working Human Remains Detection. It's still a no no when it comes to evidence searches with the FBI which is who we work with most of the time. Do you have a way to solve this problem? Should I set my problems up different? Use a different set up instead of boxes?...
Howard Knauf Webboard User Reg: 09-24-2003
Posts: 1555
Loc: Melbourne, Florida
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Lynn,
Line your boxes up near a fence. The dog will still get odor but wont be able to paw at it. Lots of praise and multiple repititions should fix this. Also, be a little quicker on the reward once the dog has alerted. Dont give him time to mess up. Have him expecting the reward as soon as he sits. He should be looking to you immediately, knowing the reward is a nano second away. Good luck
Kristen Cabe Webboard User Reg: 06-09-2004
Posts: 738
Loc: Asheville, North Carolina
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This is sort of along the same lines:
I was wanting to get my dog into drug detection. Any ideas how to get started? I know you can buy fake scents but I don't know where, or if you have to have a permit or anything. I'm totally new to the idea.
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