In our TRAIN TO TRIAL & TRIAL TO TRAIN series we have explored the concepts of source and sourcing odor pathways with keen handler observation and the needed goals and resources for training competent skill sets to thrive in training AND in trial. Along this training and trial journey we (handlers and trainers) use numerous tools to build skill sets and clarity for both the dog and the handler. TWO IMPORTANT tools often used that directly relate to SOURCE, are pairing (food or toy at source) and markers (verbal source locators).  Lets discuss the INS and OUTS of these TWO TOOLS and how similar and how different they actually are or may be !

TO PAIR OR NOT TO PAIR - TO MARK OR NOT TO MARK - THAT IS THE QUESTION !

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TO REWARD OR NOT REWARD- THAT IS THE QUESTION - GOT THAT ONE !

How do we train MOVING ON v REWARD AT SOURCE in training ? Does this change for trial day ? Does our dog have clarity of a prior found hide or prior found odor ? Is this a handler construct to fit our scent detection sport  for effective and efficient trial performance searching ? All these questions and more- in this insightful discussion inspired by a recent trial where as a handler I got "lost" between two mirror hides and thought a not yet found hide or new hide was potentially a prior found hide and later asked myself does that matter ?  Does my dog differentiate found odor from not found odor ? New odor from old odor ? Conundrum or maybe not ? 

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Topic : TRAIN TO TRIAL and TRIAL TO TRAIN

REWARD AT SOURCE !

How do we train SOURCE drive for Trial ? How do we reward AT source in training or in trial ? Is it the same or is it different ? Lets chat about Source Reward ! Its a fun topic to gain insight into the concepts of SOURCE REWARD  and what that may mean AND CHANGE in multiple scenarios from training accessible to inaccessible hides,  high hides to ground hides, known location hides vs blind hides, remote reward away from source or training final response reinforcement, dog decision making or rewarding the dog's odor or source indication. ALL with added FUN comments and discussion from our TRIAL HOST family sitting around the table !

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Let's explore tips and tricks for training and trial confidence and experience the fun and amazement of team search work, in both training and in trial, as we hit the road in the next months to come in 2024.  

We start with self discovery of our current skill sets and where we ARE NOW  and build thoughtful, productive, progressive training plans with measurable skill sets for trial day.  AND just as important, we purposefully explore FUN ways to commemorate, assess and appreciate our trial performance ON trial day, no matter the ups and downs, as an amazing day shared with our scent detection dog companions. 

K9 Scent Fix Podcast for February explores our Training and Trial Game Plan with tips and tricks to discover our current skill sets, develop those skill sets for measurable  gains and reaching or revamping our dog sport training and trial goals with each training or trial experience in 2024.

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In Part 2 we explore the science of odor in the environment and our human perceptions of odor with enlightened odor intelligence gained from hours of observation watching our dogs search the odor environment to find what we are asking them to find when we ask them to find it. Build your Odor Intelligence with observation hours live or from video of any dog searching, any time, any where and with your odor miles build confidence in your dog for your search in training or in trial.

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Part One is all about the activity of setting hides and using imagination to meet or measure your search training objectives. We disucss setting hides for carefree quick fixes or using specific categories to help describe and craft your hide setting choice within a progressive training plan of hide complexities including location, anticipation of odor movement and environmental influences. Then adding in the Ds of dog training of duration, distance, difficulty, distraction and more if your a Dwiz, we can easily provide our dogs with an opportunity to experience searching for odor to source in training to broaden our dogs odor memory and build dog and handler search confidence. 

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Relect, review and revitalize your learning throughout your self learning journey. Its essential to find resources for learning that work for you, that speak to your understanding. that supports' asking questions and ultimately honors your self training self, where you are now and where you may go next.  Find the tools to tighen, loosen or get just right the balance for you and your dog in training.  Be supportive of yourself and of others. Build your training tribe. Train safe, train with clarity and train with kindness. 

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Self learning in  scent detection dog sport training is vital for every handler to acknowledge and accept and embrace for both ourselves and our dogs. To become the best learners we can be, to provide oursleves and our dogs with the many opportunities to experience and learn,  and to become passionate about training and learning sufficient to build a confident olfaction team,  by developing our Best Self Training self.  

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Jill and Aleks have a wealth of experience hosting nosework and scentwork trial events and along with a survey share their experience and provide guidance on what the K9 Handlers in this detection dog sport find and value most in the trials they have attended and look for in their future competition trial choices.

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In Part Two of our focused conversation on Arousal and the Engaged Search Dog we explore the multiple and variable training tips and tricks to provide your dog with an opportunity to experience and learn about self-regulating arousal in and out of search, how to better understand the complexity of arousal and search/source drive and how to self manage our handler selves as well.

Some Resources we discussed in this episode:

• Leslie McDevitt Pattern Games (Link to her course on Clean Run)
• Nosework Camp (Link to DogsofCourse)
• The podcast from Hannah Brannigan that discusses arousal (Drinking from the Toilet)
• Dr Kathy Murphy: Behavior Vets- Neurobiology of Arousal: The Yerkes Dodson Law (behaviorvets.com)
  
  

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