Chaining the Alert Behavior

• Building a Chain
• Each link must be strong prior to building the chain
• Odor
• strong value, discrimination skills and priority preference
• Task
• on cue
• under stimulus control
• proofed
• criteria:
• trained
• clear
• unique
• solid
• consistent
• consider
• in car
• at work/school
• when moving
• when sitting
• when in escalators
• some options
• nose touch
• paw touch
• bow
• wave
• stare
• meter retrieve
• vocal
• bringsel
• review of basics
• scent > reward
• scent + verbal cue > behavior = reward
• how to change a cue
• new cue, old cue
• Togetherness
• tethering
• place training
• Focus
• eye contact is a powerful tool
• Obedience
• alerting and obedience are usually linked
• More frequent BG checks
• don't miss a training opportunity
• Record keeping
• Keep Logs!
• initiated by dog or self
• time
• location
• dog activity
• handler activity
• type of reward
• additional info
• NEVER WASTE A LOW!
• Pair sample with real time event
• Use patterns and avoid patterns
• use similar training scenarios
• trailing memory
• sight memory
• blind hides
• vary presentation with dog
• Train it like you want it
• consistency
• tattle tale
• Build a partnership
• communicate
• dog acts, you react, dog reacts to your reaction......
• reasonable expectations
• keep it fun!
• Typical Problems
• Dog alerts to events other than scent
• verbal
• visual
• other
• Night alerts
• Car alerts
• Public places