Scent Detection

This week we started new and exciting training with Timber – we introduced her to scent detection. I worked  with another veteran who has attended professional dog training schools. There are different options when it comes to what scents we want to use and, in this case, we are training on explosives.

We started training by using a certain substance and placing it inside some bags. Once we had the scent controlled, we placed it into some 4-inch PVC pipe, where the dog was unable to grab the bag. It’s easier to understand this concept by referencing the training setup picture.

Using the same marking system as before, I walked Timber up to the single tube housing the scent. When she placed her nose inside the tube, my partner would use her mark and reward her with hot dogs.

On the side note, Timber craves hot dogs because her drive to get back in that tube was astonishing. After rewarding her with a few pieces, I called her off and brought her back about five feet.

The second Timber looked at the tube again, I released the leash and allowed her to go to that same tube. Once we ran that same drill a handful of times, we added a second tube. This tube had no scent, but looked the same as the one that did.

In a sense, it turned into a game, kind of like the one where they hide a ball under a cup and you follow it as it moves.  The key was to set Timber up for success. Therefore I guided her to the first tube and let her go. She constantly tried to figure out what tube had the scent. Once she stuck her head in the right tube, my partner would use that marking system and rewarded her.

We switched the tubes in every iteration, but we always started her on the first tube. The purpose was to build a starting point for searching.. This is not for your basic home pet, but this blog was designed to bring you along on my journey as I train Timber.

Through the Department of Corrections Washington State, I was able to find an infographic about scent detection canines. This explains a little more about what these dogs do and what to know about them.  https://www.doc.wa.gov/docs/publications/infographics/100-PO002.htm

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