Sussex County Dog Training
&
ALSAR Search Dogs Sussex (LSD-SX)
JOINING INSTRUCTIONS
and INDUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the search dog
training courses. There are 2 courses beginners and intermediate, both are 6
weeks long and run on a Tuesday evening. Both courses are aimed at providing a
good basic training for potential new search and rescue dog handlers, because
search training is based on using and developing your dogs ‘play drive’ they
are also ideal courses for anyone who just wants to do something different and
have fun with their dog. The course is
fairly intensive and to get the most out of the course will need to do some
training with your dog between sessions. Beginners and intermediate courses are
taught alongside each other but are seen as 2 separate courses, both are
assessed and you must successfully pass the beginners assessment before doing
the intermediate course. The courses are taught by instructors from Sussex
County Dog Training and experienced operational dog handlers from LSD Sussex. Numbers
are restricted on the course as we aim to work on a 1:4/5 ratio of instructors
to handlers to ensure a good level of support and advise is provided
throughout.
Please be aware successful completion of the courses does not guarantee
membership to LSD-Sussex. Acceptance into the team is
by invitation only, subject to the availability of dog handler positions and is
at the discretion of the executive committee of LSD Sussex. All operational search dogs
working in England have to pass a number of nationally recognised assessments
and be a member of a recognised search team. This course
in no way qualifies you or your dog to participate in live search and rescue
operations.
PREREQUISITIES FOR THE COURSES
The course is suitable for dogs of all ages, breeds and capabilities.
To attend the course
·
you and your dog will need to be in good health
as it is a fairly active course
·
your dog MUST be friendly with all other
dogs and people
·
your dog MUST have a good recall in
rural/woodland environment and be safe with wildlife.
Unfortunately, not all dogs that
commence the training will be suitable to continue on to the advanced stages of
training. This may be due to any number
of reasons, including the dog’s temperament, its ability to take on board new
skills, its health and its age (only dogs under 5 will be consider for entry to
the team). Potential handlers must also
realise that it takes a lot of stamina, dedication, time and expense to train a
search dog and maintain its qualification.
It is a long process but very rewarding one.
DATES AND LOCATIONS
Courses start dates for 2013 are April
2nd and June 4th course fees will be £65 per course.
Both courses will run for 6 consecutive weeks on Tuesday evenings
starting at 19.00.
·
The first week will be run at The
Dog Barn
Park Farm
Hook Lane
Aldingbourne
PO20 3TL
· The following 5 weeks will be run at a training
location used by LSD Sussex within the Chichester area.
All the training will take place
outside whatever the weather conditions.
Please be aware that all the
instructors are operational members of the search team on call 24 hours a day.
While every effort is made to ensure that this does not affect the course if an
incident does occur the number of instructors present may be reduced.
PAYMENT & BOOKING ON TO THE COURSE
To book a place on the course please contact Nina at Sussex County Dog
Training on 01243 697202
Course fees
need to be paid in full to Sussex County Dog Training 10 days prior to the
start of the course.
All profits from the course
will go to LSD-SX to support their operational work.
EQUIPMENT
Equipment you will
need
·
Good outdoor cloths and shoes
·
Very high value toy or treats for your dog
·
Optional - A search coat for your dog (search
dog coats will be available to purchase if you wish)
Please also bring with you a
torch / head torch as it may be getting dark as the evenings progress.
The team will provide radio
equipment if required but it’s still worth bringing along your mobile phone
just in case of technical difficulties or emergencies.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Please advise a member of the
team at the beginning of week 1 if you have any medical conditions that may
adversely affect you whilst training at sessions both at the dog Barn and in
the woods.
Good stout foot wear and suitable
clothing outdoor clothing is essential as we will be working in rough terrain
and possible inclement weather.
Whilst every effort is made to
ensure dogs and candidates are safe during the sessions it should be noted that
we will often need to cross car parks and work near to roads. Please ensure your dog is kept under control
and on a lead when near to traffic.
Due to the nature of the work
involved, we cannot tolerate any aggression from your dog towards humans.
Please do not smoke during
exercises.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Training questions can be posted
on either ‘Lowland Search Dogs Sussex’ or ‘Sussex pet sitters’ Facebook pages.
CONTACT DETAILS
Issues relating to the course: Anything relating search or
joining:
Sussex County Dog Training LSD
Sussex (Sharon)
01243 697202
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries or
concerns.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Beginners Course
This course
aims to teach your dog the ‘basic run out’. This means by the end of the course
you dog should be able to search a short distance for someone hidden 10 up to
10 metres off the path. They should locate the person and remain with them
until you arrive and reward them.
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PREREQUISITE:
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·
you and your dog will need to be in good
health
·
your dog MUST be friendly with all
other dogs and people
·
your dog MUST have a good recall in
rural/woodland environment and be safe with wildlife.
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OBJECTIVES:
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1.
Understand the
basic principles of ‘air scent’.
2.
Encourage a suitable
play drive within your dog and reward them appropriately.
3.
Undertake a
basic run out seen and unseen
4.
Introduce the
dog to the ‘Find command’
5.
Introduce the
dog to the search coat as a queue to work.
6.
Understand the
requirements of a ‘route and path’ search.
7.
Understanding the
importance of providing your dog with good positive experiences.
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ASSESSMENT:
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The candidate will
be able to
·
successfully
demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of using air scent to find
missing people
·
promote a play
drive in their dog using rewards appropriately
·
understand the
requirements of a ‘route and path’ search.
The successful dog
will be
·
confident
around strangers,
·
show a drive to
do search work
·
able to locate
a hidden person at least 10m off of a track using air scent.
The successful dog
and candidate will also be able to show basic obedience skills required for
future search work including recall and going willingly with another member
of the team. (see obedience tests).
Assessment will be
achieved by on-going observations and verbal questioning throughout the
course and practical assessment on the final session.
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Intermediate Course
The course will
build on what was learnt in the beginner’s course. The aim is that by the end of the course you
dog will be able to undertake full unseen searches over distance of up to 300m.
On locating the misper they will return to handler and provide an alert to
indicate they have found someone.
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PREREQUISITE:
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·
Search Dogs
Training – Beginners (Pass).
·
Good retention
of skills learnt from Beginners
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OBJECTIVES:
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1.
Develop a
working knowledge of ‘air scenting’.
2.
To move to
completely unseen searches with multiple hidden people.
3.
The dog will
return immediately to handler on locating the a person
4.
Develop a
strong, clear and recognisable alert.
5.
Dog will begin
to understand and respond to directional controls from the handler.
6.
Understand the
importance of objective based training and misper placement to develop the
dog’s ability.
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ASSESSMENT:
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The candidate will
be able to
·
demonstrate a
working knowledge of air scenting
·
show an
understanding of objective based training
·
continues to
develop the dogs play drive and enthusiasm
·
Begins to
understand the importance of timing with regards to commands and rewards.
The successful dog
will be
·
confident and show
drive and enthusiasm.
·
return
immediately to handler on finding a person
·
will give a
reliable alert (can be prompted or unprompted)
·
locate multiple
missing persons, following unseen placement, situated up to 15ms off of a
track 300ms long.
The successful dog
and candidate will also be able to demonstrate the ALSAR search dogs
obedience tests.
Assessment will be
achieved by on-going observations and verbal questioning throughout the
course and practical assessment on the final session.
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Obedience Tests
These will not be
taught as part of the course.
These are the obedience tests set by ALSAR the national body
which assesses and qualifies the operational dogs. During the course we will be working on your
dog achieving these. Any dog joining
LSD-SX must pass an obedience test before being accepted to the team.
All operational dogs are also stock tested and fully stock
safe.
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Stay in position with handler 5 metres away – The dog
will be off lead, the handler can place the dog in any position they choose
(sit,down,stand). During the test the handler will move at least 5 metres
away from the dog.
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Stop on Command – with the dog off lead and at a
distance of not less than 10 paces away the handler will be instructed to
stop the dog on the spot in any position. The dog must respond straight away.
OR
Recall – with dog off lead and not less than 10m away
,upon instruction the dog will be called back to the handler and they should both then continue together for approximately 10
paces. The dog must respond to the recall command straight away. It is
acceptable for the dog to be moving loosely at the handler’s side but under
control.
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Dog to walk under control on or off lead – Occasional
tight lead is acceptable. Natural distractions should generally be ignored.
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Go willing with another member of the team – The dog
should be happy to walk away from the handler with another team member.
The handler should be stood with the dog 10 paces away from
their car. The dog should wait fairly calmly whilst another member of the
team approaches greats the dog and takes it from the handler and then walks
it on lead in a reasonably controlled fashion and places the dog in its car.
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BEGINNERS ASSESSMENT
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The dog will be
assessed throughout the six week course. The dog and handler will also
receive ‘Practical Assessment’. During
which The handler will receive verbal questioning to check their knowledge on
certain areas within this criterion.
There dog and handler will then we assessed together: A body will play
with the dogs reward toy in front of the dog then run from the dog. The body will hide 15-30m along the track,
into the wind at a distance of approximately 10m from the track. The dog will be tested on both seen and
partially unseen run outs. To be
successful each of the 3 parts must be passed.
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Skills
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Poor
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okay
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Good
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V good
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Excellent
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Comment
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Observations over course
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Obedience
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General play drive
/ enthusiasm
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Calm / Non aggressive
temperament
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Fitness
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PASS / FAIL
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Assessment - Handler
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Ability to judge direction of wind
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Understand principals of air-scent
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Understands the requirements of a route
and path search (level 2)
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Handler holds and excites the dog in an
appropriate manner prior to release
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The handler uses an appropriate ‘find’
command
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The handler correctly judges speed and
distance to allow the dog to find
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The handler is able to read when the
dog ‘strikes’ the air scent
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The handler goes into the body and dog
in a timely manner
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The handler ensures the dog has
appropriate reward and praise.
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PASS / FAIL
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Assessment
- Dog
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Goes willingly with another member of
the team
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The dog is alert and eager to play when
the body runs away
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When released, the dog is eager to find
the hidden body
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Seen
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Unseen
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Dog confidently leaves handler, with no
additional encouragement
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Seen
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Unseen
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The dog air-scents to find the hidden
body
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Seen
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Unseen
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The dog confidently goes all the way
into the hidden body
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Seen
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Unseen
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The dog is eager to play with reward
toy
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PASS / FAIL
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Comments
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Over all
PASS / FAIL
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Assessor
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Assessor
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INTERMEDIATE ASSESSMENT
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The dog will be
assessed throughout the six week course. The dog and handler will also
receive ‘Practical Assessment’. During
which The handler will receive verbal questioning to check their knowledge on
certain areas within this criterion.
To be successful each of the 3 parts must be passed. The practical
assessment is by way of a short search over approximately 300m which must be
completed within 15 minutes. Up to two
bodies will be pre-hidden up to 10m either side of the track. The dog must locate all placed mispers and
reliably return to handler and alert.
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Skills
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Poor
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okay
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Good
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V good
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Excellent
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Comment
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Observations over course
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Obedience
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General play drive
/ enthusiasm
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Calm / Non
aggressive temperament
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Fitness
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Confidence
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Dog is consistent over the course
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PASS / FAIL
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Assessment - Handler
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Understands how wind direction will
affect the search
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Understands how to place body taking
count of training needs
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Understands the requirements of a route
and path search (level 2)
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Gives appropriate and timely
instructions to the dog
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Uses appropriate and timely commands to
keep the dog motivated.
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Recognises when the dog is working and
when they are distracted.
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Ensures dog works both sides of the
path taking account of wind direction and terrain.
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Correctly judges speed and distance
allowing the dog to search and locate.
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Allows the dog the freedom to search
but keeps them within a safe distance.
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Is able to read when the dog ‘strikes’
the air scent
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Ensures the dog has appropriate reward
and praise.
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PASS / FAIL
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Assessment
- Dog
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Is eager to find the hidden body and remains
motive over a 300m track.
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Beginning to understand and respond to
directional controls.
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Air-scents to find the hidden body
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Confidently goes all the way into the
hidden body.
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Following a find the dog returns
immediately to handler.
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Reliably alerts to the handler in a readable
manner
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Alert Prompted / Unprompted
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Located all bodies and completes route with
15minutes.
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PASS / FAIL
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Comments
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Over all
PASS / FAIL
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Assessor
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Assessor
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Initial Seen Run Outs
Exciting the Dog
The dogs body excites the dog
with a squeaky toy or shows the dog the food.
They need to be animated and interesting, encouraging the dog to follow
them as they run away. The handler
allows the dog to naturally pull on the lead / harness, bark etc. (NB –
initially the dog runs to the handler).
Run-away & “Go
find” command.
The dogs body runs away from the
dog and ‘hides’ from the dog, sitting/laying down passively. In the initial
stages the dogs body will be in plain view so the dog can see them. The handler
tells the dog to ‘go find’ and releases the dog. As the dog progresses the dogs
body gets gradually more hidden.
The release
The dog is released. Having
excited the dog they should want to run to the dogs body. The dog should run
confidently to the dogs body without being distracted on the way.
The find
Once the dog has found the dogs body, initially the handler should be right behind the dog,
as if finding the dogs body together. At
later stages, the handler will introduce a short delay in arriving at the site
of the dogs body.
The Reward
As soon as the handler, dog and dogs body are
all together the dogs is rewarded with its toy / food. The play should be at the dogs body. The dogs
body and handler will play/feed with the dog the toy/food whilst praising the
dog. Remember – this is the most
important part and should not be cut short.
Preparing for the
Intermediate Course.
Following on
from the beginner’s course you will have been set 2 objectives to work on during the break
between courses:
- · Fully unseen searches
- · Return to handler following location of the missing person.
Fully unseen search
Aim
To be able
to take the dog to an area where a misper has been pre-hidden, and who the dog
did not see leave. By giving the find command the dog will searches
enthusiastically for the misper. (When your dog is able to do this they fully
understand the find command).
Training
1. Start with a basic run out (no more
than 30 metres down the path) where the misper shows the dog the reward and
walks calmly and quietly away. Once the misper is hidden
turn the dog round and use the find command and send the dog to locate the
misper. Once the dog is enthusiastically finding the person move on to step 2.
2. Perform the basic runout as in 1. but
when you turn the dog around pause quietly for 30 seconds, then excite your dog
and give the find command and send them to find the misper. The dog should be
motivated and enthusiastic to search. If they are not return to stage 1 for
further practice.
3. As stage 2 but gradually increase the
delay before sending up to 2 minutes (keeping the search no longer than
30metres). If at any point the dog looses their motivation to search go back to
a stage where the dog is motivated and practise. Once the dog searches
enthusiastically with a 2 minute delay move on to stage 4.
4. Get the misper to hide without your
dog seeing or hearing (keep your dog in the car or walk your dog to a place
where they cannot see or hear the misper). Once the misper is in position
excite the dog and using the find command send them to locate the misper. The
dog should confidently leave the handler and be motivated to search for the
misper. It is important that you give the misper clear instructions on where to
hide so that the search does not become too difficult for your dog. To begin
with it is important that the dog quickly has a find. So initially keep
searches short and REWARD.
Return to handler
Aim
The next
part of the pattern is to get the dog to return to handler once they have found
the missing person. Only teach this once you dog is confidently going right
into the misper and playing with them or taking food from them until you
arrive.
It is vital when teaching this that the dog does not stop doing right
into the missing person. It important that the dog locates the exact position of the missing
person the only way you can be sure then have done this is by ensuring they go
right up to the misper each time they find.
Training
1. For this stage the handler will keep
the main reward rather than giving it to the misper so that they can encourage
the dog to come back to them. However you want to ensure that the dog does
still goes into the misper, so the misper needs something that will encourage
the dog to go to them before running back to the handler. The reward the misper
has must be high enough to get the dog to come in but not so much that the dog
will not leave to go back to the handler. You may need to play around with different
rewards at the beginning to get this right. As a general rule if your dog is
toy orientated give the misper a small amount of a high quality food reward and
if your dog is food orientated give the misper just a small amount of food so
that it is gone quickly.
2. Set up a short run away seen or
unseen depending on which stage your dog is at. Give the misper the treat they
are going to use to ensure the dog continues to go right into them. The handler
should keep the main somewhere where the dog cannot see it or get to it eg. in
a pocket.
3. Start only with short distances so
the handler is not too far away from the dog when they find. Set the search up
so the handler can see when the dog has been right into the misper or agree with the misper a signal
that they can give when the dog has been right in (commonly used is the word
bingo).
4. Once the dog has been into the misper
and taken the food the handler calls the dog in an exciting way showing them
the toy or holding out their hand full of treat for the dog. When the dog
returns to the handler, the handler rewards and praises the dog.
5. The dog should quite quickly learn to
go into the misper take the food and return to the handler for a bigger reward.
If the dog is very excited about getting back to the handler for their reward
they may not take the food this is Ok providing they briefly make contact with
the msiper before returning to the handler.
If the dog is not
motivated by food at all then the misper could have a toy which they sit
passively with and until the dog gets to them. Do not let the dog have this toy
and when they dog arrives at the misper quickly hide the toy eg in pocket or behind the misper while the
handler calls the dog showing them the toy they have.
Any problems or queries
with training please contact us via face book or by emailing us directly.
BOOK YOU MAY BE
INTERESTED IN.
You do not need to buy or read these
books to be successful on the course.
Bulanda s.
(2010) Ready ! Training The Search and Rescue Dog 2nd Edition.
Kennel club books.
Rescue Dog
Association (2002) Search and Rescue Dogs. Training the K9 Hero 2nd
edition. Howell.
Snovak A.
(2004) Guide to Search and Rescue Dogs. Barrons.
Syrotuch G.
(2000) Scent and the Scenting Dog.
Barkleigh Productions.
All these titles are available on Amazon.
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