Training Update

Bender DID rediscover the toilet paper, so it now lives somewhere less convenient for the humans in the house!

On Saturday, both dogs went to training and had terrific days:

Bender: We did two master run-aways (where Bender looks for me) and he did very well. Just for fun we tried a "stranger" run (where Bender looks for someone other than me). The stranger, in this case teammate Brian, acted very enthusiastic and "cranked" Bender up before running off. It was all I could do to restrain the pup. When I released him, he made a bee-line for Brian who greeted him with more great enthusiasm and a treat. Bender did well enough we tried a second stranger run and he made it clear that he understood the "game" again heading directly downwind to Brian. We did another, more-complicated master run--the logical visual way for Bender to find me was to run down a grassy path but he caught my sent and ran into the woods in a straight line to my position. We finished with another stranger run. This time Brian ran a "C" shaped pattern so we could see if Bender trailed him (followed the line of the "C") or if he air-scented (made a straight line to Brian's position). Either is acceptable, but we are looking for the straight-line air-scenting and that is what Bender did. These were all short exercises with very strong wind conditions.

Zach: Zach is already certified for air-scenting on live humans and is now working on human remains detection. Toward this end, we use 8 inch pieces of PVC with a cap on either end and holes drilled along the length to allow the scent to leave the tube. As for material, we use rags that have been dipped in blood and placenta as well as teeth (I am always looking for older teens who are doomed to require wisdom teeth extraction!) We also had a sample of soil taken from one of the crime scenes we worked with local police. After the coroner removes the body of the deceased, the soil under the body retains the scent of human remains.

We had 6 stations (each a different tube hidden in different conditions). One was placed in a pile of logs, one in a grassy field, another about 5 feet up in a tree, a fourth shoved into a hole in the ground (not buried), a fifth under some concrete parking stops, and the last along the edge of a woodline.

Zach gets treats when working on live find situations but we are working using a tug toy to motivate him for human remains detection as the victim can not give the enthusiastic response of a live victim and can't offer a treat. When Zach makes the find, he turns to me and then shows me (with his nose) what he found. When he does this, I produce the tug toy and we play for a minute as his reward. As his training progresses, it is likely he will make a find before I get to his position and he will need to return to me and indicate (with a sit or a bark) that he has found something and then he will need to show me where it is.

He did well on all six runs. I was pleased as he has not worked human remains detection for several months (before my ankle surgery last August). He still remembers the intent of the game and did a great job finding each of the scent articles.