Logan Haus Kennels’ 4-day, Detection Fundamentals Course is a great opportunity for anyone interested in detection training. This course covers everything from the basics of detection training to more advanced problem solving.
This course is designed around two classroom lectures covered the first two mornings, with as much practical application as we can fit in.
Our first lecture is on Operant and Classical Conditioning, the foundation of what our training methods and principles are based on. Learning the fundamentals of Operant and Classical Conditioning is vital for success in our training system. During this lecture, we also discuss Behavior Shaping.
During the Operant Conditioning lecture you will learn:
How animals learn through the four quadrants of Operant Conditioning
How to correctly use classical conditioning to prepare the dog for marker training
How to properly motivate the dog for training
How to achieve engagement before training can begin
Drive theory in training
The use of deprivation in training
Reward VS Reinforcer
Timing of reinforcement
Superstitious behaviors
Primary / Secondary Reinforcers
Reinforcement schedules
Stimulus control
How to use a “skinner box”
Successive approximation
Back chaining
Behavior economics
Techniques to improve your timing and reading the animal
During the practical application, students will learn how we shape behaviors with chickens in color and shape discrimination. Chickens make excellent training models for shaping behaviors due to their speed and the fact that they cannot be trained using force or aversive methods. This will help the student make huge improvements in his timing. The concept of color and shape discrimination with a chicken is very much the same as the concept of odor detection with a dog.
The second lecture is on Odor Detection. We see many dogs who have a solid understanding of target odor, but who have not been properly proofed off of many different distractor odors. This leads to false indication problems. We also see many dogs that are not taught independent searching, but rather rely on handlers to lead them to the source for “odor confirmation,” rather than true odor detection.
In the Odor Detection lecture you will learn:
How to apply the concepts of classical and operant conditioning in teaching correct odor detection work
The fundamentals of training an odor detector dog based on timing, criteria, and rate of reinforcement
How to begin odor work as young as 1-day old
Training tools and techniques to develop accurate and reliable detector dogs
How to teach dogs to ignore all distractor odors with no punishment
The importance of hunt drive in a detector dog and how we utilize it
How to teach a focused Trained Final Response (TFR) with marker training
How to teach a dog to search a pattern independently of his handler
The importance of drive building with a detector dog
During the practical application, students will learn how to begin odor detection with a 7-10 week old puppy. They will learn how to teach the puppy to recognize one target odor, ignore many distractor odors such as food and toys, and perform a consistent search pattern. Students will also work with their own adult dog on odor imprinting, proofing off distractor odors, and general detection problem solving.
We will also briefly discuss proper canine selection. The degree of our success in dog training is greatly dictated by starting with the correct type of dog for the job required. Many dogs are genetically limited to the point of not being suitable for the type of work we are trying to train them to do. Having a thorough understanding of proper dog selection will keep you from fighting the uphill battle of trying to train a dog that is not genetically cut out to perform to the standard set forth by the mission requirement.
Working spot - $700
Audit spot - $400
Contact Teri Phelan Robinson to inquire and register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mike-suttle-detection-seminar-tickets-82496680793?fbclid=IwAR11JIvZfXXCS7Rt4aTbQ01E1x4lIYOj8smz9vFvHf8dGcYL2HoQtXYQVv0