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Post by sarpudel on May 25, 2010 9:07:03 GMT -5
Hi Guys,
I just wanted to share that Bear and I have recently passed the IPWDA Basic HRD test. We have made some good progress in the last couple months since we saw you last. I am feeling really good about reading him, and also have finally figured out how to work through that scent-pool problem, and also reading him in scent-pool behaviour and when it's actually a pool containing the source. I feel great about this, and we are planning on taking the Advanced test sometime in November or early December.
With big grins and tailwags,
Michelle and Bear
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Post by oksaradt on May 25, 2010 9:57:05 GMT -5
That's great on the cert! Congratulations.
So, what was your solution to reading the difference between scent-with-no-source and a pool-with-scent-source?
Jim
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Post by sarpudel on May 28, 2010 22:35:00 GMT -5
Well, I think it was a combination of things. I think that after so much time and work on lots and lots of problems and learning from our mistakes, I just got better/keener on being able to read him, and also through all that time and work on lots of problems, Bear has gained experience and is throwing off better/stronger behaviours that are easier to read.
Telling the difference between pool scent and source scent-pool is now like night and day. Mostly in the speed of his movements, but also in some subtle differences in body carriage. We still have work to do about him hitting in strong scent pools that include the source, sometimes 6-10 feet away, but I think that's a "nose calibration" issue and we're working that out.
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Post by bonefinder on May 28, 2010 23:15:00 GMT -5
Michelle, CONGRATS. Bear is a great dog, and it sounds like you have made alot of progress. If all this were left up to the dogs, it would be easy, but we humans get in the way and make it too complicated. I hope I am following your path, when we attempt to certify in July with NAPWDA, in Billings. Praying for cool weather. Last year was 95. Bonnie
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Post by oksaradt on Jun 1, 2010 8:49:26 GMT -5
"Telling the difference between pool scent and source scent-pool is now like night and day. Mostly in the speed of his movements, but also in some subtle differences in body carriage. We still have work to do about him hitting in strong scent pools that include the source, sometimes 6-10 feet away, but I think that's a "nose calibration" issue and we're working that out."
My solution to this is (as with you) lots of repitition AND having a rock-solid target with the dog. To get that means you intentionally set up scent pool problems and don't accept anything but an accurate target from the dog. Of course, with my dogs this can also result in their picking up a single tooth and spitting it at me in disgust. I don't encourage that behavior, but I definitely understand it.
JJ do the evaluation?
Jim
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Post by rthonor on Jun 2, 2010 13:45:09 GMT -5
Congratulations Michele and Bear! That is great news. Where did you go for your certification? rt
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Post by tempe507sar on Jul 10, 2010 8:05:02 GMT -5
Congratulations! You guys sound like a great team! How did you decide to certify through IPWDA? Is it required by your unit or do you have a choice of organizations to certify with? Does this test (basic HRD) allow you to deploy? Karla
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Post by sarpudel on Jul 12, 2010 23:21:22 GMT -5
Our team encourages certification from any reputable organization that has sensible standards. A certification is not necessary, per se, for deployment, that depends on how much confidence your team leader has in you. However, if you are ever called to testify in court, it definetly gives your testimony perhaps more validity by having that piece of paper that someone other than your buddies thinks that you are competent enough to be out there working cases. I certified through IPWDA because our team has worked quite a bit with Jonni Joyce over the last couple years, and she is an evaluator for them. I am also planning on taking the NASAR evaluation in October, and hopefully passing this time, the Shreveport FD test in March next year. I had it passed twice this past year, but handler stupidity caused me and my dog to not actually get the piece of paper. But it was a great learning experience, and very valuable. Every mistake is but a stepping stone to success if you learn from it.
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Post by tempe507sar on Jul 18, 2010 14:54:04 GMT -5
Thanks for the information. My unit requires my dog and I to pass internal testing, we do an outside evaluation and then we can deploy. We use the Northern States Search Dog Network to do the outside evaluation but have been looking for a national organization. NASAR is not very available in Minnesota. Karla
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Post by oksaradt on Jul 19, 2010 8:51:55 GMT -5
Sarah Garfunkel is an accredited NASAR HRD evaluator over in Wisconsin. Last I heard she was working an HRD dog in IRAQ. You can google her name and NASAR. It will give you a link to her NASAR page. Sarah's a fair evaluator. I've observed her before. Fair is the most you can ask from any evaluator.
Jim
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Post by tempe507sar on Jul 19, 2010 19:18:38 GMT -5
Yes, she and Gage are home now. We worked a search last Monday. Sarah is an evaluator with the Northern States Search Dog Network (NSSDN) too. But not too many people know of NSSDN so that's why my unit has been exploring a national option. Sarah is a great teacher as well as evaluator. I took her 2 day first aid class for working dogs, it was wonderful, great hands on and lecture too. Karla
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Post by oksaradt on Jul 20, 2010 10:27:10 GMT -5
Well there ya go. Just get that SAR Tech II certification and that NASAR pack to show Sarah and you are on your way to a national cert with NASAR.
Jim
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Post by tempe507sar on Jul 27, 2010 22:53:53 GMT -5
What a line we walk, who wants to spend all their time and money testing, but you need something that LE looks at as a known certification! Our NSSDN standards are tough, Sarah helped update them last year so you know they are about as realistic as any test can be, They are cheap to host and close at hand but not well known. It's always interesting to see how others deal with standards for deployment. Karla P.S. My pack is a work in progress. It's always changing, bug dope in the summer and and extra hat and socks in the winter, but you never know in Minnesota, I wore my life jacket last winter because the swamp we were searching was only "sorta" frozen and I sure didn't want to go down under the vegetation mat!
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