Post by oksaradt on Nov 27, 2007 12:04:30 GMT -5
My style of training is very incremental for the dog with lots of baby steps to achieve the final product. I'm putting in yesterday's log entry and this morning to show how I train the puppy at this stage. When training a human remains detection dog, training logs for the career of the dog is required. Some handlers go into more detail with drawings. I've done that in the past. I now prefer taking photos if a complicated scent problem arises as I can put that on the computer more easily. Some will create logs where someone has to sign if they witnessed the training and agree to the log entry which is very similar to the style I had to do in the engineering world. I've seen logs used positively and negatively in the judicial system, so my attitude is I document for my benefit and the benefit of my students. My 2007 on-going log is now up to 102 pages.
Here ya go:
November 26, 2007
Maverick Tech. Murphy got imprinted on four sources. Three sources were worked twice for reinforcement at two different times. Sources were placed at 0800. Environment: Frost and snow melt on grass and parking lot. Air Temp: 34.1’F; Dew point: 29.4’F; Wind: WNW 4 mph; RH: 84%. Cloudy.
A bone shard (B1) was placed in the pallets close to the ground at Murphy’s nose height in such a way that he could get hits, but not get to the bone itself. A bone shard was placed up in the pallets, again near Murphy’s nose height (B2). Murphy is now tall enough that he can not crawl in between the pallets which causes him great frustration as he could navigate them easily only two weeks ago. B2 was placed where Murphy could touch it with his paws, but not reach it with his mouth. As this was imprinting and the rules are basically to see what the puppy will do, wet teeth in a spice jar were placed along large electrical conduit running parallel to the ground such that the scent was pouring down. The jar was not visible to Murphy at normal walking height. The jar could be visible if Murphy climbed up to it (T1). Again the object of this was only for observation purposes. I should note I also dropped five historic level teeth in a puddle (T2) for the same purpose.
Near the end of the day, B3 was two vertebrae in a suet cage placed under pine needles next to a chain link fence. The source was on asphalt under the needles.
B1, B2, T1, and T2 were available to Murphy on two occasions. Murphy was kept most of the day in a crate in my office where he slept. When Murphy would wake up and demand to get out (usually to pee/poop), then I took him to this area twice. One other time I took him to a clean grassy area to explore and to negate normal “puppies eat everything behavior” where I knew no sources were around.
Murphy was allowed to work B1, B2, T1, and T2 at 0945 and 1320.
0945 Murphy turned into scent on both B1 and B2. On both sources, Murphy exhibited drive to obtain sources. B1 had some indigenous cardboard under it which Murphy drug out in attempts to get to B1. B2 was behind a 2by4 footing brace nailed to the floor and under the 2nd pallet on top. Murphy climbed up onto of pallet one, laid down, and tried to dig B2 out. On both occasions, Murphy was praised as soon as foot action began as Murphy has a natural touch and this will be his primary indication. On B2, I teased Murphy with his toy as he was digging and elicited a bark on command. I intend to incorporate the Bark as his secondary indication, i.e. if I don’t see his touch I expect him to stay committed to source and Bark to get my attention. On such occasions, I will then prompt with a “show me” or “what is it?” and expect to see the touch as the target to source.
Murphy was oblivious to T2 on all occasions which does not surprise me as water work tends to come after shallow buried. I expected the same on T1. I observed a head turn on T1 and some nosing down, but no further pursuit in the first session.
Session environment: Ice on pallets, snow melt coming out of the gutters, Air Temperature: 39.1F, Dew point: 31.8’F; Wind: NW 5-9 mph; RH: 75%; Partly Cloudy.
1320 Murphy ran to pallets and checked for both B1 and B2 and was again rewarded for both. This is a positive sign as it means the reward system of praise and toy with food trade for toy marks the bones as positive end means and is marking the pack hunt activity. Again Murphy was oblivious to T2 and much more interested in scrap food around the nearby dumpster which afforded me “leave it” responses to shape that I dictate what we hunt for.
Murphy was chasing the puppy tennis ball (he’s almost too big for this ball and I’ll be transitioning him over as I worry about tennis ball choking) and paused as he neared T1. This time he pursued scent to below T1 (I was 10 feet away and simply observing. I did give mild verbal praise as he checked directly under teeth.) Murphy’s head came up and he climbed up vertical conduit to horizontal intersecting conduit and spotted the teeth jar. At this point, he looked back at me, whined, and then began patting at the jar which he could not reach. I rewarded. I usually teach highs in incrementally increasing heights and still will stick with my training regimen, but it was so cool to watch him work this out for himself. Definitely gives one a good feeling on the puppy selection process.
Put Murphy up on a high with some puppy milkbones. Picked up all sources and placed B3.
Environment: Water in puddles, Air Temp: 54.1’F; Wind: NNW 7-14 mph; RH:52%; Partly Cloudy.
1630 Murphy was waking back up and I was getting to leave Maverick early for a change, so worked him just before leaving. I intended to allow Murphy to have freedom in the dog section of my vehicle for the first time as a reward for the find. This turned out to be a great idea as Murphy got his first experience of riding with his head out the window when going under 20 mph. Electric windows definitely have finally found a place with me. Murphy was also much quieter riding this time as he was mesmerized with the view.
Murphy checked the previous locations for T1, B1, and B2. I walked down to the chain fence 40 feet away from the source and looked past it. Murphy followed to see what I was checking out. I leaned against the wall of Maverick and Murphy went to exploring. I followed belong 6-8 feet behind. Murphy rooted around in the pine needles starting 20 feet away from source simply looking for new things for a puppy to taste. About 2 feet from B3, Murphy’s posture changed and he began rooting more intensely in the pine needles. Murphy uncovered source, pawed at it, looked at me, then pawed again. I rewarded. Murphy got freeze dried liver in trade for the beanie baby and settled down to thoroughly enjoy the small cube while he watched me make a big happy fuss about recovering B3 and putting it in the X-terra.
Environment: Ground now dry, Air Temperature: 53.2’F; Wind N 3-7 mph; RH: 43%; Partly Cloudy.
Murphy got play time with Dax and Shake from 17:30 to 18:30.
November 27, 2007
Set up four bone sources in the woods at 0800. B1 is a suet cage with two vertebrae on the top of a minor wash. B1 is under some leaves and behind a baby cedar tree such that it is not visual. Scent should fill wash below source. B2 is a fibula wedged between barbless fencing and tree just outside the land such that it can be found but not retrieved. Source is visual, but not in an obvious way. Scent should lead to source then dog gets visual reinforcement while frustrated it can’t retrieve source. B3 is a meta-tarsal bone firmly wedged between two trunks, again along the top of a wash. B4 is a bone shard placed in a hollow of a tree along the same wash that opens up to the wash under the tree.
All sources are within a ¼ acre area. Dax will be expected to work the same area after she works a 1 acre negative.
Environment at time bones were set: Ground wet with melting frost. ; Air Temp: 39.7’F; Dew Point: 34.0’F; Wind: S 2-7 mph; RH: 80%. Clear Skies.
Here ya go:
November 26, 2007
Maverick Tech. Murphy got imprinted on four sources. Three sources were worked twice for reinforcement at two different times. Sources were placed at 0800. Environment: Frost and snow melt on grass and parking lot. Air Temp: 34.1’F; Dew point: 29.4’F; Wind: WNW 4 mph; RH: 84%. Cloudy.
A bone shard (B1) was placed in the pallets close to the ground at Murphy’s nose height in such a way that he could get hits, but not get to the bone itself. A bone shard was placed up in the pallets, again near Murphy’s nose height (B2). Murphy is now tall enough that he can not crawl in between the pallets which causes him great frustration as he could navigate them easily only two weeks ago. B2 was placed where Murphy could touch it with his paws, but not reach it with his mouth. As this was imprinting and the rules are basically to see what the puppy will do, wet teeth in a spice jar were placed along large electrical conduit running parallel to the ground such that the scent was pouring down. The jar was not visible to Murphy at normal walking height. The jar could be visible if Murphy climbed up to it (T1). Again the object of this was only for observation purposes. I should note I also dropped five historic level teeth in a puddle (T2) for the same purpose.
Near the end of the day, B3 was two vertebrae in a suet cage placed under pine needles next to a chain link fence. The source was on asphalt under the needles.
B1, B2, T1, and T2 were available to Murphy on two occasions. Murphy was kept most of the day in a crate in my office where he slept. When Murphy would wake up and demand to get out (usually to pee/poop), then I took him to this area twice. One other time I took him to a clean grassy area to explore and to negate normal “puppies eat everything behavior” where I knew no sources were around.
Murphy was allowed to work B1, B2, T1, and T2 at 0945 and 1320.
0945 Murphy turned into scent on both B1 and B2. On both sources, Murphy exhibited drive to obtain sources. B1 had some indigenous cardboard under it which Murphy drug out in attempts to get to B1. B2 was behind a 2by4 footing brace nailed to the floor and under the 2nd pallet on top. Murphy climbed up onto of pallet one, laid down, and tried to dig B2 out. On both occasions, Murphy was praised as soon as foot action began as Murphy has a natural touch and this will be his primary indication. On B2, I teased Murphy with his toy as he was digging and elicited a bark on command. I intend to incorporate the Bark as his secondary indication, i.e. if I don’t see his touch I expect him to stay committed to source and Bark to get my attention. On such occasions, I will then prompt with a “show me” or “what is it?” and expect to see the touch as the target to source.
Murphy was oblivious to T2 on all occasions which does not surprise me as water work tends to come after shallow buried. I expected the same on T1. I observed a head turn on T1 and some nosing down, but no further pursuit in the first session.
Session environment: Ice on pallets, snow melt coming out of the gutters, Air Temperature: 39.1F, Dew point: 31.8’F; Wind: NW 5-9 mph; RH: 75%; Partly Cloudy.
1320 Murphy ran to pallets and checked for both B1 and B2 and was again rewarded for both. This is a positive sign as it means the reward system of praise and toy with food trade for toy marks the bones as positive end means and is marking the pack hunt activity. Again Murphy was oblivious to T2 and much more interested in scrap food around the nearby dumpster which afforded me “leave it” responses to shape that I dictate what we hunt for.
Murphy was chasing the puppy tennis ball (he’s almost too big for this ball and I’ll be transitioning him over as I worry about tennis ball choking) and paused as he neared T1. This time he pursued scent to below T1 (I was 10 feet away and simply observing. I did give mild verbal praise as he checked directly under teeth.) Murphy’s head came up and he climbed up vertical conduit to horizontal intersecting conduit and spotted the teeth jar. At this point, he looked back at me, whined, and then began patting at the jar which he could not reach. I rewarded. I usually teach highs in incrementally increasing heights and still will stick with my training regimen, but it was so cool to watch him work this out for himself. Definitely gives one a good feeling on the puppy selection process.
Put Murphy up on a high with some puppy milkbones. Picked up all sources and placed B3.
Environment: Water in puddles, Air Temp: 54.1’F; Wind: NNW 7-14 mph; RH:52%; Partly Cloudy.
1630 Murphy was waking back up and I was getting to leave Maverick early for a change, so worked him just before leaving. I intended to allow Murphy to have freedom in the dog section of my vehicle for the first time as a reward for the find. This turned out to be a great idea as Murphy got his first experience of riding with his head out the window when going under 20 mph. Electric windows definitely have finally found a place with me. Murphy was also much quieter riding this time as he was mesmerized with the view.
Murphy checked the previous locations for T1, B1, and B2. I walked down to the chain fence 40 feet away from the source and looked past it. Murphy followed to see what I was checking out. I leaned against the wall of Maverick and Murphy went to exploring. I followed belong 6-8 feet behind. Murphy rooted around in the pine needles starting 20 feet away from source simply looking for new things for a puppy to taste. About 2 feet from B3, Murphy’s posture changed and he began rooting more intensely in the pine needles. Murphy uncovered source, pawed at it, looked at me, then pawed again. I rewarded. Murphy got freeze dried liver in trade for the beanie baby and settled down to thoroughly enjoy the small cube while he watched me make a big happy fuss about recovering B3 and putting it in the X-terra.
Environment: Ground now dry, Air Temperature: 53.2’F; Wind N 3-7 mph; RH: 43%; Partly Cloudy.
Murphy got play time with Dax and Shake from 17:30 to 18:30.
November 27, 2007
Set up four bone sources in the woods at 0800. B1 is a suet cage with two vertebrae on the top of a minor wash. B1 is under some leaves and behind a baby cedar tree such that it is not visual. Scent should fill wash below source. B2 is a fibula wedged between barbless fencing and tree just outside the land such that it can be found but not retrieved. Source is visual, but not in an obvious way. Scent should lead to source then dog gets visual reinforcement while frustrated it can’t retrieve source. B3 is a meta-tarsal bone firmly wedged between two trunks, again along the top of a wash. B4 is a bone shard placed in a hollow of a tree along the same wash that opens up to the wash under the tree.
All sources are within a ¼ acre area. Dax will be expected to work the same area after she works a 1 acre negative.
Environment at time bones were set: Ground wet with melting frost. ; Air Temp: 39.7’F; Dew Point: 34.0’F; Wind: S 2-7 mph; RH: 80%. Clear Skies.