Scent Training in Public

Rachel:

I have always advocated training with the end goal in mind: a dog that consistently and accurately gives a trained response to an olfactory cue . . . And if that is a behavior that is desired "anytime and all the time" AND "anywhere and everywhere", then that is how it should be trained. That is one reason that I LOVE the small test tubes and promote use of a spare screw top with holes drilled in. I take scent with me almost all the time. This enables me to present odor and reward on the playground, while shopping, while in car, etc-

If dog is in "stage 1, assigning value to odor", then a quick sniff and reward is simple. As the dog transitions to "stage 2, locate and discriminate", I can open a tube and position it for an easy find and big reward.

How I present and how I reward is dependent on the dogs progression in scent training.

Of course, I strongly push keeping logs : when did you present odor, where, what tjme, what was your body position, what was dog body position, distractions, BG number, etc

AND, "never waste a low" 

A low BG is a training opportunity no matter where you are and no matter what time of day 

Practicing SA

2nd generation sample
Day 1

Raya still needs help looking for the odor on me. So I use different positions in different rooms. The fact that she has searched for the odor on me is the highlight of the exercise and so I am helping her by cueing the Bump response once she has focused on the source, since she didn’t immediately alert reflexively on her own.

I took this same sample with me to physical therapy at the hospital this morning and we arrived early. While waiting for my appointment I presented the sample in hand and also on my body and Raya eagerly and in a timely manner alerted without being cued.

Testing for Viability....options

 This morning we played the find it game using a hot sample and then the second time using a hot sample and a cold Tube. Raya found the cold tube first, picked it up but continued to search. When she found the hot sample she dropped the empty tube and retrieved the hot sample.

Training Complete

Raya knows the Seizure Alert behavior chain.

We will continue simulating the chain on a regular basis for as long as we have viable sample.

We have tested clothing sample for odor viability and have found it to be successful.

We will continue playing the Find It game to test sample for viability.

We have hydrated clothing sample, tested it for viability and trained with it.  I have found that once thawed, the sample does not spoil and remains viable at room temperature indefinitely.

I have 14 hydrated sample frozen and stored in my freezer.

I have 2 clothing samples double bagged and stored at room temperature:
     4/21/19
     5/22/19

Training the Chain - Day 2

Dog ID::	15
Date/Time
Training Location
SCENT TYPE:  (clothing/saliva/swab/other)
Origin:	Donor #3
Date of Capture:	4/21/19
AGE WHEN USED:
SAMPLE CONDITION: (frozen/refrigerated/room temp/other)
SAMPLE STATE: (gauze/dental cotton/cloth/hydrated/other)
SESSIONS:	1	2	3	4
CONTAINER TYPE:
INTENSITY:  (# of holes)
# of CONTAINERS:
# of SCENT OPTIONS:	1	1	1	1
MODE of PRESENTATION: (hand/surface/wheel/other)
Response
Training Location
Air Flow
Reps:
% Success Rate:
Length of Search::

TRAINER NOTES:

COMMENTS:

Training the Chain - Day 1 REFRESHED

I refreshed ALL test tubes this morning: the FTT and 2 NTT using sample collected 4/21/19.

Then I used the Find It game to test odor viability (Chart 1)

This morning, with fresh sample, I trained something new - sample in the pocket of my robe while I was seated and brushing my teeth.  Brushing my teeth was the new thing because I introduced a new element into the environment (Chart 2)

Dog ID::	15
Date/Time	10/4/19. 530AM
Training Location	house
SCENT TYPE:  (clothing/saliva/swab/other)	clothing
Origin:	Donor #3
Date of Capture:	4/21/19
AGE WHEN USED:	165 days old.  Day 1
SAMPLE CONDITION: (frozen/refrigerated/room temp/other)	room temp
SAMPLE STATE: (gauze/dental cotton/cloth/hydrated/other)	leggings
SESSIONS:	1	2	3	4/5
CONTAINER TYPE:	FTT	FTT	FTT	FTT
INTENSITY:  (# of holes)	5	5	5	5
# of CONTAINERS:	1	1	1	1
# of SCENT OPTIONS:	1	1	1	1
MODE of PRESENTATION: (hand/surface/wheel/other)	hidden	hidden	hidden	hidden
Response				search/retrieve
Training Location	DR	DR	DR	LR (X2)
Air Flow	2 open windows	2 open windows	2 open windows	2 open windows
Reps:	1	1	1	1
% Success Rate:	100%	100%	100%	100%
Length of Search::				:10/:25

TRAINER NOTES: #4/5 were done to demo to Jan and Sheila testing for viability.  First time working with strange people and/or other dogs in the area.  They did not seem to distract her from task.  With Jan and Sheila she demo'd the 2 Ball Find game AND search for sample.  I am not getting calm from Raya but she IS staying on task despite huge distractions.


COMMENTS:

Dog ID::	15
Date/Time	10/4/19  6AM
Training Location	house
SCENT TYPE:  (clothing/saliva/swab/other)	clothing
Origin:	Donor #3
Date of Capture:	4/21/19
AGE WHEN USED:	165 days old.  Day 1
SAMPLE CONDITION: (frozen/refrigerated/room temp/other)	room temp
SAMPLE STATE: (gauze/dental cotton/cloth/hydrated/other)	leggings
SESSIONS:	1	2	3	4
CONTAINER TYPE:	NTT	NTT	NTT
INTENSITY:  (# of holes)
# of CONTAINERS:	1	1	1	1
# of SCENT OPTIONS:	1	1	1	1
MODE of PRESENTATION: (hand/surface/wheel/other)	robe pocket	robe pocket	robe pocket	inside glove
Response
Training Location	bathroom	bathroom	bathroom	bathroom
Air Flow	open window	open window	open window	open window
Reps:	3	3	3	2
% Success Rate:
Length of Search::

TRAINER NOTES:

COMMENTS:

Training the Chain - Day 17

I did NOT refresh the sample as planned.  Today the opportunity to test presented itself, so I decided to take a chance and train with the 17 day old sample.  Raya's immediate response to the testing surprised me.  So we learned something about sample viability at Day 17.

I have noticed, too, that Raya does NOT alert to residual odor.  By switching from L side to R side, she sniffs but does not target or alert to the previous location of the target scent.

Dog ID::	15
Date/Time	10/1/19. 3PM
Training Location	home
SCENT TYPE:  (clothing/saliva/swab/other)	clothing
Origin:	Donor #3
Date of Capture:	4/21/19
AGE WHEN USED:	162 days old   Day 17
SAMPLE CONDITION: (frozen/refrigerated/room temp/other)	room temp
SAMPLE STATE: (gauze/dental cotton/cloth/hydrated/other)	leggings
SESSIONS:	1	2	3	4
CONTAINER TYPE:	NTT	NTT	NTT
INTENSITY:  (# of holes)	2	2	2
# of CONTAINERS:	1	1	1
# of SCENT OPTIONS:	1	1	1	1
MODE of PRESENTATION: (hand/surface/wheel/other)	L pants pocket	R pants pocket	R pants pocket
Response	sniff/target/ alert	sniff/target/ alert	sniff/target/ alert
Training Location	FR walking	FR walking	FR seated
Air Flow	2 open windows/ open door/ ceiling fan	2 open windows/ open door/ ceiling fan	2 open windows/ open door/ ceiling fan
Reps:	1	1	1
% Success Rate:	100%	100%	100%
Length of Search::	:05	:05	:05

TRAINER NOTES:

COMMENTS: