Exercise 2-2: Containers with Toy Distraction
Dog demonstrates they can find and indicate target odor in a container in the presence of an intentional accessible toy distractor. The Toy distractor is placed outside of a container, visible in the search area and and placed 3-4 feet from a container.
Purpose: Demonstrates the dog can search in the presence of an accessible toy.
Age of Hide: Recommend 10 minutes minimum
Number of Hides: 1
Search Area: Any suitable location
Hide Placement: Handler’s choice on which container has target odor.
On/Off Leash: Either on or off
Required Calls: Handler must say “Alert” or raise hand when their dog has communicated they have found target odor. The Alert call must come before rewarding your dog and should be the handler’s first confirmation of their dog finding the hide.
Exercise set-up: Use a minimum of 10 containers of any type (must be enclosed on all sides that has a cover, lid, or fold flap). The containers can be a mix of different types as long as the hot container is not the only different one. The containers are placed in any configuration. Hide is placed per guidelines. A Toy distractor is placed outside of a container, visible in the search area and placed 3-4 feet from a container. Search begins when the handler cues the dog to search. Dog and/or handler must cross the start line. Search ends when the handler signals an “Alert” call.
Scoring: Pass/Not yet
Non-qualifiers: Odor paired with food; dog indicates on the distractor, dog will not leave or retrieves the distractor; luring dog off a distractor with food; excessive handler intervention (including leash pressure, body pressure, verbal) used to move dog away from intentional distractor; Handler takes toy away from dog; dog carries toy distractor during search; handler points to hide; dog does not show change in behavior at source; dog exhibits an unproductive (false) indication; dog retrieves hide or distractor; scent aids fall out from hide placement; exposed scent aids (not in vessel) placed in search area; dog eliminates during search; search parameters not met; incorrectly placed hide; incorrect call; Dog is rewarded before handler makes an alert call; Scent vessel not hidden and visible to dog or the human eye; Handler is out of view a majority of the search time.
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Additional samples of Level 2, Exercise 2
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