Exercise 2-4: Interior Multiple Hides
Dog demonstrates they can find 2 hides within 10 feet apart by leaving one hide to locate the other hide. Handler must call Finish after alerting on the 2nd hide.
Purpose: Demonstrates ability to work 2 scent cones and move from one hide to another.
Age of Hide: Recommend 10 minutes minimum
Number of Hides: 2 that are each different odors. Note: The same odor can be used for service and professionally trained detection dogs who are specifically trained on one odor.
Search Area: Interior
Hide Placement: Hides should be placed no further than 10 feet apart.
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. If there are 2 hides in the exercise, the Handler must say “Finish” to end the search. If a hide is shown in this search, the Finish call must come before showing the hide(s).
Exercise set-up: 2 hides of different odors are placed per guidelines. Search begins when the handler cues the the dog to search. Dog and/or handler must cross the start line. Handler must signal an “Alert” call for each hide. Search ends when the handler calls “Finish”.
Scoring: Pass/Not yet
Non-qualifiers: Odor paired with food; handler points to hide; dog does not show change in behavior at source; dog exhibits an unproductive (false) indication; dog retrieves hide; dog doesn’t disengage with first hide; handler pulls dog off first hide or lures dog off with food; 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. Dog dislodges hide during search.
Tips:
Video example:
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Additional samples of Level 2 Exercise 4
Sample Videos: