Exercise 4-5: exterior ground crack hide
Exterior search with a hide placed on the ground in a crack. The crack can be on cement/asphalt or along the edge between 2 different ground surfaces.
Purpose: Exterior search with a hide placed on the ground in a crack. The crack can be on cement/asphalt or along the edge between 2 different ground surfaces.
Age of Hide: Recommend 10 minutes minimum
Number of Hides: 1
Search Area: Exterior paved or concrete area that is not completely empty of objects and where the hide can be hidden in the ground.
Hide Placement: Placed on the ground in a crack or tucked between 2 different ground surfaces. The hide cannot be placed closer than 2 feet from any object. Hide must be non-visible.
On/Off Leash: On or Off Leash
Required Calls: Handler must say “Alert” or raise hand when their dog has communicated they have found target odor. The Alert call must be the handler’s first confirmation of their dog finding the hide. The Alert call must also come before rewarding your dog. “Finish” must be called to end the search.
Exercise set-up: One hide is placed per guidelines. Search begins when the handler cues the the dog to search. Dog and/or handler must cross the start line. Search ends when the handler calls “Finish.” The handler MUST show the hide in this exercise. This can be done either by removing the hide by hand and showing it to the camera or taking the camera to the hide location.
Scoring: Pass/Not yet
Non-qualifiers: Search parameters not met; 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; scent aids fall out from hide placement; exposed scent aids (not in vessel) placed in search area; Dog dislodges hide during search; dog eliminates during search; Scent vessel not hidden and visible to dog or the human eye; incorrectly placed hide; incorrect call; Dog is rewarded before handler makes an alert call; handler is out of view a majority of the search time.
Tips: Use the wind so that your dog will pick up odor downwind. To show the hide, have some tweezers on you to easily pull up the hide.
Video example:
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