Course Details
The alert acts as a communicative device between the handler and the dog, letting the handler know that the dog is at or as close to the source of odor as possible. Our goal is for the alert to be a precise, accurate and non-destructive behavior that is obvious enough that the handler can easily read it and call the location correctly.
One common problem that can occur is the dog can be less confident and more tentative. This makes for a more subtle alert that can be challenging to read. Another complication is dogs that have become aggressive or destructive to the hide. With these dogs we want to use techniques to shape a new non-destructive behavior. We don’t necessarily need a behavior not compatible with being destructive, we just need to be systematic about creating and rewarding repetitions of non-destructive alert behavior.
Another complication with alerts can be imprecise alerts that are close but not close enough to the source. And then of course an extreme example of this is “false” alerts, where the dog has learned to offer an alert but is not at source. The challenges will be discussed in this webinar and we will discuss strategies to improve the alert and shape a better, cleaner alert behavior.
About the Instructor:
Lucy Newton (she/her) has been training dogs and teaching dog training almost all her life. She was a search & rescue dog trainer, handler, and instructor and she trained numerous personal dogs for wilderness search and rescue, as well as land and water human remains detection. Lucy also worked as a full-time police sergeant and police canine handler and handled several dual-purpose patrol/narcotics canines for her police department.
In 2011 Lucy took a full-time position helping teach detection trainer schools for law enforcement, military, and professional dog trainers. Lucy also has experience training dogs to detect a wide variety of plant and animal products important to conservation research projects. She has also worked with several truffle farm growers training truffle detection dogs. Lucy operates a dog training business in North Carolina where she continues to offer high-level training and instruction to police, search and rescue, working, and sport dog handlers. Through her business, Front Sight K-9, Lucy offers board and train programs for sport and working dogs. She also provides coaching for students involved in various dog sports, primarily in obedience, tracking, and nosework. In addition to training dogs for police and search and rescue, Lucy competes in a variety of sports with her own dogs, mainly tracking and IGP. Lucy is also the service dog trainer for American Humane's Pups4Patriots Program. Lucy trains green dogs to be service dogs for veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress. The dogs reside with her until fully trained and then Lucy conducts a residential training camp where the dogs are paired with their veterans and the veterans learn to handle their dogs. Lucy teaches the veterans positive reinforcement training techniques in order to teach them how to maintain and improve upon their dog's training. These training R+ techniques also serve as an excellent mechanism to help the veterans cope with their PTS as well.
Lucy Newton (she/her) has been training dogs and teaching dog training almost all her life. She was a search & rescue dog trainer, handler, and instructor and she trained numerous personal dogs for wilderness search and rescue, as well as land and water human remains detection. Lucy also worked as a full-time police sergeant and police canine handler and handled several dual-purpose patrol/narcotics canines for her police department.
In 2011 Lucy took a full-time position helping teach detection trainer schools for law enforcement, military, and professional dog trainers. Lucy also has experience training dogs to detect a wide variety of plant and animal products important to conservation research projects. She has also worked with several truffle farm growers training truffle detection dogs. Lucy operates a dog training business in North Carolina where she continues to offer high-level training and instruction to police, search and rescue, working, and sport dog handlers. Through her business, Front Sight K-9, Lucy offers board and train programs for sport and working dogs. She also provides coaching for students involved in various dog sports, primarily in obedience, tracking, and nosework. In addition to training dogs for police and search and rescue, Lucy competes in a variety of sports with her own dogs, mainly tracking and IGP. Lucy is also the service dog trainer for American Humane's Pups4Patriots Program. Lucy trains green dogs to be service dogs for veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress. The dogs reside with her until fully trained and then Lucy conducts a residential training camp where the dogs are paired with their veterans and the veterans learn to handle their dogs. Lucy teaches the veterans positive reinforcement training techniques in order to teach them how to maintain and improve upon their dog's training. These training R+ techniques also serve as an excellent mechanism to help the veterans cope with their PTS as well.
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