Rewarding With No Bark

This question was sent to us via email:

"I noticed that you sometimes reward the dog for finding the helper without waiting until he barks. Doesn’t this lead to problems with the alert later on?"

The short answer to this question is “No.” We do not have alert problems with dogs who are trained in this method. In fact, it is quite the opposite. We find that the Teaching Focused Scenting (TFS) method actually prevents problems with the alert because the path to reward is very clear.

The first step in the progression of TFS is to manipulate the environment so the dog teaches himself that live human scent is significant. The dog is drawn to the barrels with the aid of a ball on a rope. The dog stumbles upon the barrel containing the helper and is immediately rewarded for putting his nose in that barrel. Live human scent immediately takes on significance. We do not wait for a bark because the dog must first associate live, inaccessible, invisible human scent with the reward game.

This step is shown in the following video:

Once live, inaccessible, invisible human scent and the game are tightly paired in the dog’s mind, the reward is delayed. Since the dog is now absolutely convinced that finding live human scent produces the reward game, he becomes frustrated when the game doesn’t occur and his drive intensifies. His first reaction might be to dig or bite at the barrel. This behavior is referred to as the dog’s “original response.” The original response is rewarded. We reward this response because we are rewarding the dog’s state of mind (frustration) and heightened level of drive. A drive frustrated is a drive increased. His heightened state of frustration and drive demands that he alert in drive. This focus eliminates the problem of the dog dropping in drive prior to alerting and possibly not alerting at all.

Rewarding the original response does not create a problem of the dog biting or digging instead of barking because the original response only is rewarded a few times (perhaps only 1 or 2 repetitions). In that heightened state of mind, the helper again delays the game, waiting for the dog to offer another behavior (the bark) to trigger the game. With repetition, the bark takes on significance in the dog’s mind and becomes his default behavior.

In any new venue, the reward must come quickly so the dog knows he is correct. Subsequent steps in the progression where we don’t require a bark include when we move the helper from the barrels to a different container, or when we move the helper from containers to a hole in the rubble. In these situations, we reward when the dog first puts his nose in the opening, as shown in the following video:

Once the dog understands the change of venues, we always will require him to alert before rewarding.

With the TFS method’s clarity of learning that taps into the dog’s top 20% of his drive, common problems associated with the bark indication are avoided. Problems such as a dog leaving the helper in confusion, circling the area, dropping in drive, delaying his alert, and barking away from the source of target odor (live human scent) are not behaviors offered by the TFS-trained dog because he has taught himself how he can serve his self interests. He has learned there is only one clear path to the reward game.

The TFS method is a streamlined, step-by-step progression in which the environment is manipulated so the dog teaches himself a clear path to the reward of game with the helper.

Does the Teaching Focused Scenting Method Ever Utilize Single Barrels?

I received two questions via email this week regarding single bark barrels:
“Do you start the dogs on a single barrel before using multiple barrels?”
“Do you do any bark alert work on a single bark barrel?”

No, we do not start dogs on a single barrel before using multiple barrels. The purpose of Teaching Focused Scenting as a foundation training method is to quickly and clearly “marry” the target odor (live human scent) with the reward. In using this method, the dog immediately learns to use and rely on his scenting abilities in order to find the helper and obtain his reward. This video demonstrates a “green” (new) dog at work on the barrels. You can see the moment when he begins to scent for the helper instead of systematically sticking his nose into each barrel lid hole (2:12). This is the dog’s first day of disaster search training. This is also the first time he’s ever seen bark barrels:



In the Focused Scenting training, the dog’s behavior is shaped in a progression which first teaches him that finding the target odor is significant because in the dog’s mind it means his reward of the tug game is forthcoming. The method then teaches him to bark in frustration at the source of the target odor to obtain the reward. As a result, the dog learns that there is only one path to obtaining his reward and there is only one place that the reward game occurs.

This path is:

1) Search for target odor
2) Find the point of source of the target odor
3) Bark
4) Have game with the toy

The duration of the bark alert is built in a similar manner to what is traditionally done with a single barrel (variable interval of reinforcement); however, we use multiple barrels in order to incorporate a search to locate the helper prior to the bark alert. This maintains the integrity of the path to reward as described above, making the training clearer to the dog.

A single bark barrel is a visual exercise during which the dog is not required to use his scenting ability to find the helper. The dog learns to bark in response to the visual stimulus of the barrel itself. In essence, we are training a dog to trust his eyes when using a single barrel.

On a single barrel, the dog learns that the path to reward is:

1) Identify barrel using eyes
2) Run to front of barrel
3) Bark
4) Tug with reward toy

Evidence of this is present when we start dogs on the multiple barrels who have already experienced a single barrel. Such dogs will bark at any of the barrels because they are responding to the visual stimulus of the barrel and not target odor.

When using a single barrel during foundation training, we are essentially teaching the dog a path to reward that is contrary to the final series of desired behaviors. Using multiple barrels and requiring the dog to utilize its scenting abilities to locate the helper enables the dog’s sense of smell to drive him in the work, thus maintaining a clear and purposeful training progression.

The FEMA FSA and SUSAR Type II evaluations do require the dog to bark for 30 seconds at a single barrel. A dog trained in the Focus Scenting method responds to this exercise as if it was a search. They do not see the barrel as a stimulus to alert until they identify that it contains the target odor of live human scent. However, in order to prepare the handler and dog team for this exercise, we will do a few repetitions on a single barrel in the weeks or days prior to the evaluation.

A Different Approach to Training the Disaster Search Dog

In September of 2007, I attended a 3-day seminar featuring nationally known detection trainer Randy Hare of Alpha K9. I initially discovered Randy Hare through the internet. A friend sent me a link to detection training videos on his website www.alphak9.com. I was fascinated by the focus of the dogs depicted in the videos. The videos showed dogs searching through seemingly impossible distractions with no help or direction from their handlers. In fact, the handlers in these videos attempted to distract the dogs from their task on purpose. Tennis balls were dumped over the heads of the dogs as they worked to locate and alert on the target substance. All the while, the dogs remained on task. Intensity and focus were the hallmarks of dogs shown in the videos.

After viewing this video, I knew I needed to meet Randy to learn more about his training method. How did he achieve this intensity and focus with his dogs? How did he train his dogs to ignore such tempting distractions?

The 3-day seminar provided the insight I was looking for. Immediately I knew we could incorporate Randy’s methods into our disaster search training. In conjunction with Elizabeth Kreitler from VATF-1, I set out to completely restructure my training program. In the midst of this restructuring, and based on Randy Hare’s method, Elizabeth and I created the Focused Scenting method.

The Focused Scenting method is based on the following beliefs:

1. Selection of the proper canine is critical to success.

The selection criteria are non-negotiable. The method relies on the selection of highly driven, confident dogs. Dogs who display an intense desire to tug with the helper and possess a toy are good candidates. The desire to hunt for that toy is also a necessary trait. However, a dog that is driven to engage with the human shows a commitment to the scent source that enables him to excel in disaster search work.

2. “An excellent trainer is a master of manipulating the dog’s environment, allowing the dog to educate himself through his drives and by carefully timed reinforcements.” – Randy Hare

Self reinforcement has long been known as one of the most powerful learning mechanisms. The Focused Scenting method involves skilled manipulation of the training environment to allow the dog to teach himself what behavior brings reward. Corrections of any kind are not used.

The results of this method have been dramatic for the CTTF-1 canines. In addition to a drastic reduction in training time from “green” to certification-ready, we’ve noticed a substantial increase in our dog’s focus to the task of locating and alerting on live human scent.

Following are two videos showing three of our dogs after a few sessions of the training:
Video 1
Video 2

Subsequent articles will touch on specific principles of the Focused Scenting method. Please email us if you have questions. k9riot@yahoo.com