Course Schedule

Introduction to Multiple Hides & More

This week, we are going to start to introduce multiple hides.  It's possible that you already are doing these.  I think though that working through these steps will highlight critical aspects of successful execution.  Eventually, we will need the dog to be able to find extremely closely converged hides in competition.  But not yet!

PART 1: INITIAL TRAINING

There are a couple of main concepts that we need the dog to learn.

The Chain of Events

1. Encounter Odor

2. Source Odor

This Chain of Events is critical because if the dog doesn't source odor immediately, we can end up with a dog that does what is called "cataloging"...  which means that they encounter odor for multiple hides, however don't start to source odor until they have decided to start to focus.  Cataloging is both an odor obedience issue and a focus issue.

Find Another

Find Another is a cue to the dog that once a hide is found, it is out of play.  That gives the dog the understanding to not re-find already found hides in preference for hides yet to be found.  The dog understands that odor is a good thing, however, refound hides do not pay.

Here's an example of Why working multiple hides at an AKC Scent Work trial.  When he reacts to odor, he sources the hide.  Then he leaves the hide that he was rewarded for finding and quickly finds the second hide.

To train this....

The most important thing initially is that we want to establish good habits from the beginning.  This means that we want to keep the dog from leaving an area to find a new hide once they have responded and started to work the initial hide.  We need to be careful not to steer the dog with the leash, however it's ok to use a light restriction to keep the dog from working the second hide.  This is called "working in sections".  Eventually, you will need to do this to clear the area with unknown number of hides.

It can be helpful to choose a search area with natural sections.  You can do this either indoors or out so long as your dog is comfortable working in the area.  Let your dog pick which section to start with.  Find the hide before moving to the next section.  WORK ON LEASH.

After you feed, praise, rotate, and step in a new direction.  This will help your dog leave the found hide.  Use the cue "Find Another" as you move in the direction of the second section.  Search the second section until you've found the second hide.

If you would like to practice saying "Finish", you can add it to after your final hide.  Finish in competition stops your clock and you will need practice in using it without fail.  It can also become an "all done" cue for the dog which can be helpful.

Here's one of Powder's earlier multiple hide searches.  In this case, the search area has two natural sections...  each with separate picnic areas.