SEMO Regional K9 Search Team

One of the first things we do during the imprinting stage is to introduce our "trainees" to gunfire. In a fugative search, it is imperative that the dog not bolt at the sound of sudden loud noises. Much like a hunting dog, a search dog cannot be distracted by its environment, and that includes loud noises.

We chose the Open Range Day at BTS to expose Duchess to this element.

Keeping her 50 yards from the firing line, we allowed her to just mill around, on lead, until the firing started. When she started and looked in the direction of the noise, we moved close to her, reassured her, praised her (for not heading for the next county at the first loud noise) and simply played with her while the shooting continued.

We repeated this for the first few strings of fire, and as time went by, she was paying less and less attention to the noise.

Then we just let her alone while the firing was going on, and she was more concerned with digging herself a cool spot in the shade to lay in, than with the noise.

Finally she began to nap, and slept through the rest of the afternoon even when some rifles were brought out, which are much louder than the handguns.

Duchess also got some quality socialization time with the others attending Open Range, another key element during imprinting is to introduce her to as many friendly human and canine contacts as possibly. This is not really a training goal as much as a it is taking advantage of the imprinting period to develop the personality you want the dog to have the rest of her life.

Exposure to positive experiences, while being sheltered from unnecessary negative experiences is the key.

This is not to say that you don't allow enforcement of pack discipline and manners. This is the advantage of having an older, experienced dog involved in process. Lady is not bashful in explaining to Duchess when she has crossed the line into unacceptable behavior. And, while I don't really speak dog, Lady's corrections of Duchess with regard to climbing on the senior's back, nipping ears and jumping in one's face seemed to require only a sharp, abrupt dog language correction, and the behavior is not repeated. Duchess does not appear intimidated by these corrections, because she most often will create some distance from Lady and turn and yap something back in reply. But she does not repeat the behavior.

Another successful training day.

This is sub titled, "You can do what with water?"

All Labs love water, right. That depends on how they were first introduced to it.

If during the imprinting stage, their first experience with water was terrifying or painful, they can very easily shy away from getting into it, which can translate into a major distraction for the search dog later in training.

The trainer's main task during the imprinting stage is to assure that the trainee's first experience with essential elements is pleasant and fun so that acceptance is a natural event.

Some things are best introduced to the trainee by a collegue, a mentor, a trusted member of the species.



Since Duchess was not sure of the reason she should just jump into a pool of water, Lady was glad to show her what else water is good for besides drinking.

If she follows Lady into the pool, it is her idea, and not mine. So there is no force on the part of the human to make her do anything she doesn't want to, making her wide open to enjoy and appreciate the wonders of water as most Labs do.

Before long, she is self-initiating without encouragement or direction from anyone.



At this point you let them  play with the new found wonder until they lose interest and go on to something else.

Once she is completely at home in water, we make it deeper, until she is swimming, the final goal. Dogs do not need to be taught to swim. they get that in Home Womb, but it is the association with water that requires a bit of planning and patience.

Of course, there are those out there who would say, "Aw, just pitch her into a pond, she will swim out."

Probably so, but if you are trying to develop a dog on whom you can rely 100 percent of the time, under all conditions, I think the extra effort is well worth the time and patience required.

If the estimate of her age is correct, this week would be her 18th week, and just beyond the theoretical end of the "Imprinting Period."

Although, we have missed this critical period by a few weeks, I have tried to take advantage of the theory as much as I could, for the short time I have had Duchess with me. She appears to me to be very well adjusted, outgoing and inquisitive without any serious fears.

We will just have to trust to luck. I was certainly lucky to find her, and she was lucky nothing serious happened to her while she was wandering on her own at such a tender age. She was lucky the good folks at Safe Harbor took her in and took such good care of her. Then, there was the luck of Lisa telling me about her, and me making the decision to start another dog in my advanced years. Finally, we are lucky for her to be of the temperment she is, considering the unknowns that have already occured in her young life. She seems very intelligent, and nearly fearless. There may well be such a thing as Divine Intervention. 

Another event in Duchess' life, her first search, The search for the missing mother from Jackson, brought an opportunity to help out in a worthwhile cause and at the same time expose Duchess to many new people, a couple new dogs, and the search environment in general.



Our job at the scrap yard was to provide heat relief in the form of shade and cold water. Duchess guarded the waterbowl.

Some of Duchess' new friends were the LESAR Team, who let her into their after action photo



A day of socialization and a new experience. A preview of things to come.

The next big event in our life (at six months) was a trip to Tilsit Animal Clinic to be spayed and get our first Rabies shot. That did not register very high on Duchess' list of favorite things to do, but she bounced back very quickly, and I had to keep her away from the other dogs so we wouldn't pop a stitch.

During this quiet two weeks between surgery and getting our stitches removed I find to be a good time to introduce the eCollar. Everytime we go out to potty or exercise, we put the collar on for familiarization and so that it is associated with fun things to do. Also during this quiet time we intensify our marker training, responding to food reward, and associating the reward with the correct behavior and the marker word (I don't like to use a clicker). This does not have to be a wasted time, and can be very productive.

Once the stitches are out, it is time to get serious about obedience. A solid obedience foundation provides meaning and support for all future training, so it is imparitive that it is done correctly. We do that with a long lead. The eCollar is still on, but we don't activate it until a behavior is learned, and she is reliably responding to the food reward, with mild corrections from the lead when necessary.

When she is responding to the commands (meaning that she knows what the command means), we gradually substitute the lead with the eCollar. Establishing a level of stimulation is a bit tricky. You start at the lowest level and let her wander around until you get a reaction when you apply a "nick" looking for a blink of the eyes, and for the dog to look at the ground as if to say "what was that?"

Once you have established this basic level, you should be aware that different things effect that level (at least at the beginning of the training when the dog is new to this type of correction). You cannot use the same level for a dog running that you use for a dog laying on the ground, possibly in wet grass. There is apparently a difference in contact with the ground that can create quite a variance in reaction.

We have to take time with the eCollar. It is a God-send that allows your dog to be off lead and run a play as she is intended to while at the same time you are confident in your ability to control and recall her 100 percent of the time.

Baby steps in this phase will reap huge rewards later.

We will likely be in this obedience/eCollar phase until February or March.



Duchess has a bit of growing, both physically and in training before this vest will fit properly.

I think you have to have a training plan with a dog. It gives order and direction to the things you are doing. Other trainers like to shoot from the hip, and address things as they come up. I find that there is a certain order that should be followed with a dog so that there is less chance of confusing the dog and delaying progress. It also keeps you from forgetting important things, or short changing some areas. 

Our training plan calls for us to travel to Extreme K9 at Carbondale, once Duchess' obedience and response to the eCollar are reliable. I want to attend their obedience course and get Duchess' CGC there. Then I want to complete their eCollar course as well, just to make sure we are solid there as well. I wasn't kidding when I said these basics are very important and make all the difference in future training.

Then, they offer a Mantrailing Course we will attend, which is an introductory scent work course. Once she is solid with these skills, and we do many hours and miles of practice at our own training site, here, I will enroll her in the Mega Trailing Course, which, when Lady and I took it, was a six-day event.

Once we successfully complete that, it should be time to go to work operationally. I hope to have all this completed by September, 2012.

That's the plan.