Have you ever heard the phrase “You got that one” during an advanced nosework search? It’s a common expression used when a dog returns to a previously found hide. While there are various approaches to handling found hides, the typical response is not to reward the dog again. However, this can sometimes lead to dogs becoming fixated on a hide and not searching for others. As I observed new teams competing recently, I began questioning whether dogs truly understand this phrase and whether there might be a better way to handle found hides, especially during trials.
The Dilemma of Found Hides
In the sport of Nosework, it’s disheartening to see dogs fixate on a found hide instead of continuing the search. Professional detection teams don’t encounter this problem because they never leave a hide after finding one. Professional handlers always reward at the source, which is crucial to their job and training. So, do dogs really understand the significance of the phrase “You got that one”? Is there a more effective way to handle found hides, particularly during trials and with new teams?
The Value of Odor and Motivation
When competing in nosework trials, new teams may face challenges due to trial nerves and distractions. It’s important to protect the dog’s value for odor and their motivation for the game. If we can’t prevent them from going back to a found hide, they might benefit from being rewarded again. Let’s delve deeper into this concept.
With the rise of new scent detection organizations, teams now have more opportunities to participate in trials. This allows them to progress more rapidly through the competition levels. However, moving up too quickly can pose challenges for teams that are not yet prepared for the new complexities they will encounter. Although I believe teams should take a slower approach before competing, there are alternative approaches and strategies we can explore to help them succeed.
To Reward or Not to Reward?
In the past, I reluctantly followed the training method of not rewarding on found hides. I accepted it as the norm, knowing that dogs typically don’t re-indicate once a hide has been found and not reinforced. Each hide has a unique scent stamp, enabling dogs to differentiate between paid and unpaid hides.
However, I have always been careful not to let my dogs go back to a found hide. It’s crucial to remember their location and set them far apart during training exercises. I never pulled them off a found hide or said “no” to discourage them. Although some handlers may feel tempted to use these tactics, they can create confusion and diminish the dog’s trust.
The Fascinating Behavior of Dogs
It’s truly fascinating to observe a dog that knows which hides they have found. They confidently move on to the next one without re-indicating or getting stuck on a previous find. Take a look at this video of Drac engaging in a “high” distractor search. Despite the presence of food distractors in most of the cold containers, Drac remains focused and doesn’t re-indicate or linger around the found hides.
When I first started nosework, I received valuable advice to work primarily on single hides and space out multiple hides to minimize the likelihood of dogs going back or getting caught between odors. This approach allowed them to understand that there are more hides to find. However, there was a significant gap between trials during that time, providing ample opportunity to establish skills and understanding. Nowadays, the timing between trials is shorter, making it essential to find a balance between skill development and timely trialing.
The Potential Issues and Alternative Approaches
Let’s examine the potential consequences of not rewarding on found hides and the alternative approaches we can consider.
Not Rewarding on Found Hides
- Can demotivate trial nervous dogs, causing confusion and decreased motivation.
- Represents a withdrawal from odor that will require more deposits to rebuild motivation.
- Dogs may stop indicating if they have learned that a found hide will not be rewarded again, leading to trust issues.
Rewarding on Found Hides
- Dogs may become fixated on a found hide and refuse to search for another.
- Time is wasted as dogs repeatedly return to a found hide instead of exploring new areas.
- Dogs don’t learn to focus on finding new hides.
- Challenges arise when hides are located in close proximity at higher levels.
Alternative Approaches
- Manage: Keep dogs on a leash to control their access to found hides and actively cover areas that haven’t been searched.
- Reward Again: If you accidentally allow your dog to return to a found hide during training, offer a reward again to reinforce the behavior of moving on.
- Strategic Hiding: Place hides further apart and increase the number of hides (3-5 in total). By teaching dogs that finding one hide leads to the next, they will be less likely to become fixated on specific locations.
- Location Awareness: Know the exact location of each hide during training sessions. This is not the time to introduce blind hides.
- Praise at Source: Always praise your dog when rewarding them at the source. Eventually, you can transition to using only praise if they attempt to return to a found hide.
- Transition Period: Pick up the hide during the transition from single hides to multiple hides to avoid confusion.
- Trial Strategies: Implement the following approaches during trials:
- Manage your dog’s access to found hides by keeping them on a leash and actively covering the unsearched area.
- If you inadvertently lead your dog back to a found hide, reward them again at that location. This will help you remember not to let them return there in the future. Remember, training is more important than trialing, so a few instances of this at a trial shouldn’t undermine your overall progress.
- Allow your dog to search independently. Avoid crowding them or repeating search cues, as it demonstrates nervousness and hinders their ability to locate odor on their own.
- Trust your dog’s behavior and instincts. If you sense a change in their behavior, follow your intuition and call it. Second-guessing your dog can demotivate them and impact their ability to indicate.
- If you struggle to read your dog’s behavior at the source, take a break from trialing and focus on reinforcing foundational skills.
An Innovative Solution
Here’s an interesting concept I came across: some teams preemptively reward their dogs when they are heading back to a found hide. This approach allows the dogs to stay engaged in the search and motivated to find the remaining hides. It’s a tactic that challenges the traditional rules of nosework but can be beneficial in certain situations.
Advocating for Your Dog
Ultimately, it’s essential to understand your dog, their training history, and what motivates them. Practice multiple hides, running them in a known sequence, and establish a routine. Be consistent in how you release your dog to search for more hides. Improve your handling skills and avoid letting your dog return to found hides. Place new hides close enough that they are easily located, encouraging dogs to search for the next one. Additionally, this is an opportune time to gradually reduce the reward magnitude at the source. If your dog tends to become fixated on a hide, provide less reward for the first find and more for subsequent ones.
Remember, as an advocate for your dog, you have the freedom to challenge established rules if you believe your dog needs additional motivation. This may include rewarding again at the source!
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