The training is all ball reward. Initially this is just playing with the handler then we transfer it over to the person who is going to be the unfortunately named 'body' and at this stage all the reward comes from the 'body' not the handler. A'speak' command is developed at the same time which will later confirm a find. We then get the dog to bark at the 'body' for the ball, then a short run off and repeat increasing the distance until we are searching. Where Minx differed from the springers was that right from the start she would follow the track of the 'body' from a cold start with incredible accuracy and speed; because we wanted her air scenting it became quite a challenge to outfox her!! That said nothing has been done to discourage Minx from tracking.
The main other aspects are environmental desensitisation, stock proofing and general socialisation with an emphasis to the more like types of people she will be searching for.
Was unsure whether this would be a new topic or not?
lagopuslagopus
I used to do this about twelve years ago with my Munsters and old rescue dog, with an officer from the Lincolnshire Police Force, when we lived near Louth. There was a group of about eight of us.
