1. 1 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Canine Search Specialist Training Unit 2: Canine Behavior and Drive

2. 2 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Unit Objective Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to describe the basic aspects of canine communication, behavior, and drive

3. 3 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Enabling Objectives Explain how handlers and canines communicate Describe common canine signals Identify the factors that influence behavior Describe basic learning principles Identify and describe canine drives Describe how to apply canine drives to search training

4. 4 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Canine Communication

5. 5 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Canine Communication Instinctual Learned

6. 6 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Instinctual Posture Facial expression Breathing Focus Intention

7. 7 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Learned Training Play Life experience

8. 8 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Myths and miscommunication “Clever Hans” Learned

9. 9 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Miscommunication “The guilty look” “He’s mad at me!” “He knows this!” “He’s ignoring me!”

10. 10 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Guilty

11. 11 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training What are they thinking? Body Language

12. 12 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Dominance Signals associated with dominance Grabbing muzzles Pinning head and neck Chin on neck and /or back Body slamming Direct stare Vertical retraction of lips Tail straight up in the air

13. 13 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Submission Submissive signals Avert gaze Lower head and neck Lower tail Approach with “C” shape Submission grin Ears back

14. 14 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Play Exaggerated looking away Paw raising Play grin Nibble greeting Nose pushing Panting or play face

15. 15 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Fear Behaviors associated with fear Shivering or shaking Salivating Tail tucked Immobility

16. 16 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Fear! AggressiveSubmissive

17. 17 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Aggression Ears forward Direct eye contact Forward lean Tail high Lips retracted Low growl

18. 18 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Signs of Conflict Panting Yawning Submissive signals

19. 19 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Conflict (continued) Displacement behaviors Eating grass Sniffing grass Grooming Scratching Play behaviors

20. 20 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Conflict (continued) Ambivalent behaviors Looking away Turning back on you Sitting down Marking

21. 21 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Behavior

22. 22 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Behavior Factors that influence behavior Genetics Internal stimuli External stimuli

23. Genetically Proven Breeds

24. 24 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Internal Stimuli Drives

25. 25 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training External Stimuli Training Experience Environment

26. 26 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training The TRUTH About Dogs

27. 27 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training The TRUTH about Dogs Dogs Are amoral Live in the present Are completely self interested Will always do what they consider to be in their best interest at the time

28. 28 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training More … Dogs Will repeat what works for them Are constantly monitoring our movement for an opportunity to get something for themselves Learn through Operant and Classical conditioning

29. 29 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Learning Principles

30. 30 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Kinds of Learning Experience + Repetition Observational = watching Classical conditioning = reflexive Operant conditioning = shaping

31. 31 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Classical Conditioning A specific type of learning which connects a stimulus with an unconditioned response (REFLEX) “Conditioned” means “ learned”

33. 33 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Operant Conditioning A specific type of learning where offered behaviors are encouraged or discouraged by their consequences

35. 35 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Operant Conditioning (continued) Add reinforcement to increase behavior Add punishment to decrease behavior The reward or punishment must be immediate to the behavior

36. 36 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Operant Conditioning (continued) Behaviors that are not reinforced will extinguish themselves over time Do not take long-established behavior for granted

37. 37 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Generalization Under-utilized technique Unrecognized pitfall

38. 38 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Generalization (continued)

39. 39 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Problem Solving 101 Has the dog LEARNED the command? Has the trainer supplied adequate MOTIVATION (reward)? Is there a strong history (FOUNDATION) of rewarded responses to the command? Has the dog GENERALIZED the behavior in this context?

40. 40 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Problem Solving 101 (continued) Did you PROOF against distractions (dogs, cats, noise, activity)? Did you PROOF against competing motivations (drives-food, pack, prey)?

41. 41 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training BREAK

42. 42 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Instinct and Drive

43. 43 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Instinct A canine’s innate response to certain stimuli, independent of any thought process May or may not produce the desired behaviors Those that have application to search need to be developed and strengthened

44. 44 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Drive Some canines have predispositions towards certain instincts The STRENGTH of this predisposition = DRIVE

45. 45 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training It is important to remember that hyperactivity does not equal drive

46. 46 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training DRIVE!

47. 47 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Types of Drive Food Prey Hunt Pack Defense

48. 48 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Benefits of Drive Use of drive in regular training exercises will Improve physical conditioning Increase intensity and concentration Improve focus and attitude

49. 49 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Food Drive A canine’s desire to persist in getting food, is not always related to hunger or biological need for food

50. 50 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Food Drive (continued) One of the easiest drives to build Rewards can be given while the canine is in the correct position Canines can be rewarded without having to break position Most effective way to control high prey driven canines

53. 53 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Prey Drive

54. 54 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Prey Drive Canine’s intensity in chasing Catching Biting Carrying a prey object

55. 55 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Prey Drive (continued) Can be developed into play Can be incorporated into each training session Builds stamina and physical conditioning

56. 56 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Prey Drive Will increase canine’s motivation Increases concentration Stress reducer

58. 58 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Hunt Drive Fundamental to search success Innate desire to hunt with nose Does not require visual cues Very rewarding to dog Reduces need for external motivation

60. 60 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Pack Drive Canine’s desire to work within framework of the pack

61. 61 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Pack Drive Needed to maintain working relationship with handler The canine needs to view handler as the working partner

62. 62 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Defense Drive Canine’s response to protect itself from a perceived threat

63. 63 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Defense Drive This behavior is detrimental to search work because it produces Avoidance Aggression Insecurities Unsociability (sharpness)

64. 64 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training REWARD SYSTEMS = Prey Key

65. 65 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Prey Key A reward that the canine is obsessed with (toy, food)

66. 66 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Advantages of Using Prey Key Gives canine a motivating focal point Moderate or control other behaviors Gives options to difficult training problems Allows corrections without seriously affecting the canine’s positive attitude

67. 67 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Building Drive

68. 68 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Building Drive Frustration Opposition reflex Animation Isolation Deprivation End session while canine still wants more

69. 69 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Frustration and Opposition Reflex

70. 70 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Animation

71. 71 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Isolation

72. 72 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Deprivation Clink-Clink

73. 73 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training End session with canine wanting more

74. 74 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Troubleshooting

75. 75 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Troubleshooting Distractibility Low drive Boldness Sensitivity Focus Agility

76. 76 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Errorless Learning Teach in small increments Anticipate errors and prevent them Change only one variable at a time Provide adequate motivation Generalize behavior

77. 77 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Unit Summary and Evaluation

78. 78 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Unit Summary Explain how handlers and canines communicate Describe common canine signals Identify the factors that influence behavior Describe basic learning principles Identify and describe canine drives Describe how to apply canine drives to search training

79. 79 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Unit Evaluation Please fill out the evaluation on this unit