SAP: Step 1

EQUIPMENT for Step 1

• 3 identical containers with removable tops
• You will want the containers to be fairly stable
• at least 5 holes in the tops
• 3 different identical containers with removable tops
• at least 5 holes in the tops

STEP 1:  SCENT POTS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwUNTgCFhlc&feature=player_embedded

In this video 

the dog is learning the 3 primary functions of the SAP

• recognizing odor
• indicating odor when presented with choices
• developing an identifiable indicating behavior

SELECT YOUR INDICATING BEHAVIOR

Your dog's identifiable indicating behavior is whatever you and your dog select. 

This is the time to decide on the indicating behavior that your dog will use for the duration of the project.  The indicating behavior will need to be an obvious one, so that you clearly know that the dog is indicating either a correct positive or a false positive.

Lily and Nad indicate with an extended nose or chin rest on the "hot" container.

Syn indicates with a Down at the source.

Use one of these or develop one of your choice.

TEACH  SCENT POTS using 3 identical containers and kibble.

A)  This is what worked for Lily (Dog 1).

http://othermedicalalerttesting.blogspot.com/2012_03_01_archive.html

http://othermedicalalerttesting.blogspot.com/2012_04_01_archive.html

B)  Nad (Dog 3) struggled with this method.

http://testingseizuresample3.blogspot.com/2012/08/scent-pot-days-3-5.html

thru

http://testingseizuresample3.blogspot.com/2012/08/1-scent-pot-wkibble-day-2.html

Then, with help from Sue (see Comments at the bottom of this page) 

http://testingseizuresample3.blogspot.com/2012/08/back-to-basics-day-1-2.html

Jan successfully modified her training methods and Nad "got it"!

C)  Sue taught the principles to Syn (Dog 2) using yet another modified methodology:

beginning here:  http://testingseizuresample2.blogspot.com/2012/07/syn-scenting.html

It doesn't matter HOW you teach the process.

Once your dog is consistently recognizing and indicating the source odor with his easily identifiable alerting behavior THEN re-teach Scent Pots from the beginning using a different odor and different containers.  (I used Twining's Earl Grey tea as my second odor and International Coffee boxes as second containers.)

DOCUMENTING

It was very helpful that we ALL documented our training.

In retrospect, we all agree that having video to observe was extremely beneficial.

I do ask that you document this training.  Videos are optional at this point.

The Scent Training Session Form is tabbed at the top of your blog page.

For each day's training, select and copy the form.  Paste it into a new Post on your blog and add the information there.

For the formal testing of live scent, we test 3 successive Trials of 10 reps ea.  When teaching Scent Pots, the Training Session Form follows the "10 reps per trial" format.  It keeps sessions short and interest high.

If, in the course of training, you conduct more than 4 trials on a given day, call me and I will show you how to amend your form.