SAP: Step 2

EQUIPMENT:

• 24" scent wheel (this will be the wheel that you will use when testing seizure scent)
• 6 glass containers w/lids (either salt shakers or pepper shakers)
• all shakers should have the same number of holes in the lids
• tea bag (This is a good odor for training because teabags are clean and easy to handle; easily replaced; don't need special treatment)
• buy a box of a single identifiable tea
• freezer quality Ziplock bags
• Sharpie

Let's talk about CROSS CONTAMINATION and STORAGE.

At the end of each training session double bag the source shaker for storage.

Keep your tea BOX double bagged as well. 

We want to keep the environment as free of our target scent as possible

while knowing full well that residual odor permeates every time it is in use.

Because contamination exists in life, we will begin to intentionally cross contaminate everything.......but during training AND in testing, we want to contaminate uniformly.

DOUBLE BAG.

Step 2:  Introduce the Scent Wheel

In the course of training the dog to scent for the SAP, you will teach the dog to identify and indicate 3 different odors - on the Scent Wheel - before testing seizure scent.  Each time you introduce a new odor, you will go back and re-teach it first by introducing it "in hand" and gradually move to the Scent Wheel.

Here is the SAP standard to determine when a dog is ready to move from training mode to testing mode.  It's good to keep this goal in mind as you train.

Testing Protocol 1:  

Before the testing of live SS begins, the dog must first be taught how to play the "find the scent" game.  And, be introduced to the Scent Wheel.  During this training process it is assumed that distractions (as defined above) will be used so that the dog understands all the parameters of the game.  

The criteria of switching from training mode to testing mode should be 

• eager enthusiasm for the game; 
• being able to find and alert to 3 different scents on the scent wheel; 
• clear and consistent alerts.

 A:

Place a new tea bag into a shaker.  Present to the dog "in hand", in the same manner that you first introduced your Scent Pot.  We are telling the dog, "Now we are playing the "Teabag Game".  Plan the game "in hand" until he begins offering his alerting behavior.

http://testingseizuresample3.blogspot.com/2012/08/introduction-to-scent-wheel.html

Gradually move the shaker closer to the wheel, then on the wheel (but not in the container yet).

When the dog is dependably going to the shaker and performing his indicating behavior,

while the dog is watching place the shaker into the container closest to the dog.

Leave the shaker in the same tin container.  Toss the treat to reposition the dog so that he can return to the source shaker and indicate.

When the dog is able to enter the training location with the shaker already in the same tin container and can identify and indicate, he is ready to move on.

We are teaching the environmental "cue" of the Scent Wheel itself.  Seeing the wheel is the cue to search and indicate.

B:

Teaching the dog to move around the wheel to find the source.

We are still working with the same odor, the same shaker placed in the same tin container.

Remind the dog of his Step 2 skills.

Then begin to slightly turn the wheel while the dog is repositioning.

Turn in small increments and in both directions from the original position.

Goal of this step is that the dog is able to circle the Scent Wheel to locate the odor and successfully indicate.