1. Canine Search Specialist Training
Unit 2: Canine Behavior and Drive

2. Unit Objective
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to describe the basic aspects of canine communication, behavior, and drive

3. 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. Canine Communication

5. Canine Communication
Instinctual
Learned

6. Instinctual
Posture
Facial expression
Breathing
Focus
Intention

7. Learned
Training
Play
Life experience

8. Myths and miscommunication
“Clever Hans”
Learned

9. Miscommunication “The guilty look” “He’s mad at me!” “He knows this!”
“He’s ignoring me”

10. What are they thinking?
Body Language

11. 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

12. Submission Submissive signals Avert gaze Lower head and neck
Lower tail
Approach with “C” shape
Submission grin
Ears back

13. Play Exaggerated looking away Paw raising Play grin Nibble greeting
Nose pushing
Panting or play face

14. Fear Behaviors associated with fear Shivering or shaking Salivating
Tail tucked
Immobility

15. Fear!
Aggressive
Submissive

16. Aggression Ears forward Direct eye contact Forward lean Tail high
Lips retracted
Low growl

17. Signs of Conflict
Panting
Yawning
Submissive signals

18. Conflict (continued) Displacement behaviors Eating grass
Sniffing grass
Grooming
Scratching
Play behaviors

19. Conflict (continued) Ambivalent behaviors Looking away
Turning back on you
Sitting down
Marking

20. Behavior

21. Behavior Factors that influence behavior Genetics Internal stimuli
External stimuli

22. Genetically Proven Breeds

23. Internal Stimuli
Drives

24. External Stimuli
Training
Experience
Environment

25. The TRUTH About Dogs

26. 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

27. 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

28. Learning Principles

29. Kinds of Learning Experience + Repetition Observational = watching
Classical conditioning = reflexive
Operant conditioning = shaping

30. Classical Conditioning
A specific type of learning which connects a stimulus with an unconditioned response (REFLEX)
“Conditioned” means “ learned”

32. Operant Conditioning
A specific type of learning where offered behaviors are encouraged or discouraged by their consequences

34. Operant Conditioning (continued)
Add reinforcement to increase behavior
Add punishment to decrease behavior
The reward or punishment must be immediate to the behavior

35. Operant Conditioning (continued)
Behaviors that are not reinforced will extinguish themselves over time
Do not take long-established behavior for granted

36. Generalization
Under-utilized technique
Unrecognized pitfall

37. Generalization (continued)

38. 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?

39. Problem Solving 101 (continued)
Did you PROOF against distractions (dogs, cats, noise, activity)?
Did you PROOF against competing motivations (drives-food, pack, prey)?

40. BREAK

41. Instinct and Drive

42. 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

43. Drive The STRENGTH of this predisposition = DRIVE
Some canines have predispositions towards certain instincts
The STRENGTH of this predisposition
= DRIVE

44. It is important to remember that hyperactivity does not equal drive

45. Types of Drive
Food
Prey
Hunt
Pack
Defense

46. Benefits of Drive Use of drive in regular training exercises will
Improve physical conditioning
Increase intensity and concentration
Improve focus and attitude

47. Food Drive
A canine’s desire to persist in getting food, is not always related to hunger or biological need for food

48. 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

51. Prey Drive Canine’s intensity in chasing Catching Biting Carrying
a prey object

52. Prey Drive (continued)
Can be developed into play
Can be incorporated into each training session
Builds stamina and physical conditioning

53. Prey Drive Will increase canine’s motivation Increases concentration
Stress reducer

55. 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

57. Pack Drive
Canine’s desire to work within framework of the pack

58. Pack Drive Needed to maintain working relationship with handler
The canine needs to view handler as the working partner

59. Defense Drive
Canine’s response to protect itself from a perceived threat

60. Defense Drive
This behavior is detrimental to search work because it produces
Avoidance
Aggression
Insecurities
Unsociability (sharpness)

61. REWARD SYSTEMS
= Prey Key

62. Prey Key
A reward that the canine is obsessed with (toy, food)

63. 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

64. Building Drive

65. Building Drive Frustration Opposition reflex Animation Isolation
Deprivation
End session while canine still wants more

66. Frustration and Opposition Reflex

67. Animation

68. Isolation

69. Deprivation
Clink-Clink

70. End session with canine wanting more

71. Troubleshooting Distractibility Low drive Boldness Sensitivity Focus
Agility

72. Errorless Learning Teach in small increments
Anticipate errors and prevent them
Change only one variable at a time
Provide adequate motivation
Generalize behavior

73. Unit Summary and Evaluation

74. 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

75. Unit Evaluation
Please fill out the evaluation on this unit