BACK TO BASICS - Odor Detection

BACK TO BASICS - Odor Detection Training 101

Sir Isaac Newton said it best “For every action there is an equal an opposite reaction”. What we do or fail to do in our training programs will have an equal and significant impact on how we perform in real world duties as a narcotics detection team. Successful teams are built on utilizing sound basic fundamentals learned through their initial training as an entering narcotics detection team. K-9 Teams who possess and execute sound training fundamentals have less potential in initiating improper training practices, which could ultimately set their programs back for months, if not years, if these training practices were not identified and reversed.

Regardless of whether a handler has a pre-trained dog or a green dog, our knowledge, experience, and training methods will to a large extent, dictate the K-9 teams performance, both in training and real world job duties. Basic Fundamental Training is a team-building concept. Basic Fundamental Training is not just about training the dog correctly, but more importantly, it’s about training the handler, who will in the end, determine the dogs overall success through the use of proper training methods and techniques.

This author is a firm advocate of the adage that “Repetition Builds Conditioning”. This applies in most disciplines. The basic premise being, that repetition of any function conditions the participant(s) toward a specific learned skilled behavior. An example of this would be firearms training. This training principle is also a key component in the training of narcotics detection teams.
Teams with sound basic fundamentals will achieve maximum potentials through conditioning training by repetition. In comparison, K-9 teams lacking sufficient basic fundamentals, who utilize conditioning training by repetition, and who have limited knowledge or experience in odor detection training are in fact creating a training “time bomb”.

Handlers who improperly identify and improperly correct problem areas encountered in odor detection training are in actuality compounding the team’s problems. More often than not, handlers knowing problems to exist are hesitant in contacting outside assistance of Master Trainers or Trainers to identify and correct the teams training issues. Unfortunately, it is the dog that usually gets the blame and is released as unsuitable from the detection program for problems that were in fact, created and compounded by the handler. Next “Batter Up”, dog candidate number two (2) enters and the process repeats itself. More often than not, many dogs washed out from training programs, for trainability reasons, could have actually been avoided had the handler possessed the developed training skills or sought outside training assistance to address the problems for which the dog was being returned. A few years ago, I personally knew one handler/trainer who was caught in this cycle. In a period of eleven months, this handler received and returned nine (9) K-9’s from the departments two dog K-9 Unit citing trainability reasons. As a result, upon numerous canines being rotated out for various reasons, the handler/trainer lost credibility with the department in which he was eventually removed from the K-9 program altogether.

Establishing basic fundamentals in a detection program should incorporate the use of not only hands on field training, but also that of a comprehensive educational course of instruction for handlers, which addresses numerous specialized topics pertaining to the field of narcotics detection. In addition, practical, written and or oral testing at the conclusion of the training process is a useful tool to determine the handlers’ knowledge of hands on application procedures and classroom material covered during the course of instruction. This testing verifies the handlers overall understanding of the training process to both the training agency/organization and or the handlers department, minimizing future possibilities of improper training practices developing within the teams continuing in-service training. From a personal viewpoint, these testing results can and do attest to a team’s credibility, in addition to attained team certifications, as being competent and knowledgeable based on their level of experience in a court proceeding, thus limiting attacks by defense attorneys regarding a K-9 team’s credibility.

The next forthcoming issue of ‘Viewpoints” will address the subject of Building Solid Basic Training Fundamentals. An in-depth study will be provided identifying key components in the training of narcotics detection canines. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact Training Viewpoints at johnmill4@aol.com