The Importance of Known Hides

What to listen for:

“Even if you don't give them a cookie, you don't play, the dog has been reinforced. [It’s] just the way their brain works.”

Our hosts, Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing discuss how to use known hides to your advantage during training as compared to blind hides.

They dive deep into the high stakes of detection work, such as why avoiding false alerts is crucial. Whether you're training for competitions or prepping your dog for operational tasks, understanding the impact of unintentional markers is essential to your success as a handler. It can spell the difference between gaining the knowledge to make small tweaks in your training, to being forced to scrap your training criteria completely to create a more effective one.

The Dames of Detection also explore how these unintentional markers can inadvertently reinforce behaviors, illustrating the importance of maintaining accuracy and reliability in your dog's detection capabilities.

You can increase your odds of success by mastering the transition from known to blind hides without rushing the process, especially if you're a novice handler. Crystal, Stacy, and Robin offer their best practices for doing just that.

Finally, they speak to newer handlers regarding how to communicate their training needs, as well as the value of observing experienced individuals and teams at work during training sessions.

Key Topics:

• Defining “blind hides” and “known hides” (03:27)
• The implications of a false alert in an operational setting (10:06)
• Determining whether or not your training criteria is working (17:15)
• When to use blind hides versus known hides (19:10)
• Why you shouldn’t “square up” to the hide (24:14)
• Does using only known hides limit a dog’s effectiveness? (28:31)
• Common challenges in transitioning from known to blind hides (35:23)
• Using blinds as an opportunity to optimize your training (38:03)
• When is a handler ready to incorporate blind hides? (42:00)
• Our closing thoughts (45:34)

Resources:

• Stacy’s Blog Post

We want to hear from you:

• Check out the K9 Detection Collaborative FB page and comment on the episode post!
• K9Sensus Foundation can be found on Facebook and Instagram. We have a Trainer’s Group on Facebook!
• Scentsabilities Nosework is also on Facebook. Here is a Facebook group you should join!
• Crystal Wing K9 Coach can be found here at CB K9 and here at Evolution Working Dog Club. Also, check out her Functional Obedience Class here.
• You can follow us for notifications of upcoming episodes, find us at k9detectioncollaborative.com to enjoy the freebies, and tell your friends so you can keep the conversations going.

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