Skill Level: Intermediate
Length: 8 Modules
Access Period: Unlimited
Price: $20.00
The instructor for this course is Jens Frank. Jens is one of the owner/instructors at the Scandinavian Working Dog Institute. He is also an associate Professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
2 minutes and 6 seconds
Laser directionals are an easy way of sending the dog to a specific spot or object at a distance from the handler. It is far less time-consuming than training a dog to be guided with verbal directional cues over radio.
The laser directionals have several applications, especially for law enforcement and military use, and is today used in most countries. By most dog teams it is not used daily, but a very useful tool for specific situations that would be difficult or riskier without the laser. Below are some example of how it is used:
The course outline is:
Module 1 | Introduction | |
Segment 1 | Which type of laser should you use? | |
Segment 2 | Decisions to Make | |
Segment 3 | Setting Subgoals | |
Module 2 | Expectation on Laser Point | |
Segment 1 | The Laser Chase Game | |
Segment 2 | Boxes | |
Segment 3 | Send to Treats | |
Module 3 | Go to Laser Dot and Sit | |
Segment 1 | Sit in Front of a Target | |
Segment 2 | Replace Target with Laser Dot | |
Module 4 | Adding Contexts and Distance | |
Segment 1 | Send to 10m | |
Segment 2 | Send to 15m | |
Segment 3 | Send to 20m | |
Segment 4 | Send to 30m | |
Segment 5 | Send to 50m | |
Module 5 | Sending From an Angle | |
Segment 1 | Send to Three Doors From the Same Spot | |
Segment 2 | Send to Three Doors From 45 Degree Angle | |
Module 6 | Obstacles | |
Segment 1 | Stairs | |
Segment 2 | Go Around, Over, & Under | |
Module 7 | Competing Motivators | |
Segment 1 | Pass Over one High-Value Reward to Sit by the Laser Dot | |
Segment 2 | Go to Spot Between Rewards From 10m Distance | |
Module 8 | Additional Videos | |
Segment 1 | ||
Segment 2 | ||
Segment 3 | ||
Segment 4 | ||
Segment 5 |
TARGET AUDIENCE
Primarily dog handlers working in law enforcement and armed forces
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Must have a laser. We recommend the Firefield Laser Designator available at Leerburg.com. The dog needs to know to "sit" on cue. The dog also needs to have at least one reward signal trained. Up to a distance of 50m a clicker or verbal cue works fine, but at longer distances a "pipe whistle" is the most convenient alternative.
MODULE 1: Introduction
The objective of this module is to prepare yourself so that you have a clear picture of how you will use the laser directionals and what you want the dog to learn.
SEGMENT 1: Which type of laser should you use?
There are many different types of lasers. Some will hurt the eyes of humans and dogs and some are more safe. It makes sense to use a laser with less effect and a larger dot in training and a more powerful laser for operational work as it can also be used in broad daylight.
SEGMENT 2: Decisions to Make
You need to decide what you want the dog to do when it reaches the laser dot and what cues you will use. If you dont have a specific reason to do it different our suggestion is that you train the dog to go to the laser dot and sit, waiting for the next cue.
SEGMENT 3: Subgoals
No summary available
MODULE 2: Expectation on Laser Point
The objective of the module is to increase the dogs expectation on the laser dot. Especially older dogs who have seen thousands of reflexes and lights and it has habituated them to their presence rather than making them interesting.
SEGMENT 1: The Laser Chase game
One way of getting the dog to understand that it has a value to go to the laser dot is the chase game.
SEGMENT 2: Boxes
From the chase game we move on by placing treats in boxes and using the laser to send the dog to one of the boxes.
SEGMENT 3: Send to Treats
In this exercise we want the dog to associate the laser dot with finding something it likes. Even if the dog has a high motivation to play with toys, food or treats are more suitable rewards due to the relatively low arousal they create.
MODULE 3: Go to Laser Dot and Sit
In this module we first train the dog to sit in front of a larger target and then replace that target with the laser dot.
SEGMENT 1: Sit in Front of a Target
No summary available
SEGMENT 2: Replace Target with Laser Dot
The objective of these exercises is to replace the larger target with the laser dot.
MODULE 4: Adding Contexts and Distance
In this module we start generalizing the behaviour by increasing distance and working in new places and environments.
SEGMENT 1: Send to 10m
No summary available
SEGMENT 2: Send to 15m
No summary available
SEGMENT 3: Send to 20m
No summary available
SEGMENT 4: Send to 30m
No summary available
SEGMENT 5: Send to 50m
No summary available
MODULE 5: Sending From An Angle
In this module we give the dog experience of being sent to the laser dot from angle.
SEGMENT 1: Send to Three Doors From the Same Spot
No summary available
SEGMENT 2: Send to Three Doors From 45 Degree Angle
No summary available
MODULE 6: Obstacles
The objective of the module is to train the dog to deal with obstacles to get to the laser dot.
SEGMENT 1: Stairs
No summary available
SEGMENT 2: Go Around, Over, and Under
No summary available
MODULE 7: Competing Motivators
SEGMENT 1: Pass Over One High-Value Reward to Sit By The Laser Dot
No summary available
SEGMENT 2: Go to Spot Between Rewards From 10m Distance
No summary available
SEGMENT 3: Using a Decoy as a Competing Motivator
No summary available
MODULE 8: Continued training
When your dog can de directed with the laser it is time to combine that with detection, bite work or other.
SEGMENT 1: Laser directed detection
No summary available
SEGMENT 2: Laser directed bite work - Now Available!
No summary available
There are no featured testimonials for this course yet.
This course goes into a great deal of detail on how to train a scent detection dog to go to a laser dot and sit, waiting for an additional command to search (either for explosives, a human or contraband).
The course does not teach the dog to indicate on explosives, or how to apprehend a suspect, or how to indicate on narcotics etc. Teaching a scent detection dog to search and indicate on odor is not covered in this course. That training will be covered in other courses.