K-9 Detector Dog Training

Detection Dog Training

Skill Level: Beginner

Length: 18 Modules

Access Period: Unlimited

Price: ~~$450.00~~ $225.00

About

Detector Dog Training

with Kevin Sheldahl

Edited with Ed Frawley

Who is Kevin Sheldahl?

This course has been a 10-year work in progress. Kevin Sheldahl is a retired Deputy Sheriff who worked as a K9 handler for his entire career. He is an internationally recognized police dog judge along with being a judge in the sport of Schutzhund dog. Kevin is also registered expert witness in federal and state courts on public safety K9 cases.

Kevin’s company (K-9Services.com) trains and certifies public safety officers. His students get certified as bomb dog, narcotic dog, cadaver dog, and wildlife detector dog handlers. His in-person courses are six weeks long. To date, he has run 69 of these six-week courses with an average course having 10 to 15 new dog handlers.

Through these courses alone, Kevin has trained over 700 K-9 Teams from start to deployment ready. Thru his seminars and workshops, Kevin has guided thousands of handlers in their careers from start to being ready for deployment.

Kevin has also taught in Germany, Colombia, Mexico, Malta, Canada, and all over the United States. This work has given him the experience to see many teams and expand his knowledge of the unique subset of dogs in the role of working police service dogs.

There are very few instructors in this country that have Kevins experience, not only as a dog handler but as an instructor who has years of experience teaching new dog handlers..

Course Content and Concepts:

This online course is detailed. We have included written text that is supported by over 300 training videos. In this course, you will learn primary and secondary rewards, marker training in detector work, single and double-blind searches, handling search techniques. You will learn how and when to introduce distractions and diversions along with when to introduce your dog to environments it will be expected to work in.

For trainers who wish to use markers/clickers, we explain when and how to use them into our training program.

Kevin uses this course as a syllabus for new handlers who come to New Mexico to go through his six-week in-person K9 handler program. Students are expected to study this course before going through his school with a dog.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Handlers and Trainers of Public Safety Detection Dogs and those interested in this work. This course is about practical training for field deployments.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

None

Course Outline

MODULE 1: Introduction
Combining proven technique with current trends in Detection
- SEGMENT 1: Introduction to Kevin Sheldahl, K-9 Services LLC
  
  Law Enforcement K-9 Instructor/ Law Enforcement Teaching Judge, Certifying Official, SchH Judge
- SEGMENT 2: Goals of this training system
  
  An introduction to the course material and goals of this instruction
- SEGMENT 3: Training Aides and Certification
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 4: Ethology, a point of view
  
  Viewing behavior based on its function and naming the intrinsic behaviors used to effect the work.
- SEGMENT 5: What is a Primary Reward System?
  
  Using a primary rewards system and why?
- SEGMENT 6: What the Primary Reward is NOT!
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 7: The importance of Selection Testing
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 8: How to Upload Student Videos
  
  No summary available
MODULE 2: Detection Dog Training Terms, definitions, and a touch into the science of detection.
Like many specialties in the world there is a particular vocabulary that has developed around it.
- SEGMENT 1: Detection Dog Training Terminology
  
  In detection industry there are many terms bantered about. We must understand the definitions.
- SEGMENT 2: Terminology Associated with Marker Training
  
  Let's make this simple shall we!
- SEGMENT 3: The Science Behind the Training System
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 4: Succesive approximation/Negative Punishment/Extinction
  
  These tools, as well as classical conditioning and positive reinforcement comprimise the largest portion of developing the behaviors of a detection dog.
- SEGMENT 5: Understanding the Timeline of Detection
  
  In detection there are behaviors that must happen in training and deployment
- SEGMENT 6: Why is vocabulary important??
  
  Since this course is directed at public safety, a consistant use of terms is a must!
- SEGMENT 7: Vocabulary Resources
  
  A process has been implemented to somewhat solidify K-9 vocabulary.
MODULE 3: Using Markers
This course accomodates the use of markers (voice or clickers) and not using markers
- SEGMENT 1: Rewards, Reinforcements, and Different Means of Rewards Delivery
  
  Lecture on the delivery of rewards
- SEGMENT 2: Charge the Mark - Loading the Clicker
  
  We use food here. It is the fastest way to get the number of repetitions in. We also introduce some small cognitive problems for the dog to solve. Simple but useful.
- SEGMENT 3: Markers and primary and secondary reward systems
  
  The only difference is the reward is secondary (comes from the handler).
- SEGMENT 4: Helpful Skills for the Dog Team using Marker and Food
  
  Either a dog may be more suited to food rewards or a handler may choose food rewards above toys.
- SEGMENT 5: Applying the clicker (marker) in training progressions
  
  When we move to secondary rewards we substitute the mark for allowing the dog to get an object at the find location
- SEGMENT 6: Student Videos
  
  No summary available
MODULE 4: Progression of Training & Training Goals and Frequency
The use of primary rewards is to un-involve the handler in the foundations
- SEGMENT 1: A few guidelines for handler training.
  
  Remember, your involvement as a handler is not required and is a detriment to learning!
- SEGMENT 2: Indications, what are they?
  
  The indication in detection explained
- SEGMENT 3: Progression of Training Steps
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 4: Frequency and Duration and intensity of Training
  
  Some information on the best way to train dogs
- SEGMENT 5: Student Videos
  
  No summary available
MODULE 5: Rituals in Detection Work
The use of rituals in detection work are an important portion of practical work
- SEGMENT 1: Overview video
  
  Understanding and implementing the ritual lecture
- SEGMENT 2: Developing the ritual
  
  In this segment we show how to begin integrating the ritual into traiing and then into application
- SEGMENT 3: Student Videos
  
  No summary available
MODULE 6: First Stages, Let's get to work!
We begin training dogs here. The foundations of detection begin.
- SEGMENT 1: Action Plan for wire crate work
  
  This segment covers our plan for the module
- SEGMENT 2: Building perserverance and making associations
  
  This segment begins the foundational work that is extremely important.
- SEGMENT 3: Working towards intensity and strength of indication
  
  explanations
- SEGMENT 4: Review of Developing the Indication by using a crate
  
  Here we will use sucessive approximation, some moulding and capturing to get what we want
- SEGMENT 5: Succesive approximation at the crate continued
  
  Using successive approximation we can incrementally achieve our indication goals without dropping drive
- SEGMENT 6: Student Videos
  
  No summary available
MODULE 7: White Board Work
Using particularly designed boards for teaching sniff, move, and patterns.
- SEGMENT 1: White Boards, what they are and why we use them.
  
  Over view of the white boards.
- SEGMENT 2: White Board Training
  
  Introducing the dog to the work with white long boxes.
- SEGMENT 3: Using THREE White Boards
  
  Continuing the process
- SEGMENT 4: Negative Punishment with White Boxes
  
  Some dogs gamble! What to do about it!
- SEGMENT 5: Action Plan for increasing and grouping white boxes
  
  Continueing with the plan
- SEGMENT 6: USING THE WHITE BOARDS TO PRODUCE SELF TAUGHT PATTERNING
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 7: Student Videos
  
  No summary available
MODULE 8: Vertical Boards
Vertical Boards are used for a variety of training experiences
- SEGMENT 1: Progression of Training; Vertical Boards Progression
  
  We let the dog teach itself how to find the odor mostly by itself but also accept direction.
- SEGMENT 2: Introduction to Vertical Boards
  
  Initial work with the verticle boards
- SEGMENT 3: Vertical Boards - Step 2
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 4: Goals of using Vertical Boards
  
  We will show you the way we put the boards together. There have been many many approaches to this piece of equipment
- SEGMENT 5: Introducing Patterns on Vertical Boards
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 6: Student Videos
  
  No summary available
MODULE 9: Diversions, Distractions and Variable Reinforcement Schedules
Action Plan for theis module
- SEGMENT 1: Variable Reinforcement
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 2: Training Disobedience in the Face of Odor "Stupid Proofing"
  
  Diversions distraction and variable schedules of reinforcement
- SEGMENT 3: Adding odors to ignore
  
  We will be adding odors to the long white boards and to vertical boards that are not assigned
- SEGMENT 4: Introducing distractions during a search
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 5: Practical Approach to an Intermittent Reinforcement Schedule
  
  Dogs need a rich reinforcement schedule but not 1:1
- SEGMENT 6: Student Videos
  
  No summary available
MODULE 10: Moving towards realistic Search Skills
- SEGMENT 1: Equipment to realistic searches, making th big step
  
  Using simple searches to transition into practical work
- SEGMENT 2: Introducing searches in new environments
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 3: Transition searches to realistic environments
  
  Adding several venues to dogs that are ready is important for both dog and handler.
- SEGMENT 4: Transitioning into real searches cont.
  
  We continue on basic searches building up to more and more realistic work to include blank searches
- SEGMENT 5: Good Examples of Basic Searches
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 6: Challenging the dog and handler
  
  As the team progresses they must be challenged in new environments and skills
- SEGMENT 7: Student Videos
  
  No summary available
MODULE 11: Cardinal Rules for Detection Dog Handling During Training/Deployment
Hndler behavior is an important component
- SEGMENT 1: Cardinal Handling Rules
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 2: Understanding a Detection Alert
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 3: Specialized Searches in Explosives Detection
  
  We look at specialty training
- SEGMENT 4: Testing cash for drug residue
  
  Our take on this process for seizing cash in a civil process
- SEGMENT 5: Student Videos
  
  No summary available
MODULE 12: Leash Handling - Handler Behavior during searches
- SEGMENT 1: Handler Responsibility During Searches
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 2: Leash Handling is an important learned skill
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 3: Video of good leash handling during a search
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 4: Mistake in Leash Handling during a search
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 5: Good Handling
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 6: Off Leash Search
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 7: Student videos
  
  No summary available
MODULE 13: Search Strategies for Practical Detection
- SEGMENT 1: Prepare for your search - take the time it takes
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 2: Student Videos
  
  No summary available
MODULE 14: Proofing
This module is specific for law enforcement narcotics teams.
- SEGMENT 1: Proofing, a necessity; an overview of its application.
  
  This segment covers proofing as well as some types of searches that use similiar methodology
- SEGMENT 2: Proofing using the vertical boards
  
  Start early and prevent problems!
- SEGMENT 3: Marijuana; A changing world!
  
  Here we explore marijuana's changing status in Public Safety
- SEGMENT 4: Proofing from Marijuana
  
  Proofing off marijuana or other substances for that matter
- SEGMENT 5: Proofing is used to stop a dog who is alerting or alerting and indicating on unassigned substances.
  
  Proofing
- SEGMENT 6: Double Blind Searches
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 7: Student Videos
  
  No summary available
MODULE 15: Maintenance Training
Maintenance Training
- SEGMENT 1: Maintenance Training
  
  No summary available
MODULE 16: Problem Solving
In this module turn the volume up!
- SEGMENT 1: Dog Gets in Odor and Then Looks Back at the Handler for Toy
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 2: Problem Solving
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 3: Indication Development
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 4: Student Videos
  
  No summary available
MODULE 17: Equipment
- SEGMENT 1: Scent Kits
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 2: Leashes
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 3: Accessories
  
  No summary available
MODULE 18: Getxent - K9 Detector Training Aid
- SEGMENT 1: What are Getxent tubes?
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 2: Getxent Odor Detection Kit
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 3: Getxent Magnetic Odor Box
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 4: Why is Getxent is a Safer way to Train Detector Dogs
  
  No summary available
- SEGMENT 5: Student Videos
  
  No summary available

Testimonials

"I've taken (and am still referring back to) this course and give it two thumbs up. Excellent content, well presented. Excellent course design, with a mix of videos and written - it works for different types of learners. Well worth the investment."

- Joyce G. on 04/01/2024

FAQ

How long will this course take to complete?

This is a self-study course. You can go through the content at your own pace. There is no time limit on the course.

Does this course expire?

You will have lifetime access to this course.

Will this course be offered in a DVD or stream format?

This course will only be available in an online course format. It will not be offered as a DVD or video stream. The course has more content that can fit on a DVD. In addition, the online format allows students to review material in minutes compared trying to review material in a long DVD.

How much content is in this course?

The course contains over 300 short videos in addition to a great deal of written content and photos. In total, there is about 7 hours of content to watch in this course.

Do you need to be enrolled in the six-week in-person K9 handler program with Kevin to take this course?

No, anybody interested in learning more about K9 Detector Work can take and learn from this course.