Paul Bunker SPECTATOR 24/25.10.26

Service Description

SPECTATOR SPACE Workshop Overview Teaching a reliable “All-Clear” response is a critical but often overlooked component of detection dog training. In this workshop, we focus on building a clear, confident behavior from the canine that indicates the absence of target odor. A strong all-clear not only improves operational efficiency but also reduces false alerts, conserves the dog’s energy, and provides valuable clarity to the handler and supporting team. Through progressive exercises, we will explore how to condition, reinforce, and apply the all-clear in both training and real-world search environments, ensuring your dog understands that nothing found is still a job well done. Workshop Outline: Workshop Structure: Module 1: Introduction to Canine Odor Detection Objective: Understand the principles of the All-Clear. Topics Covered: Introduction: Why a reliable all-clear matters Common handler/dog errors in blank searches Defining what an all-clear looks like behaviorally Overview of training methodology: shaping, luring, capturing Module 2: Training Foundations for All-Clear Objective: Confirm foundation in detection lineups. Topics Covered: Establishing a baseline for lineups. Confirm target odor recognition. Confirm a final response to the target odor. Assess reward sequence. Hands-on: Basic training exercises with an emphasis on odor recognition and indication. Module 3: Reward Selection Objective: Understand and apply the Reward Selection Assessment. Topics Covered: Introduction: Why Reward Selection Assessment matters. The application of the Reward Selection Assessment. Hands-on: Conduct a Reward Selection Assessment with the participants’ canines. Module 4: Training the All-Clear Protocol Objective: Introduction of the All-Clear protocol. Topics Covered: Using the established progression plan Shape, capture, and lure techniques to teach the All-Clear Hands-on: Introduce canines to the All-Clear protocol, including the trained response. Workshop Duration: Total Length: 2 days (16 hours) Prerequisites The following prerequisites are required to participate in the workshop: The canine must be trained to detect a target odor The canine handler must provide target samples for training The canine must have a Trained Final Response with a minimum duration of 3 seconds