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Our Approach Wildlife Conservation Store Blog Our Dogs Puppies About My Library

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INDICATION TRAINING PROTOCOL | Hunter's Heart

Once your dog proficiently finds the precise location of source (the highest concentration of target odor), it's time to train an indication behavior.  In this video, Rickard demonstrates his indication: freeze + sit/down + stare at source until released to chase his toy.

DOWNLOAD PDF
 

Click the orange button to download a one page PDF summary of our indication training protocols. Bring it with you to training and check off every step after you complete it in 5 different locations. 

The same handout is also available as a JPG file. To download the JPG, hover your mouse over the image > right click > Save Image As > save to your computer or device.

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TRACKING GEAR

This photo gallery shows one option for tracking dog GPS equipment. Consult with your local regulations to determine which units and signals are allowed and available in your location.

  • Top left - 2 Garmin GPS units with 2 dog collars. (Note these are not shock collars, and have no capacity to transmit a shock, tone, or vibration on the collar.)
  • Top middle - A tracklayer can use their Garmin GPS to enter a waypoint at the start, then plot their track while they lay it, as well as the walkout. This unit can send data to the dog handler's GPS or phone, when in range. 
  • Top right - A dog handler can carry the Garmin Astro 320. This can pair with multiple collars. It shows the path of the dog (with approx. 9 ft margin of error).
  • When the dog indicates at distance (e.g. sit, point or freeze and stare) the handler receives an audible tone and icon on their screen. 
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Entire set of gear

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Tracklayer's GPS

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Garmin Astro 320 GPS with 2 dog tracking collars. These are NOT shock collars. 

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When the dog indicates at a distance, the dog handler's screen shows Dog2 is frozen in a sit (or frozen in another position), with distance and direction to the dog. 

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The dog handler's screen monitors multiple dogs and collars, on the same receiver. 

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Optional antenna increases range to find a lost dog. 

  • Bottom left - closeup of the dog handler's screen showing that Dog2 is indicating target odor (stopped and sitting), with distance and directions to the dog's current coordinates. This allows the handler to recognize the dog has found the scented article or person and is indicating at a distance, frequently out of sight. 
  • Bottom middle - On the same unit, Dog1 and Dog2 are shown on the screen. How far can your dog be and you'll still detect the signal? It depends on the vegetation, possibly up to 3 km. 
  • Bottom right - If you lose your dog, you can plug this extension antenna into your Garmin Astro 320, and it will increase the range to about 5 miles. 
  • At the end of the day, dog handlers can compare the tracklayer's path with the dog's path, to verify how closely the dog followed the track. Also, teams can keep records of all tracks, including areas searched, and speed, on their PC's, using software such as basecamp.