Canine Training Protocols for Detecting Buried Targets
Workshop Overview
This workshop is designed to teach handlers how to utilize canines in the detection of buried targets, such as contraband, human remains, or other specific objects. It is ideal for law enforcement, military personnel, search and rescue teams, conservation canine teams, or any professional requiring specialized training for canines in complex, often challenging environments. The workshop covers odor theory, canine training techniques, and practical exercises focused on odor identification, target detection, and working in various terrains. This workshop is an invaluable resource for teams seeking to develop or refine their skills in buried target detection, offering both theoretical knowledge and practical, hands-on experience to enhance the team’s capability and efficiency, thereby ensuring effective search operations in a variety of challenging environments.
Workshop Outline:
Workshop Structure:
Module 1: Introduction to Canine Odor Detection
– Objective: Understand the principles of canine olfaction and odor detection.
– Topics Covered:
– Soil Types and Molecule Movements
– Odor profiles and its movement through the subsurface
– Factors affecting odor
– Principles of the Three-legged Stool and the Detection Communication Chain
Module 2: Training Foundations for Buried Target Detection
– Objective: Build a strong foundation in teaching a canine to detect and indicate buried targets.
– Topics Covered:
– Establishing odor profiles and introducing buried targets
– Strategies to Train a Canine to Detect Buried Target
– Reinforcement techniques to condition target indication
– Incrementally increasing the complexity of odor detection
– Hands-on: Basic training exercises with an emphasis on odor recognition.
Module 3: Intermediate Buried Target Search Protocols
– Objective: Apply training to more complex, real-world detection situations.
– Topics Covered:
– Utilization of “PLUGS” in training protocols
– How to make “PLUGS” for use in canine training
– Hands-on: Introduce canines to odor-specific “PLUGS” initial imprinting and outside environments exercises.
Module 4: Advanced Techniques
– Objective: Liquid Target Odor Delivery.
– Topics Covered:
– Utilization of the Liquid Target Odor Delivery protocols
– How to make Liquid Target Odor Delivery training aids
– Hands-on: Introduce canines to odor-specific Liquid Target Odor Delivery initial imprinting and outside environments exercises.
Workshop Duration:
Total Length: 2 days (16 hours)
Advanced Workshop
The advanced workshop offers both instruction and hands-on exercises, guiding participants through the creation and deployment of training aids in realistic scenarios. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of constructing buried target training aids and effectively integrating them into training sessions, both theoretically and practically.
Duration:
An additional 2 days (Total 32 hours of instruction)
Prerequisites
– Teams should be experienced in detecting their specific targets.
– Participants must have a canine that is at least one year old and in good health.
– A maximum of 10 working spots with unlimited audit (observer) spots.
Working spots must either be trained on KONG or be willing to provide target samples for use in the workshop. Training samples cannot be recovered after use (please contact me directly if you require further guidance).
Why Choose Chiron K9?
Paul Bunker has extensive experience in buried target detection, developed over decades of operational and research deployments. His experience comes from buried cache, IED, and mine detection in the British Army, where he trained and deployed canine teams in high-threat environments to locate landmines and other explosive hazards. Building on that foundation, Paul has applied those same principles to environmental detection, leading canine teams in the successful identification of hundreds of subsurface oil targets across diverse and challenging terrains. His expertise spans the development of training protocols for deeply buried scent targets, integration of detection dogs into large-scale survey operations, and data-driven refinement of search strategies. Paul’s depth of knowledge in subsurface odor dynamics and field deployment makes him a recognized authority in the buried target detection space.