Auditing Spots – March 7 & 8 – Garrett Dyer

Saturday's topic is Thresholds & corners, and tight spaces, oh my!
The search environment often creates conditions that leave handlers wondering how they missed a hide. These hides are usually found at or near the threshold, lurking in a corner, or in areas the dog finds unpleasant to investigate. This workshop will discuss why managing thresholds and corners is sometimes necessary and techniques handlers can use to help their dog become comfortable investigating tight areas. Dog teams will practice strategies to ensure adequate coverage of thresholds and corners and work search problems that expose the dog to tight spaces to improve confidence.

Sunday is Optimizing Search Strategy and Handling
Detection work is a team effort that involves a dog and a handler. Detection work is not an activity involving two units that are not in sync. Each has a distinct role in achieving positive outcomes during a search: the dog searches with clarity and confidence, and the handler formulates a search strategy that results in a functioning team. Participants will learn to assess a search area more effectively to develop a plan quickly, ensure proper coverage based on conditions, and better recognize COB in their dog and any unintentional signals the handler communicates that cause unwanted behaviors. Hides will be placed to challenge dogs and handlers based on the level of their training.

The seminar will run from 8:30am-4:30pm and will be held at:
Lords New Church
1725 Huntingdon Rd
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006

Registrar: Mary Grace Buckwalter

Email Mary Grace with questions about registration.