Tonight was Mason’s scheduled MISAR evaluation. I was really nervous and he was really excited. It rained this afternoon and I wasn’t sure if the training would be canceled or not but it cleared up by the time we got out of work so we made the trek to Lowell for the meeting.
We were one of the first teams there. After everyone arrived Eric and I followed along to learn some field support techniques as a Bloodhound followed a trail. It was a two-mile hike and about half way through it, it started to rain. Then it increased somewhere between raining and pouring. Luckily, we were in the woods so it was decreased a little bit but we all still got pretty wet. It was a nice warm day and the rain cut the humidity so I was ok with it.
After we followed the Bloodhound, we followed two air scent teams into the woods to watch them locate one live and one dead “victim”. It’s important for them to alert on the live person before the dead because (for obvious reasons) they are priority in a real search. It was fun to see the differences in the alerting and working styles. Some dogs are all business and they move through the woods at a quick but controlled pace. Other dogs race through like they’re going for a romp, but they are just as successful. Some dogs alert by barking and some by jumping, some by sitting. It’s all different. They are rewarded differently as well. Some get treats and toys, some get to tug, again all variable.
After that we got Mason out for his temperament test. He passed easily. Some of the things he had to do included: going under a dark deck on command, being tied and left, being handled by someone else, meeting a neutral stranger, meeting a friendly stranger, meeting another dog/handler team, his toy drive was tested, along with response to treats. Next we headed into the woods.
First he just was let loose to romp around and show that he was comfortable working away from me but that he would come back – which he is and did. Then someone “popped” him (teased him with his tug) and ran down into the woods, Mason was allowed to watch for 10 feet and then I distracted him so he couldn’t see while the person with his toy hid. Then I released him. He went bolting off at full speed, nose working. He actually passed the person on the way by but he wasn’t looking with his eyes, he was using his nose – and he found them. His tail was going a mile a minute and he got to tug and win and proudly prance back to me with his reward.
We did this one more time and again with the person popping out and yelling. Every time he set out with the same amount of eagerness. Next we walked in the general direction of the cadaver that we had used earlier in the evening for training. Mason went flying past and it was like his nose jerked his whole body around, he had found the cadaver. He was a little bit wary of the smell and so he crept up rather slowly but he took a good sniff and then wandered away like it was nothing.
On the walk back he was horrendous on-lead, not heeling well at all. Something we’re going to definitely work on. But…HE PASSED!!!! Yay little dude!!!!
We will be continuing his training with MISAR. Plus, because of his favorable reaction to the cadaver scent, with some positive reinforcement we hope to dual-certify him for human remains as well. We were told he has great instincts and is an awesome prospect for wilderness air scenting!
Before he can get certified I have to pass my field support training, along with collecting a bunch of equipment/supplies and getting some new gear (at least boots!). Eric is even considering becoming field support as well and would be a part of our team
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