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The Recruit(s): K9 Graduation Day
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After 4 months of intense training for our newest #CIAK9 recruits, all of the hard work finally paid off as the CIA Fall 2017 “Puppy Class” officially graduated!
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After 4 months of intense training for our newest #CIAK9 recruits, all of the hard work finally paid off as the CIA Fall 2017 “Puppy Class” officially graduated!
Search patterns are different & it can take dogs a while to learn that searching something like a car or an entire warehouse can be productive – finding a hot target & getting a food reward.
To keep pups motivated, trainers start dogs out w easy search patterns & multiple “hots.”
To keep pups motivated, trainers start dogs out w easy search patterns & multiple “hots.”
Eventually, pups will search multiple rows of cars w only a single "hot," as well as several rooms containing no target odors. This helps teach them to pace themselves to increase endurance for long searches; an essential skill for any explosive detection K9 team.
Did all six pups make it through advance training? Next week we'll let you know in our final pupdate!
If you have missed any “tails” in our #CIAK9 series, you can catch up here: bit.ly/2wJQuJg
If you have missed any “tails” in our #CIAK9 series, you can catch up here: bit.ly/2wJQuJg
Pups transition from working w trainers to their new handlers can be a challenge for both.
Handlers are used to working w their soon-to-retire dogs.
Pups are used to the trainers.
It’s like changing dance partners & can take a while for the new partnerships to get in sync.
Handlers are used to working w their soon-to-retire dogs.
Pups are used to the trainers.
It’s like changing dance partners & can take a while for the new partnerships to get in sync.
Lead #CIAK9 Trainer:
“Watching an experienced K9-handler team should look like a dance. Handler should move through search area w a smooth, fluid, rhythmic motion, presenting w their hand productive areas for dog to search”
It helps w pace of search & keeps pup interested/focused
“Watching an experienced K9-handler team should look like a dance. Handler should move through search area w a smooth, fluid, rhythmic motion, presenting w their hand productive areas for dog to search”
It helps w pace of search & keeps pup interested/focused
The Recruit(s): CIA K9s Level Up
#CIAK9 pups have learned all target odors & have been training w their new human partners for several weeks. They can now detect over 20,000 different explosive mixtures!
bit.ly/2A6kyRV
#CIAK9 pups have learned all target odors & have been training w their new human partners for several weeks. They can now detect over 20,000 different explosive mixtures!
bit.ly/2A6kyRV
How’s it possible for a dog to learn only a few dozen scents, yet be able to detect thousands of different explosives mixtures? Our Lead #K9 Trainer explains it using “The Beef Stew Metaphor”
When dog sniffs beef stew they smell the carrots, salt, beef, onions & anything else in it. They smell each ingredient. Yet to us, it just smells like stew.
If #K9 is taught to indicate on scent of carrots, they would indicate on stew as it could pick out carrots from ingredients
If #K9 is taught to indicate on scent of carrots, they would indicate on stew as it could pick out carrots from ingredients
The CIA handlers in the Fall 2017 Puppy Class have all had a previous #CIAK9 partner.
All #K9 handlers 1st weeks are spent taking advanced classes on subjects like firearms & explosives, as well as emergency vet care for dogs.
ICYMI:
Lulu is no longer training, but was adopted by her handler & currently living her best life in retirement.
bit.ly/2gQf3vk
Lulu is no longer training, but was adopted by her handler & currently living her best life in retirement.
bit.ly/2gQf3vk
As the K9 class was only in the imprint stage of training when Lulu left, we were able to bring on a new #CIAK9 & catch them up on training.
We’d like to introduce you to the newest member of CIA’s Fall 2017 Puppy Class…
Heron!
....(aka “Harry”)
bit.ly/2gSpbnz
Heron!
....(aka “Harry”)
bit.ly/2gSpbnz
#CIAK9 Pupdate:
Sometimes, even after testing, our pups make it clear being an explosive detection K9 isn’t for them
bit.ly/2gQf3vk
Sometimes, even after testing, our pups make it clear being an explosive detection K9 isn’t for them
bit.ly/2gQf3vk
We’re sad to announce that a few weeks into training, Lulu began to show signs that she wasn’t interested in detecting explosive odors.
All dogs, like humans, have good & bad days when learning something new.
Same for our pups, though it usually lasts just a day or two.
Same for our pups, though it usually lasts just a day or two.
Heide, Indigo, Freya, Suni, Lulu & Nicole are out of the booth & learning new scents on training room floor:
bit.ly/2wYlt5M
#CIAK9
bit.ly/2wYlt5M
#CIAK9
The ladies performed so well in the booth, in fact, that they began their floor exercises 2 days earlier than most previous classes!
1st week is focused on “line discrimination” – learning to find the scents they’ve been imprinted on in cans spread across the floor.
None of the six K9s in CIA’s fall class – Suni, Heide, Freya, Lulu, Nicole, & Indigo – have previous explosive detection training.
Our #CIAK9 instructors’ days start at sun rise as they prep our training center. They do 3 lessons a day, 7 days a week, even on holidays.
Our 4 #K9 recruits-Suni, Indigo, Freya & Nicole-had 1st vet exam since joining CIA @ODAHCenter.
Heide & Lulu, had exams at their local vets.
Heide & Lulu, had exams at their local vets.
@ODAHCenter Before classes begin, all Agency dogs go to the vet for a full health exam and any necessary vaccinations.
Our #K9 trainers selected 6 dogs for our Fall 2017 Puppy Class. Let’s meet the doggos!
bit.ly/2xyQk5u
#CIAK9
bit.ly/2xyQk5u
#CIAK9
Indigo, a feisty black lab from @SSDOGS, is surprisingly strong for her small size & is full of energy. She likes to work & loves to eat!
@SSDOGS Suni is part of the “astronaut litter” from @SSDOGS & is named for @NASA astronaut @Astro_Suni . She’s smart, happy, & light on her feet.
Meet CIA’s new #K9 recruits & follow along this fall as they learn to become CIA explosive detection canines:
bit.ly/2wJQuJg
#CIAK9
bit.ly/2wJQuJg
#CIAK9
We’re taking you behind the scenes of our nationally-recognized #K9 dog training program, from picking the pups to training to graduation.
Our #K9 officers serve as the first line of defense against explosive threats to Agency personnel & buildings at HQ & abroad.
