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Fundamentals of Canine Detection Training 
​
And Problem Identification


About Don Blair

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Don Blair had his start with working K9s as a police officer. Having served as a K9 officer for 5 years, he moved into US Customs and Border Protection and quickly worked his way through a variety of roles including Canine Enforcement Officer, Instructor/Course Developer and Canine Branch Chief. He was responsible for supervision of Department of Homeland Security/Customs Border Protection anti-terrorism inspections and special enforcement operations as well as canine training and research development programs.

After founding CIA in 1984, Don continued to procure skills in optimizing canine learning through the attendance of numerous courses all over the world focused on operant conditioning. He actively applied these techniques to each position during his career resulting in highly effective and efficient results for teams under his oversight. Through CIA, he brings these same standards of learning coupled with over 30 years of experience to AKC obedience handlers, Schutzhund (IPO) handlers, and most recently with the relatively new sport of K9 Nose Work. Don continues to provide consulting services to multiple industries including personal protection companies, AmTrak, Search and Rescue Teams, police organizations, and the military.

Don is a United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) judge in tracking, detection, obedience, and protection, as well as an AKC CGC evaluator.

** information taken from Don Blair's website www.ciak9.net



About This 3 Day Workshop

This course was specifically developed for new and experienced canine handlers alike. As a progressive canine handler, you will appreciate the simple scientific methods utilized to identify the strengths and capabilities of a well-trained and reliable canine team.  It is just as important however to be able to identify, plan and resolve areas of weakness in teams needing improvement in any areas.

The focus of this course is to enhance the basic knowledge, skills, and capabilities for recognizing and being able to see and articulate both the strengths and weaknesses in a canine detection team’s training and field performance.  
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The course will cover old, new and developing canine detection and handling concepts, and will educate the course participants in the behavioral science of K9 learning and the reinforcement process.  Course participants will be able to break down a “single” detection exercise or session and be better able to recognize, plan and advise on real problem solving techniques. This course will introduce training and behavioral modification techniques that truly address the real issues and don’t waste valuable training time.  Three, for and five day variations of this course have been delivered multiple times in the US, Canada, Africa and the Middle East.

Day One - All Day Classroom Lecture

  • Canine Detection Training Myths and New Methodologies
  • Terminology- Common Language = Better Understanding” 
  • A Single Detection Exercise (intent, alert (COB), interest and response) **The Target Odor of choice is irrelevant…
  • Basic familiarization with the physical science of moving “odors”  
  • Advanced training concept- “Discrimination and Distractor” training
  • Real Life Handling Tips, Problem Solving Ideas and Applications
  • Motivation/maintenance- Expect a Higher Performance!

Day Two - Hands On Practical Learning

  • Point-to-Point/ Quartering Field Exercises
  • Behavioral changes that occur during detection
  • Detection “break-down” categorizations and how these identify training strengths and weaknesses
  • Skills and attributes for the handler (timing, rates of reinforcement, handler skills)
  • Skills and attributes for the dog (conditioning, odor recognition, focus, tracing odor to source that are high, deep, inaccessible)
  • Detection Team Assessments/Evaluations
  • Gold Standard: Double Blind Assessments

Day Three - Hands On Practical Learning

  • Questions and feedback
  • Review goals for the course
  • Field Work
    • Blind runs with distractors
    • Team status / critiques
    • Teaching trainers how to develop program to fill the gaps
    • Sample training scenarios to strengthen handler teams

Seminar Information

Dates:
RESCHEDULED FOR June 10,11,12 2022

Times:
8am to 5pm each day

Location:
Bowden, AB
Costs:
Working Spot - $700 for all 3 days of learning (MUST attend Friday to attend the weekend)
Working Dogs must have previously been introduced to odour. 
​In Person Audit Spot - $300 for all 3 days of learning, $200 for attending just the Friday classroom lectures​
Refund policy: 
​If this workshop is cancelled before May 1st due to COVID you will receive a full refund. If the event must be cancelled after May 1st due to COVID, refunds may include partial credits due to incurred costs that are unrecoverable at this time. 
​If you cancel prior to March 31st you will receive a full refund - any cancellations after April 1 will require your spot to be filled prior to you receiving a refund, if your spot can be filled you will receive a full refund less a $30 admin fee. 
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Coffee, tea, water, snacks & lunch will be provided all 3 days.

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Register Today
Registration opens February 1, 2022!

We Would Love to Hear From You!

 Samantha Freschette - CPDT KA
403-348-9949 (call/text)
caninecoachinginfo@gmail.com
Bowden, Alberta
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Proudly serving Central Alberta!
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