A training method for cultivating the early ability of dogs in olfactory operations

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for training dogs in the early stages of olfactory tasks, comprising the following steps: 1. establishing a training platform; and 2. designing an integrated search and manual reward device. The present invention addresses the issue of manually controlling a reward device in the early stages of olfactory tasks, gradually rewarding the dog's behavior in sensing a target odor and the dog's subsequent warning behavior after sensing the target odor. This ensures timely, effective, and error-free rewards, while avoiding existing problems such as easy movement and excessive noise associated with previous devices. This method also addresses the issue of target odor placement on hard surfaces in the early stages of olfactory tasks, as well as the achievement of odor connection, warning, and task concentration goals. Furthermore, the present invention addresses the issue of insufficient endurance in responding to multiple targets during the consolidation and improvement phase of olfactory task training.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of target achievement in the early stage of dog olfactory task training, and in particular to a method for cultivating and training the early stage ability of dog olfactory task. Background Art

[0002] Canine olfactory tasks include space, odor carrier (including vehicles), and surface recognition. Early training of police dogs' olfactory skills is crucial. Goals include ensuring accurate and reliable odor connections, decisive and standardized warning movements, focused attention, and sustained operational endurance.

[0003] The first is to establish an exciting association with the target scent. This depends on the method and timing of the reward, which can be remote or manual. The timing must be timely. When the dog senses the target scent, the reward should be given out at the right time. The dog should feel satisfied in a timely and sufficient manner, and only then can an exciting association with the scent be formed. The second is to establish a stable autonomous warning response. As the dog continues to excitedly associate the target scent with the target and attempts to receive a reward, it will spontaneously make warning gestures. Rewards should be given at the right time. Repeating this process can cultivate the formation of warning behavior. The third is to develop a high level of task concentration. When the dog discovers the target scent, it must accurately locate the source of the scent through its sense of smell, make warning gestures, and focus its attention closely on the source of the scent. Through a variety of reward methods, the dog's high task concentration can be developed. The fourth is to cultivate long-term task endurance. By arranging multiple scent sources and making warning gestures for multiple consecutive targets, as the intensity of the rewards increases, the dog's firm will to work will be formed.

[0004] The working dog industry has long sought to replace traditional manual rewards with remote-controlled rewards, aiming to address the inevitable negative impact of manual reward manipulation, and has achieved some promising results. However, remote-controlled devices, controlled by circuit signalers, can sometimes fail to receive command signals due to moisture or signal attenuation, preventing timely reinforcement of correct behaviors and hindering the formation of correct conditioned reflexes. Furthermore, some reward systems utilize ejection devices. However, the increased force and speed of the ejection can result in excessive noise, frightening some dogs and leading to their subsequent reluctance to approach the reward device. This requires significant time for the dogs to adapt, hindering training progress. While there are occasional reports on the development of manual reward devices, the use of hand-thrown and manually controlled rewards, if implemented simultaneously, is redundant given the impact on dog training effectiveness. Furthermore, some reward devices lack sufficient fixing force or weight, leading to instability such as movement or falling under human influence, which can disrupt training.

[0005] In addition to the formation of the above-mentioned basic abilities, for tracking or searching training, the most difficult of all operations is flat surface sniffing, especially on hard surfaces. Under normal conditions, the difficulty in hiding and deploying the target object adversely affects the dog's motivation for flat surface sniffing and the development of good habits. For a long time, whether in the early stages of training or at other times, police dog trainers have only been able to conduct training through natural hiding spots, gaps between tiles, or by prying up tiles to hide objects underneath. This is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and there is no solution for cement asphalt pavement. At the same time, it is easy for the dog to make subjective judgments and sniff out visually hidden or turned over suspicious points, forming a bad connection and affecting the training effect. This has been a long-standing technical problem in the early development of dog olfactory training under hard surface conditions in urban environments. To solve this problem, the Nanchang Police Dog Base, based on the characteristics of police dog odor operation training, has pioneered the construction of a nationally first systematic cement training platform with a roof and an airtight bottom. The platform's upper cover consists of 600mm (length) x 600mm (width) x 60mm (thick) concrete blocks, supported by a longitudinally built wall approximately 350mm high. Some of the blocks are drilled with 80mm-diameter holes, leaving a hollow area below, where target scents are placed. The platform was originally designed for tracking and search training. The target scents are placed on the concrete base, allowing them to escape through the gaps, thus solving the problem of placing target scent sources on hard surfaces. The holes in the upper cover were originally designed as reward holes. During the search operation, a remote-controlled reward device would eject rewards from the holes, providing a rewarding effect. During actual use of the training platform, it was discovered that the target scent objects placed on the concrete base had a large odor dispersion range and were located far from the dog's nose's olfactory point, resulting in inaccurate positioning and warning signals. Furthermore, the design of a remote-controlled reward device proved difficult due to signal obstruction by the concrete slab. Consequently, the platform's effectiveness was compromised, requiring further design improvements.

[0006] In summary, the present invention designs a method for cultivating early-stage olfactory performance training for dogs. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of the deficiencies in the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for cultivating and training the early ability of dogs in olfactory tasks, which solves the problem of gradually rewarding the dog's behavior of sensing the target odor and the dog's warning behavior after sensing the target odor by manually controlling the reward device in the early stage of olfactory tasks, ensuring that the rewards are timely, effective and error-free, and avoiding the existing problems of easy movement and excessive noise of previous devices, thereby forming active and exciting odor connections and stable warning behaviors; solving the problem of target odor layout under hard ground conditions in the early stage of olfactory tasks and achieving the goals of odor connection, warning and task concentration; solving the problem of insufficient endurance in responding to multiple target objects in the consolidation and improvement training stage of olfactory tasks.

[0008] To achieve the above object, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solution: a method for training a dog's early olfactory ability, comprising the following steps:

[0009] 1. First, build a training platform: add a hard ground working environment that simulates the common wooden plank roads in the park. The platform uses wooden blocks of the same specifications as cement blocks made of antiseptic wood, and the wooden blocks are laid alternately with the cement blocks on the training platform; the back of the wooden blocks are installed with odor boxes, and the corresponding positions on the front are drilled with faces to facilitate the seepage of odors and make it easier for dogs to sense and locate; similarly, the cement blocks have been modified: odor boxes are also installed adjacent to the holes of the cement blocks with reward holes. For the wooden blocks, 8.5cm square holes are cut obliquely in the middle position to serve as reward holes. The wood blocks that are usually cut can still cover the square holes because the cut surface is oblique, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, so they will not fall off; the reward holes are used in conjunction with the manual reward device. The reward holes are usually covered, and when in use, the transmission part of the manual reward device is used to push the ball out of the channel to serve as a reward;

[0010] 2. Design an integrated device for search and manual reward: the device combines the search mode and reward into one, forming an integrated device; in order to avoid the occurrence of undesirable associations with rewards, the reward transmission is connected outside the scope of the working mode with a cable. The dog behaves in an excited, standardized and focused manner in the working mode, and is rewarded without being able to perceive human actions. The dog can fully concentrate on the working mode; the search mode part: there are odor containers at the proximal end and the distal end around it. The proximal end is adjacent to the reward end, and is mainly used to practice odor association, while the distal end can practice odor association and working mode.

[0011] Preferably, the entire manual reward device in step 2 weighs about 15 kg and does not move even if the cable is pulled hard.

[0012] Beneficial effects of the present invention:

[0013] 1. The training platform takes into account all the elements of early training for dog olfactory work on hard ground in urban environments and solves them one by one, forming a professional, standardized and practical training system that includes technology, facilities, equipment and methods. Compared with the past, it is a disruptive technological innovation.

[0014] 2. The integrated search and manual reward system of this invention completely solves the problem of unstable device. After repeated improvements, the device operates quietly and will not scare the dog. Because it is purely manual, experienced trainers can ensure that the operation will not make mistakes.

[0015] 3. The integrated search and manual reward device is multifunctional. When used in conjunction with the reward holes on the training platform, it can function as a simple reward. Outside of the training platform, it can combine training and reward, playing an important role in the early stages of dog olfactory training and in the consolidation and improvement stages of training.

[0016] 4. The integrated search and manual reward device is cleverly designed and has multiple uses. It effectively makes up for the technical problems that are prone to occur with remote control and previous manual devices. It is a significant improvement over similar training devices. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] In order to make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects achieved by the present invention easier to understand, the present invention is further described below in conjunction with specific implementation methods.

[0018] This specific embodiment adopts the following technical solution: a method for training a dog's early olfactory ability, comprising the following steps:

[0019] 1. Establishing a Training Platform: A training platform was added to simulate a hard-surface working environment, similar to the wooden plank roads commonly found in parks. Wooden blocks, made of preservative wood and of the same specifications as the cement blocks, were interspersed with the cement blocks on the training platform. Scent boxes were installed on the back of the wooden blocks, and corresponding holes were drilled on the front to facilitate scent penetration and facilitate dog orientation. The cement blocks were also modified. Scent boxes were also installed adjacent to the reward holes in the cement blocks. 8.5cm square holes were cut beveled in the center of each wooden block to serve as reward holes. These holes can be covered with wooden blocks when not in use, as the beveled cuts, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, prevent them from falling. The reward holes are used in conjunction with a manual reward mechanism. The reward holes are normally covered, but when in use, the manual reward mechanism's transmission element pushes the balls out of the channel, acting as rewards.

[0020] The training platform technology is the first of its kind in the country. It takes into account all the elements of early training for dog olfactory operations on hard ground conditions in urban environments and solves them one by one, forming a professional and standardized training system that focuses on practicality. It includes technology, facilities, equipment, and methods, which is a disruptive technological innovation compared to the past.

[0021] 2. Design an integrated device for search and manual rewards. The device combines the search mode and reward into one, forming an integrated device. To avoid the occurrence of undesirable associations with rewards, the reward transmission is connected to the working mode by a cable. The dog is excited, standardized, and focused in the working mode. It is rewarded without being able to perceive human actions, and the dog can fully concentrate on the working mode. The search mode part has odor containers at the proximal end and the distal end. The proximal end is adjacent to the reward end, and is mainly used to practice odor association, while the distal end can be used to practice odor association and working mode. The entire manual reward device weighs about 15KG, and it will not move even if the cable is pulled hard, which completely solves the problem of unstable device. After repeated improvements, the device has low operating noise and will not scare the dog. Because it is purely manual operation, for experienced trainers who are familiar with training, the operation can ensure that there will be no mistakes.

[0022] The device is multifunctional and can be used in conjunction with the reward holes on the training platform for a simple reward function. Outside of the training platform, it can combine training and reward functions, playing an important role in the early stages of dog olfactory training and in the consolidation and improvement stages of training.

[0023] The device is cleverly designed and versatile, effectively overcoming the technical problems that are prone to occur with remote control and previous manual devices. It is a significant improvement over similar training devices.

[0024] The basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention are shown and described above. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The above embodiments and descriptions are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Such changes and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention. The scope of protection claimed in the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for training dogs' early olfactory abilities, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: (1) First, a training platform was established: a hard ground working environment similar to a wooden plank road commonly seen in parks was added. The platform was made of wooden blocks of the same specifications as cement blocks made of antiseptic wood, and the blocks were interlaced with the cement blocks on the training platform. An odor box was installed on the back of the wooden block, and a surface was drilled on the corresponding position on the front to facilitate the seepage of the odor and facilitate the dog's sense of positioning. Similarly, the cement blocks were also modified: an odor box was also installed adjacent to the holes of the cement blocks with reward holes. For the wooden blocks, an 8.5 cm square hole was cut obliquely in the middle to serve as a reward hole. The wood blocks cut at ordinary times can still cover the square hole because the cut surface is oblique, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, so they will not fall off. The reward hole is used in conjunction with a manual reward device. The reward hole is usually covered. When in use, the ball is pushed out of the channel through the transmission part of the manual reward device to play the role of reward. (2) Design an integrated device for search and manual reward: the device combines the search form and reward into one, forming an integrated device; In order to avoid the occurrence of undesirable reward associations, the reward transmission is connected to the outside of the working mode by a rope. The dog behaves in the working mode with excitement, standardization and concentration. It is rewarded without being able to perceive human actions. The dog can fully concentrate on the working mode. In the search mode part, there are odor containers at the proximal end and the distal end. The proximal end is adjacent to the reward end, and is mainly used to practice odor associations. The distal end can practice odor associations and working modes.

2. A method for training early olfactory skills of dogs according to claim 1, characterized in that: The entire manual reward device in step (2) weighs 15 kg and does not move even if the rope is pulled hard.