This course consists of three stages. It has been developed to help you better understand what your dog is faced with when working and how to best use his abilities.
Each stage introduces the student to the wider subject of canine behaviour particularly those aspects that will have an impact on the training and handling of a research and rescue dog.
We are currently collaborating with various search and rescue organisations across South Africa, where students can either volunteer or train for this specific field.
For more information, contact celia@petsensecollege.co.za
Search and Rescue Dog Handler Stage Three
Modules:
Canine Learning
- The nature- nurture debate and the Environmental influences on behaviour
- What is learning? An introduction to learning theories
- Critical and sensitive periods for learning
- The different ways dogs learn
- Classical and operant conditioning
- Types of reinforcement, negative and positive, and primary and secondary
- The importance of play for learning
- Maladaptive learning
- Insight learning and habituation
Dog Training
- The reasons for training dogs
- The dog's senses - hearing, sight, smell, touch and how they relate to training
- The different schedules of reinforcement and how they might be used
- Benefits of positive reinforcement, and choosing suitable rewards
- Putting theory into practice in a variety of situations, such as house training, recall, teaching a dog to sit, walking to heel
- Dealing with problems and finding solutions
- Clicker training
- The role of training classes and obedience training
The Nature of scent
- The Nature of Scent
- How are odours created
- Skin sweat and micro-organisms
- Putrefaction
- Environmental factors, weather and terrain
- Tracking, trailing and air scenting
Course Details:
Study Level 2-3
The study Level relates to the how demanding the course is. 1 is beginner and 5 is HND / Foundation Degree level.
4 Module Course
This course is delivered in 4 study modules which need to be passed to gain the qualification.
Fees: Including VAT
Course fee – R4900 (includes registration and 6 modules)
or
Pay as you learn option – R1750 registration (once off) and R850 per module.
