Start with a really good dog trainer, an older dog with decent manners who is operant and some imagination. Also do some internet research and have some conversations.
I have been collecting scent samples when I am out of range. I have been using 2×2 gauze pads, rinsing my mouth with water, then putting them in my mouth. Put them in a zip lock bag and then freezing them.
To train a scent dog, you need identical containers that will release scent. You want some containers to have scent and some not. I am using salt shakers, really tiny ones from a restaurant supply store. They are about $1.00 a shaker. They already have holes.
I started by clicking her whenever she looked at the scent one. Then I started hiding them in my pockets. I also used to, a scent one and a non-scented one, and clicked whenever she showed interested in the scented one.
At the same time, I worked on the alert. I want her to pick up her leash whenever she senses I am out of range. I tied a knot in the leash so that she would know that there was something different and clicked when she nosed the knot. Once she was consistent nosing the knot, I progressed to open mouth, then grabbing knot, then picking up knot. All basic clicking 101 stuff.
I also take her everywhere I go now, reinforcing good behavior, verbally correctly atrocious behavior and taking her out on a regular basis. Just basic stuff.
Now that I have an alert, I’m just reinforcing alert behavior whenever it is appropriate. If my blood sugar is high, we do sessions without the shaker, if my blood sugar is in range we use the shaker.
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