Off leash vehicle searches aren’t usually an option in a trial or even in practice but they can teach us a lot about how our dogs would like to search. In this search, Spriggs finds 4 hides (all known) in a large area with 17 cars and trucks in about 4 minutes. Because the area has a wall or fence all the way around it, she is able to use that to help her find the source of the 4 hides. If you ever get a chance to do vehicles off leash, I think you’ll find it increases your confidence in your dog’s ability to quickly assess if a vehicle has odor or not.
Cool video! This is a really interesting topic. I was shocked at the speed with which Boon found all five vehicle hides the other night when we were able to work off leash, although he didn’t stick at one very long. Dragging his human behind must make him feel virtually handicapped most of the time!
I was able to do a lot of off leash vehicle searches at my old house because of the fence and that is when Boon figured out the concept of “check the other side of the vehicle” (to evaluate strength of odor is what I think he is doing) a technique which he now often uses, especially on deep hides and/or if there is strong wind. I saw him do it in both of the vehicle searches that were on the uncovered parking level the other night. I see that it is very important to his decision making when he decides to do that, so I need to be ready to support it. I really feel like he discovered that piece of problem solving because of off leash searching, when I wasn’t interfering with that darn leash and dumb human decision making based on mental power rather than nose power. You know, like holding because he has already “covered” that side of the car…. They must think we are so dumb at times. 😉