Training Methodology

The communication between the dog and the handler while the dog
indicating a target during accreditation.

Completed activities

Training methodology, in this context, is a term used to describe methods of training dogs and their handlers. It is the most controversial topic when addressing obstacles to successful mine dog clearance. A variety of different training practices exist, and within the mine dog community there is disagreement about which is best. Even dog instructors within the same organisation can disagree about how to train dogs and handlers. This can cause frustration and delays, as alternative training principles may be applied successively to the same dogs, confusing them and possibly making them unsuitable for further training or subsequent use.

NOKSH, a Norwegian company specialising in search dogs, has completed a study report for the GICHD. The report will help demining organisations analyse their own institutional mechanisms and determine whether their way of working is the most suited. It is also envisaged that the report will create some discussion related to training methodology and general principles. Such discussions will hopefully result in less controversy and increased agreement regarding training methodologies. The report has been incorporated into the MDD book (see MDD book index, chapter 2, part 2).

Future activities

The Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) mine detection dog (MDD) programme in Bosnia is a quality programme. Standards in Bosnia are high and the Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) has established a systematic training approach to achieve its goals. The GICHD has agreed to undertake a case study and describe each training stage of this programme in detail. A description of a successful training programme may help NPA and other organisations to structure and institutionalise vital aspects of their MDD training concepts.

GICHD Publications concerning Animal Detection