Fred got fired for playing too much!

NCWriter wrote:
Interesting discussion. I know that Guide Dogs for the Blind in CA cooperates with Dogs for the Deaf in Oregon and sometimes provides them with Career Change dogs who weren't suited for Guide Dog work ( determined after breeding, whelping, puppy socialization and raising, etc for 18 months). These dogs can make great Hearing Dogs. I happen to be receiving such a dog in three weeks.

Interesting that my manuals say that learning to work the sounds is a game for the dog. The trainer-partner has to make it fun and constantly reinforce, keeping things interesting, or the dog won't "play." But alerting sounds is quick work, not sustained search work.

By the way, I saw on the news this morning that the Taliban captured an American military dog with GPS tracker in his vest. Showed video of them with the dog. Made my blood run cold, and I don't think I want to know what else happens.

"Play drive" is very important to any working k-9. The "play" after the deed well done is the ultimate reward for these dogs ie. they live and work for the reward. I have seen quite a few dogs washed out of
k-9 programs for exhibiting low play drive.