A fringe alert happens when your dog smells odor, but is not at source. (Source is the highest concentration of target odor).

Common causes of fringe alerts include:
1) The handler called "alert" too early, before their dog got to source, or
2) The dog doesn’t understand his job is to go to source. This can happen when you reward the dog for lying down close to boxes, without putting his nose at source. If you reward close (fringe alerts), you’ll get close.

Before you call “alert”, you should be able to point to the exact location of source. If you call the alert before you can answer the question “where is it”, then you are in trouble. For example, in CKC scent detection competition, you must be able to identify source within 6 inches.

Sourcing is crucial to succeeding in scent detection. If your dog is struggling with the exact location of source, that’s the first thing you need to address.

We train sniffer dogs to source in container searches where the dog puts his nose in the hole, and the hide is taped securely inside the box, right next to the hole. That way the handler and dog both agree that the location of source is precisely at the hole. This visually distinct and crystalclear criteria enables handlers to work to source, mark the instant the dog gets to source, and deliver repeated rewards at source.

SOURCING TESTS
Don't wait until you compete to assess your dog's skills. If you test and fail more at home, and train through any issues, you'll build trust in your team be more prepared for the challenges you'll face in blind searches. Try these simple tests to get an accurate idea of your sniffer dog's current capabilities.
0:02 Test One Hot Box
0:19 Tower of Boxes
0:48 Move The Box, Leaving Residual Odor in the Air Your dog should still be able to find source. Learn more on our blog: https://wp.me/p74GTgz7
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