Blind and Double Blind Trials

Introduction to the Scent Wheel

• All containers empty
• First time Syn was directed to sniff the scent wheel by another person
• Syn remembers her indicating behavior; she just was not indicating anything

Trial Test 1:

• empty containers on the wheel
• all containers placed on wheel by Trainer 1
• (a) dog cued by Trainer 1
• (b) dog cued by Trainer 2

Trial Test 2:

• one shaker contains odor; other containers empty
• all equipment handled by Trainer 1
• (a) dog cued by Trainer 1 
• (b) dog cued by Trainer 2

1(a)

Syn reacts the same way that Lily did....circled the wheel once, then began sniffing elsewhere in the room.

2(a)

Guessing?  Or False Positive?

CONCLUSIONS:

1. Disinfectant wipes contain too strong an odor and are aversive to one of the two dogs.  We will not use them to clean containers between dogs.
2. Dogs have not been trained to work the scent wheel for trainers other than their own.  We will have dogs cued by their own trainers and have other trainers set up testing scenario,  Owner will deliver search cue but will be "blind" to the test.
3. Search cue is to be given once.
4. The first test will always contain an odor.