Virginia Search and Rescue Dog Association

Glossary of terms used on this site

Term	Definition
Back-Chaining	Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary Back-Chaining : A teaching methodology, where the training of the chained behaviors occurs in reverse order. The final behavior is taught first, and the second-to-last behavior is added and taught next, and so forth. For example: the very first behavior a back-chained "live find" dog is taught: is to play with new humans (the reward). For a Stay-and-Bark, the second behavior would be to "bark at a stranger" and then play.
Behavior Chain	Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary Behavior Chain : a series of learned behaviors, carried out, after one command.
Blank Search	Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary Blank Search : A training or certification exercise in which the target odor is not present Author: Scientific Working Group on Dog and Orthogonal detector Guidelines (SWGDOG)
Blind	Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary Blind : A training exercise is considered Blind if the person person searching does not know the location of odor(s), and/or if any are prescent, BUT the accompanying Instructor/Evaluator DOES know.

Turbulent Air Flow
Turbulent Air Flow: When flowing air hits an obstacle/object and causes airflow chaos.
Thermal
Thermal: Layers of air, separated by temperature (and humidity).
Tracking
Tracking (Dog): dogs are able to follow a human scent, by following the footsteps. Tracking dogs may also be following the odor of crushed vegetation and soil bacterial action. Visualize the dog's
Trailing
Trailing (Dog): dogs are scent specific and require a scent article, with a track. Visualize the dog's Nose Down and Up, working some distance from the actual footsteps.
Target Odor
Target Odor: (aka Source) odors which detector dog are trained to detect.
Temperament
Temperament: The general consistence with which the animal behaves.