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Show Hunting for objects. Auditory signal: " Hunt, fetch!" Since the avalanche work is a form of search, hunting for objects should be the best substitute exercise for the snowless months. The trainer looks for a meadow with short grass. The search task is prepared for in an area of approximately 50 by 100 meters ( later on 200 meters and more). The leader paces off the mid- line of the search field and throws objects in a wide arc, now to one side and now to the other* Then he returns to his starting point* He fetches the dog, caresses him and then sends him with an imperative movement of the arm now in this direction and now in another* The dog should do this search in doublequick time, detached from his master. Once the dog understands his task, the leader, if possible, remains standing at the starting point or follows. slowly down the mid- line of the search area. The dog has to return all found objects to his master. The offer of a delicacy, combined with praise, is the proper conclusion for well- performed search work* Later on, steep grassy slopes are well suited for this exercise* From a height various small objects are thrown out of sight of the dog in several directions* The dog is commanded to start searching at the foot of the grassy slope* In this way, one has a " summer avalanche terrain". Helpers are asked to throw strange objects, so that the dog does not specialize in one object only. One must never search for hidden persons in the summer. People who are hiding give off such an intensive scent that it is child' 6 play for the dog to find them* This does not train the nose; it is only spoiled thereby. Therefore, during search activities, after the dog has fully mastered the task, only very small objects should be used. Once the dog finds a key to which almost no scent adheres, then one can be certain that the dog is capable of locating stronger- smelling objects ( knapsacks, caps, gloves, people) under the snow in winter. Therefore, one starts summer searching with gloves, hard mud, sticks to be retrieved and similar objects. Then, one slowly starts the search for smaller objects. One should also consider the wind at all times during the summer searching* - 22 - |