Glossary of terms used on this site

Search for glossary terms (regular expression allowed)
Begin with Contains Exact termSounds like
Term Definition
Agility
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Agility : A character trait which describes the natural (running) speed, surefootedness, and coordination, and the ability of the dog to correct and recover 

Author: Scientific Working Group on Dog and Orthogonal detector Guidelines (SWGDOG)
Air Scent
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Air Scent  (Dog): A dog that searches for the source of human odor. They are typically "Nose Up" when they work, and are usually non-scent-discriminating.

  • Air scent dogs do NOT require a scent article or tracks.
  • No starting point (or Last Known Position) is required.
  • Multiple dogs can work an area, though not at the same time.
  • A dog can work an area that has already been searched by dogs and/or people.

Author: ARDA: American Rescue Dog Association
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.

Change of Behavior
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Change of Behavior (COB): A characteristic pattern of behaviors, as interpreted by the handler, that occurs when the dog detects a trained odor.  

Author: Scientific Working Group on Dog and Orthogonal detector Guidelines (SWGDOG)
Chimney
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Chimney Effect: Warm air rises from the source, cools, then drops a distance away from the source.

 

Diffusion
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Diffusion  (of scent):  the even distribution of air in all directions.

Double Blind
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Double Blind : A training exercise is considered Double Blind if the person person searching does not know the location of odor(s), and/or if any are prescent, AND the accompanying Instructor/Evaluator also does not know. 

Eddying
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Eddying : When flowing air moves along/over a large linear obstacle, like a treeline, and the air curls around the edges and swirls.

 

Fanning Plumes
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Fanning Plumes : When air hodls at the same elevation, without rising or falling. Occurs at night, and in valleys.

Visualize the air like a thermocline.

Fumigating
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Fumigating : When scent from the source disperses evenly, and saturates the area.

For example: a closed room.

 

Laminar Air Flow
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Laminar Air Flow : a straight flow of air without and interference.

LKP
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

LKP  (Last Known Position): the last location of the missing subject, substantiated by evidence or clues. The LKP changes with the discovery of clues/evidence.

 

Author: ERI: Emergency Response International
Looping Scent
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Looping Scent : when scent travels upwards from a source, and settles down away from the source. Occurs with little to no wind at the source.

Author: Linda Warshaw
PLS
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

PLS  (Point Last Seen): a point where a witness actually saw the subject. The PLS is usually the IPP (Initial Planning Point).

 

Author: ERI: Emergency Response International
POA
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

POA  (Probability of Area): The chance that a missing person (or clue) is in the search Area.

 

Author: ERI: Emergency Response International
POD
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

POD  (Probability of Detection): The chance that an object or missing person will be detected if present.

 

Author: ERI: Emergency Response International
Rafts
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Rafts  (skin rafts): dead or dying skins cells that have left a human body. They are composed of 1 or more cells, carry bacteria, and are microscopic. An average human sheds around 40,000 cells each minute.

Scent Cones
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Scent Cones : movement of scent away from subject/source -in the shape of a cone.

Shaping
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Shaping : Building new behavior by selectively reinforcing variations in existing behavior, during the action rather than after completion, to increase or strengthen the behavior in a specific manner or direction.

Author: Karen Pryor
Stimulus
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Stimulus : A change in the environment. Dog Training focuses on discriminative stimuli, which causes a change of state in the dog, causing it to perform a specific behavior. 

 

Author: Karen Pryor
Target Odor
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Target Odor : (aka Source) odors which detector dog are trained to detect. 

Author: Penn Vet Working Dog Center
Temperament
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Temperament : The general consistence with which the animal behaves. 

Author: Penn Vet Working Dog Center
Thermal
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Thermal : Layers of air, separated by temperature (and humidity).

 

Tracking
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

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 Nose Down, working within a few feet of the actual track.

Author: William G. Syrotuck
Trailing
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

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.

Author: William G. Syrotuck
Turbulent Air Flow
Glossaries: K9 SAR Glossary

Turbulent Air Flow : When flowing air hits an obstacle/object and causes airflow chaos.

 

VSRDA Glossary

 

Teaching Direction & Control

Article by Shirley Hammond on teaching Direction & Control to K9s, using platforms and markers. 

Effective Use of Dogs in Search Management

Article by David Godfrey-Smith provides guidelines for law enforcement and search managers, in regards to how best to utilize SAR K9s. 

How Scent and Airflow Works

Article by Jennifer Pennington with custom illustrations on how scent and airflow affects search dogs.