Predicting Detection Dog Success: Behavioral Insights From the WDC-BARQ

Able to identify anything from narcotics to medical conditions, it’s not surprising that the demand for high quality detection dogs continues to rise. However, the supply of these specialized canines is constrained by the high performance standards required, resulting in a large number of dogs being released during training. Being able to effectively identify the behavioral traits needed to succeed early in a potential detection dog’s life can enhance the efficiency of detection dog programs by saving time, money and resources.

For the past 20 years, the Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) has been a popular tool for measuring behavioral problems in the pet dog population. However, it lacks the capacity to measure behavioral traits which are important for working dogs. For this reason, the C-BARQ was recently modified to include behavioral propensities which researchers hope will be important predictors of working dog performance success, creating the Working Dog Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire, or WDC-BARQ.

A new assessment tool

The WDC-BARQ was developed in a study that included the owners or handlers of 1,117 working odor detection dogs. Participants completed the new questionnaire, which included the additional behavioral traits, playfulness, impulsivity, distractibility and basophobia (fear of falling) which the literature indicates may be important predictors of detection dog success. 

Exploratory factor analysis, a statistical method used to uncover the underlying structure of a set of variables, was used to identify 15 behavioral factors. This included ten factors from the original C-BARQ, the four new factors introduced for detection dogs, and an additional factor labelled food focus. The analysis confirmed that the new items reliably measured the intended behavioral traits, with high internal consistency and content validity, and did not interfere with the structure of the original C-BARQ.

The impact of behavior

The behavioral traits which predict success in working dogs differ from the traits which make pet dogs good companions. Detection dogs are often needed to perform tasks which require high levels of mental and physical exertion and stamina. For this reason, traits like high energy and strong drive are desirable behavioral traits for working dogs but are often viewed as being problematic in pet dogs.

Playfulness: Playfulness is key for many detection dog training programs, with high value toys frequently being used as rewards. For this reason, dogs with high enthusiasm for play can be easier to train, especially if they are willing to engage in play with unfamiliar people.

Impulsivity & distractibility: Impulse control is crucial for the effective and safe performance of working dogs, especially in environments containing lots of distractions, which is why the WDC-BARQ measures both impulsivity and distractibility.

Basophobia: Confidence whilst traversing challenging environments is necessary for many detection dogs, including walking over grates and slippery floors. By identifying dogs that are fearful, training programs can work to overcome these fears or release dogs earlier in the program to save resources.

The WDC-BARQ also includes a factor called food focus since understanding dogs’ motivations is vital for tailoring their training methods. For example, many detection dog training programs use food as a reward in early discrimination training. For some dogs, food will not be an effective reward at any point during training, whilst others may excel if food continues to be used as a reward.

Enhancing detection dog training

The gap between the demand for detection dogs and the availability of such dogs is largely driven by the high performance criteria, meaning that only a subset of the dogs that start training will meet the requirements. However, by measuring the behavioral traits that predict detection dog success as early as possible, the dog selection process can be streamlined, saving money, time and resources.

Alternatively, by understanding the challenges that individual dogs might experience during their training, trainers can tailor their approach to help them overcome these difficulties. For example, a dog who excels in other areas but is uncertain when climbing stairs may benefit from body awareness training. This individual approach improves the trainer’s efficiency, focusing their time and resources where it is needed most and improving the dog’s chances of completing the program.

Moving forward

The early completion of the WDC-BARQ to streamline training programs is limited by the assessor’s need to know the dog well enough to complete the questionnaire. In addition, the reliability and validity of the tool also depends on the assessor’s ability to accurately interpret the dog’s behavior. For this reason, future research is needed to report on the convergent and predictive validity of the WDC-BARQ, to confirm its effectiveness for measuring behavior and predicting training outcomes.

 

Article by Dr. Carla J Hart: https://linktr.ee/carlajadehart

 

 

Further Reading