04/10/2025
Why Hunt Drive Matters More Than a Final Indication in Scentwork
When most people think about scent detection, they picture the moment the dog sits, freezes, or points at source — the neat, visible final indication. It’s satisfying to watch and easy for handlers, judges, or trainers to read. But the truth is, that “picture-perfect” behaviour is only a byproduct. The real engine of detection work is something deeper: the dog’s hunt drive and its fixation on target odour.
If those aren’t strong, the indication is nothing more than a learned party trick.
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The Allure of the Final Indication
There are clear advantages to teaching a sharp, reliable final indication:
It gives clarity — handlers and judges can see when the dog has made a find.
It’s tidy and controlled — especially important in contexts like explosives detection where scratching or biting isn’t an option.
It’s rewarded in sport — trials and competitions often require a recognisable alert.
On the surface, this makes the indication feel like the “end goal.” But focusing too heavily on it comes with serious drawbacks.
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The Downside of Overvaluing Indication
When dogs are conditioned to believe the indication is what earns the reward — rather than the scent itself — they can begin to shortcut the process. Instead of pushing hard through a difficult search, they may offer their indication prematurely, sometimes even in the absence of odour.
Why? Because for the dog, the indication has become the fastest route to reinforcement. In tough searches where the scent picture is weak, confusing, or exhausting, “performing the behaviour” can become a way to escape the stress. That’s how false alerts creep in — the dog isn’t lying, it’s simply playing the game the way it’s been taught.
Even worse, if the dog finds the search consistently unrewarding or stressful, and the only “fun” part is the indication, it can slowly kill off their enthusiasm to hunt. What you end up with is a dog who knows the choreography, but has lost the fire.
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Why Hunt Drive and Odour Fixation Must Come First
A dog with strong hunt drive and an obsession with target odour will power through difficult conditions, distractions, and long searches. They’re motivated by the thrill of the chase, not just the behaviour at the end. That kind of drive produces persistence, accuracy, and reliability — the hallmarks of a great detection dog.
And here’s the key: a dog that’s crazy for odour will always find a way to show you when they’ve sourced it. Their body language — the head snap (hand break turn), the focused sniffing (hunting up scent), the intensity at source — are all indications within themselves and are a natural indication. The formal “final alert” can be shaped and polished later and is the final piece of the puzzle - the cherry on top.
Flip that around, though, and it doesn’t work. A dog drilled in indication without the underlying drive will crumble under pressure.
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The Bottom Line
Scentwork isn’t about the sit, the freeze, or the paw. It’s about the relentless pursuit of odour. The indication is just punctuation at the end of the sentence — useful, necessary at times, but meaningless if the story leading up to it is weak.
Build the obsession first. Build the hunt drive. If you do, the indication will come. And it will come from a dog that means it
