Narcotic Terms

Front 1

what is it called when a dog "indicates" the location of a narcotic by scratching or biting.

Back 1

Aggressive Alerts

Front 2

what is it called when a dog falsely indicates that a narcotics scent is present.

Back 2

False Alerts

Front 3

What is it called when a dog indicates the location by just passively sitting or lying near the scent odor source.

Back 3

Passive Alerts

Front 4

what is it called when a dog indicates a "find" but there is no visible evidence of a narcotic but it is believed that the particular narcotic was at the indicated (by the dog)"find" location.

Back 4

Residual Alerts

Front 5

What is the starting point of a search. The handler starts at and returns to the predesignated point.

Back 5

Anchor Point

Front 6

What is a "prospect" dog that has successfully completed about two weeks of constant evaluation and preliminary training, prior to the dog being accepted for the full training as a Narcotic Detection Dog.

Back 6

Candidate

Front 7

this is a test set up to show the proficiency that is typically based up nationally recognized standards.

Back 7

Certification

Front 8

when the primary scent for which the dog is searching is contaminated with another non-desirous scent odor. The contaminating scent would usually be a much stronger scent.

Back 8

Contamination

Front 9

when the dog is directed by the handler to search a specifically designated place. For example, the door seams of a vehicle.

Back 9

Detailing

Front 10

a narcotic or chemical that the dog is trained to search for and upon, detection, appropriately indicate.

Back 10

Drug

Front 11

when a dog locates the narcotic for which he has been trained to search.

Back 11

Find

Front 12

a "find" hidden above the dog's eye level.

Back 12

High Find

Front 13

a "find" hidden below the dog's eye level.

Back 13

Low Find

Front 14

pronounced as gif-tee. The object that is used to reward the dog for performing as desired.

Back 14

Gifte

Front 15

a gifte that is purposefully filled or scented with a specific narcotic and thus emanates a specific scent indigenous to that narcotic's odor.

Back 15

Loaded Gifte

Front 16

a gifte that has been scented with a narcotic.

Back 16

Permeated Gifte

Front 17

a gifte that has not been scented with a narcotic.

Back 17

Uncontaminated Gifte

Front 18

this will be the generic term used to describe the person both handling and training the dog.

Back 18

Handler

Front 19

the alerting action the dog performs when he finds the narcotic and then indicates the location of the narcotic, two forms of indication, both methods have inherent advantages and both disadvantages.

Back 19

Indication

Front 20

a high energy excitable action by the dog like scratching or biting.

Back 20

Aggressive Indication

Front 21

a low energy excitable action by the dog like sitting or lying down.

Back 21

Passive Indication

Front 22

a generic term used to indicate that a training aid has been filled or "loaded" with the narcotic.

Back 22

Loaded

Front 23

an illicit drug

Back 23

Narcotic

Front 24

a dog trained for narcotic detection

Back 24

Narcotic detection dog

Front 25

National Narcotic Detector Dog Association Inc.

Back 25

N.N.D.D.A

Front 26

the smell emanating from a specific narcotic scent.

Back 26

Odor

Front 27

A situation where very strong odors may have "permeated" the surrounding area or have been absorbed by materials within a very close proximity of the narcotic.

Back 27

Permeation

Front 28

the object of the dog's hunt or search that builds upon the dog's natural tendency to hunt for prey to be used as food.

Back 28

Prey

Front 29

a chemical that has been manufactured by man to produce a scent odor like a specific narcotic.

Back 29

Pseudo Drug

Front 30

a dog that is kept on a trial basis for preliminary training.

Back 30

Prospect

Front 31

the action by the handler of praising and motivating the dog to act as specifically desired.

Back 31

Reward

Front 32

a motivational reward that occurs immediately as a result of the dog appropriately indication the "find." The reward, typically the gifte, comes from the "find" location (vs. the handler).

Back 32

Primary Rewards

Front 33

a reward that comes from the handler (vs. the primary reward)

Back 33

Secondary Rewards

Front 34

the process where the handler visually inspects the area to be searched for the narcotics for safety concerns, environmental distraction or other impediments.

Back 34

Pre Check

Front 35

testing a dog to validate that it is performing as desired.

Back 35

Proofing

Front 36

when the dog's olfactory senses are overwhelmed by intense scent odor or chemical, to the point of rendering the dog incapable of effectively performing the task of detecting narcotics, for a given period of time.

Back 36

Saturation

Front 37

the active process of consciously looking for a narcotic.

Back 37

Search

Front 38

when the handler directs the dog to search a specific area or direction.

Back 38

Directional Search

Front 39

when a search pattern is immediately repeated from the reverse direction.

Back 39

Reverse Pattern Search

Front 40

a theoretical small narrow area or "zone," alongside a wall or vehicle or other object that is being searched, where a dog can easily smell any scent odors that may be emanating from the object being searched.

Back 40

Search Zone

Front 41

the characteristic smell of a specific narcotic for which the dog is searching.

Back 41

Scent

Front 42

the pattern created by the scent's odor emanating from the narcotic and may be guided by the prevailing air currents, for which the dog is searching. The scent odor starts at a specific point (the narcotic) and then spreads out to cover a larger area, in what may be considered a cone shaped pattern.

Back 42

Scent Cone

Front 43

when the leashed dog is allowed to work toward the scent cone on its own.

Back 43

Sweep

Front 44

this will be a generic term used to describe the handler/trainer and his dog.

Back 44

Team

Front 45

toys that are used to help reward, motivate and train a dog.

Back 45

Training Aids

Front 46

United States Police Canine Association, Inc.

Back 46

U.S.P.C.A