Upping Your Distraction Game

One of the biggest challenges in search work, particularly after disasters is the amount and types of distractions in the search area. This is a topic of discussion after every deployment because there is always something we haven’t trained enough for. Whether that’s rotting food, piles of laundry, dead animals, lights and sirens, or even livestock, distractions are everywhere. Effective training helps the dog learn to maintain their focus during a search and ignore potentially enticing distractions. It’s critical to learn how to manage your dog when distractions become too much and recognize the difference between your dog’s behavior when “in odor” versus when they are simply curious about something else.

It is never too soon or too late to start adding distractions to your training. We recommend introducing them as soon as your dog understands their target odor. From there, distractions should become a consistent part of your training plan, increasing in complexity and difficulty as your dog grows more skilled.

The key: set up controlled, progressive challenges that encourage your dog to make the right choice and have a plan for how you will respond when things don’t go as expected.

Start Simple: Familiar Search Setup

Use barrels, boxes, or another setup your dog already knows. This way, the distraction is the only new challenge. Before you start any of these scenarios you and your training team should confirm what your plan is if the dog indicates on or engages with the distraction.

Version 1: Hidden Distractions

Place distractions inside the barrels or boxes, just like a target odor would be. The dog must ignore these items and continue working to source.

Expand to new Search Areas

Once your dog is successful with distractions in a familiar setup, it’s time to add them to new environments. You can apply the same progression to new environments or vary them based on how your dog has been progressing.

• Known training locations: Revisit places your dog has worked before, but now add distractions. You can continue to use the hidden → visible → accessible sequence, or vary it up based on your training goals. The familiarity of the location keeps the focus on the distraction challenge. Depending on how challenging you think the distraction may be for your dog, you may also choose to simplify the search problem and set up a contained easy to locate hide.

• New training locations: Introduce the same sequence in brand-new spaces. Here, your dog has to manage both a novel search area and the distraction. Start with smaller or easier distractions at first, then gradually increase difficulty as they succeed.

This step ensures your dog learns to generalize the skill of ignoring distractions, rather than only succeeding in one controlled environment.

Layer In Realism

Once your dog is progressing through the versions, add complexity:

• Fatigue factor: Run distractions at the end of a training day or set up a long search area where your dog will be tired. Fatigue makes it harder to resist temptations.

• Nothing to find: Set up searches with distractions but no target odor. Your dog should be able to search the environment without false alerting.

• Blind runs: Once your dog is reliable with distractions it’s time to start running these scenarios blind. Take turns setting up search problems with your team so the handler running the problem does not know where the target odor is (or if it’s there at all) or where the distractions are. Challenge the handler to call out distraction behavior vs change of behavior where they can. This sharpens both handler observation and trust in the dog’s behavior.

Make the Distractions More Challenging

Distractions should grow in difficulty as your dog succeeds:

• Scale them up: Instead of a single shirt, try an entire laundry basket or have the entire team bring their families’ laundry.

• Enhance food temptations: Let food sit out longer (days if you are daring) so the scent is stronger.

• Mix distraction types: Combine food, toys, and loud engine sounds for layered challenges.

Handler Tips

• Stay positive: Keep sessions upbeat and rewarding to maintain your dog’s confidence and motivation.

• Return to basics when needed: If your dog struggles, step back to an easier version and rebuild success.

• Plan your strategy to respond to mistakes in advance: Every dog has a distraction that is likely to overcome their current training and you should have a plan for how you will handle that situation when it arises. What is the threshold for stopping the exercise or making the scenario easier? What behaviors are you willing to wait out and let self extinguish? What are your teammate’s roles when something goes wrong?

The Takeaway

Progressive distraction training teaches dogs to make the right choice: ignore what’s tempting and focus on the task. Handlers benefit too, gaining a sharper eye for their dog’s body language when working odor versus when they’re investigating something else.

By gradually increasing the challenge, applying it in different environments, and varying conditions, you’ll prepare your dog for the reality of search environments, where distractions are inevitable and success depends on focus.