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THE ARCON TECHNIQUES

TECHNIQUE TO BLOCK THE YO-YO EFFECT BY RETURN CONTROL

GRADUAL AUTONOMY TECHNIQUE BY THE MANNEQUIN EFFECT

TECHNIQUE OF INNOCUOUS RE-ESTABLISHMENT BY SOUND INSERTION

FEASIBLE LOCALISATION TECHNIQUE BY COMPENSATION OF NEGATIVE FACTORS NON-REQUESTED

SUPPORT TECHNIQUE BY RESTRICTED APPROXIMATION

CALIBRATED REINFORCEMENT TECHNIQUE BY TRIPLE CONTROL

CHAINED SEARCH TECHNIQUE BY MIMICKED DISSUASION OF THE BURIED PERSON

The Arcon Techniques are strictly faithful to the rational demands of the conventional scientific technique and have been repeatedly subject to the corresponding process of experimentation and verification.

TECHNIQUE TO BLOCK THE YO-YO EFFECT BY RETURN CONTROL

OBJECTIVE

To avoid possibly generating the yo-yo effect in the dog by applying a series of specific preventative guidelines. The yo-yo effect is a behavioural phenomenon that I discovered in certain dogs, who systematically returned to their guide after going a certain distance, thus obeying a type of entrenched mental inertia. This is a habit that is especially detrimental in canine rescue work, which impairs the dogs autonomy and initiative in search operations.

CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN APPLIED

Fundamentally when the dog makes some type of return to the guide, or stays away waiting to be called.

BASIC GUIDELINES

Keep the use of call orders to a minimum. I have noticed that excessive use of call orders was the main cause leading dogs to acquire this habit.

When the dog returns, avoid any type action that implies a certain reinforcement effect (saying affectionate words, petting, play-type behaviour, etc.).

GRADUAL AUTONOMY TECHNIQUE BY THE MANNEQUIN EFFECT

OBJECTIVE

By managing to get the dog to dissociate the guide as a possible support element, we will gradually enhance:

The level of autonomy and concentration in the search.

The scope of the reinforcement due to the important effect of the contrast produced from the guides unchanging mannequin attitude to the subsequent active, euphoric reinforcement.

The dog duly remaining at the localisation point while signalling.

CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN APPLIED

When in the working session the dog returns to the guide or without distancing itself from the guide tries to draw his/her attention in any way (barking, standing on hind legs, etc.) the guide should assume the mannequin pose, giving reinforcement in a rational and balanced way in working sessions or real interventions.

BASIC GUIDELINES

The guide should always keep a firm, inert and unchanging stance before the dog, omitting any type of physical (even facial) or verbal reactions, as if s/he were a mere mannequin.

TECHNIQUE OF INNOCUOUS RE-ESTABLISHMENT BY SOUND INSERTION

OBJECTIVE

To innocuously re-establish the dogs working behaviour in view of possible deviating distractions. Generally speaking, as repeating the search order is regarded as harmful due to its negative incidence in the dogs line of initiative, I chose to select this peculiar procedure, which is highly effective

CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN APPLIED

This resource can be applied under the relative silence that tends to characterise the initial stages of learning, although obviously it would not be feasible in a search operation with adverse auditory factors. However, it should be borne in mind that a dog in that phase no longer suffers from the same fragile susceptibility as at the start, since their own ability to re-establish their behaviour has also been substantially developed.

BASIC GUIDELINES

The dogs perception of a brief interfering noise provoked occasionally (something dragging on the ground, the blow of an object, etc.) causes a type of instantaneous rupture in their deviated and incipient line of attention, acting as a sort of fleeting pause after which the desirable base conduct is once again re-established. – We should try to ensure that the dog does not perceive the source of the sound made. – The sound issued should be inserted as simultaneously as possible with the dogs manifest distraction and intensely enough without being excessive to achieve the OBJECTIVE in each instance.

FEASIBLE LOCALISATION TECHNIQUE BY COMPENSATION OF NEGATIVE FACTORS

OBJECTIVE

To ensure that the dog is successful in the search work without undermining the target learning progress of the exercise.

To preserve and foster the dogs motivational state, which is key for the proper evolution of the learning process.

To avoid detrimental situations of failure and frustration in the initial training stage, thus fostering an increase in the positive stimulus that the rubble environment should provoke in the dog.

CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN APPLIED

During the learning phase and occasionally during training.

BASIC GUIDELINES

An analysis and differentiation should be carried out on those factors or elements that might hypothetically affect the dogs search either positively or negatively (level of motivation, presence of major stimuli, weather conditions, etc.).

We should then define the basic lines of the exercise to be performed, obeying a supposed state of balance or prior compensation that makes it possible for the dog to achieve success with the corresponding progress and without support from the guide. We shall primarily intervene on basic factors that can be manipulated, such as the position of the release point or the location of the hideouts.

NON-REQUESTED SUPPORT WITHOUT REQUEST TECHNIQUE BY RESTRICTED APPROXIMATION

OBJECTIVE

To carry out a successful search.

To increase the level of security when signalling the buried person.

CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN APPLIED

This technique is exclusively applied in those occasional cases when providing controlled support is considered less counterproductive than the dogs imminent failure, although repeated use of this technique could jeopardise the dogs potential autonomy.

When a certain dose of insecurity negatively affects the signalling guidelines.

This is mainly used during the initial learning phase.

BASIC GUIDELINES

The guide approaches the dog by walking soberly towards the localisation point (where the dog tends to be) without any type of extraneous movement or verbal utterance. The guide should stop when s/he estimates that s/he has conveyed to the dog the minimum support needed.

This technique should not be applied should there exist a prior request for support or a return by the dog to the guide, with the goal of avoiding possible negative conditioning.

CALIBRATED REINFORCEMENT TECHNIQUE BY TRIPLE CONTROL

OBJECTIVE

To enhance the positive effect of reinforcement

To foster the signalling pattern when needed

To control the positive achievement of success by the dog in the search task, thus preserving and fostering its motivational level towards the activity.

CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN APPLIED

During the initial learning and training phase, especially when carrying out chained searches.

BASIC GUIDELINES

The instructor places him/herself at a strategic point that allows him/her to observe with minimal interruptions the behaviour of the dog carrying out the search and act in consequence. S/he will control three fundamental variables via the transceiver:

The specific stunt person who effects the reinforcement.

The best time to start the reinforcement.

The type of reinforcement (intensity, duration, etc.). The instructor must previously evaluate an entire set of essential factors:

Learning goals of the exercise.

Signalling by dog (fluency, perseverance, target, etc.).

Energy or motivational state observed in the dog.

Possible states of confusion or inhibition in the dog. In fact, during the exercise the instructor should capture and analyse any meaningful nuances reflected by the dog during the search or signalling action in order to thus truly effectively control the three aforementioned variables.

CHAINED SEARCH TECHNIQUE BY MIMICKED DISSUASION OF THE BURIED PERSON OBJECTIVE

To keep up the dogs required levels of autonomy, motivation and concentration during possible consecutive searches and their respective signalling.

CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN APPLIED

In search operations during learning, training or intervention.

BASIC GUIDELINES

When the guide notices that the dog is signalling one of the hidden extras, s/he shall approach the dog at a run to reward it with a discreet pet and a brief verbal congratulation (in a real intervention, mark the rubble with spray paint should the victim not be accessible), attach the leash quickly to the dog and in plain view make a energetic, determined bodily turn away from the signalled point, which should remain then at the guides back. Then s/he should turn towards the new area to be searched, and a new search begins. I have seen that this bodily avoidance action by the guide at the signal point tends to provoke in the dog a special dissuasive effect, usefully freeing it from the attraction exerted by the extra and thus fostering its predisposition to try to localise another buried person, especially driven by the expectation of the chained search already created, in which the reinforcement comes unpredictably. The guide should try to ensure that this back -turning is seen by the dog, and should always keep the point signalled by the dog at his or her back. Likewise, the possible sense of frustration that could be sparked by the total lack of reinforcement is positively attenuated by the discreet reinforcing actions of the guide, thus avoiding the emergence of a possible inhibiting effect. We should take advantage of this incipient sense of frustration, a certain impulsive drive, which will serve to energise and motivate the next search behaviour.

Approved by Legal Resolution No. 1998/41/12727 on 5 May 1998 by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Spain, in compliance with Royal Decree (1/1996, 12 April), that the Arcon Method, (including among other content, the set of innovative behavioural techniques, training phases and corresponding denominations), whose author is Jaime Parejo Garcia, is duly registered and legally protected as scientific copyright in the General Registry of Intellectual Property under No. 23474.

About The Author:
Jaime Parejo is Canine Rescue Expert of the Firefighters of Seville, Spain. He is regarded as an internationally renowned expert in the speciality of canine catastropherescues. To date, he has been given numerous official awards, distinctions and congratulations both nationally and internationally from different governments and institutions (the Spanish Committee of the Mankind Programme and UNESCO’s Biosphere, the UNESCO Centre in Melilla, the governments of Spain, Colombia, China, etc.). Specific examples include the First Prize for Research granted by the Spanish Royal Canine Society in 1998, and the Sasakawa Certificate of Distinction from the United Nations in 2005, both entailing worldwide recognition of his transcendent international research and teaching efforts as well as the scientific advances of the Arc

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