Trial Times

Why is it important to notate the length of each trial?

I don't know.  But it is collectible data.  And at some point in the future of the project as we are compiling the data and making hypotheses, it may be important.  So we collect it now.  Rather than wishing in retrospect that we had.

The time each trial takes the dog to complete is impacted by a wide variety of conditions:  time spent searching for the scent, time spent searching for the treat, time spent turning the wheel, time spent resetting the dog, time spent on duration of the indicator.  The number of repetitions. And the obvious, the strength of the scent.

Just as it is human nature for the trainer to want to see rates of success of 90% and 100% on each trial, it is also human nature when the trainer wants to see the dog complete the trial efficiently, confidently and quickly.

But that's not necessarily the name of the game.  And it doesn't necessarily indicate a mastery of the job at hand.

So, whenever possible, we record the length of each trial.  And trust.