Getting Badges by videotape, becoming a scoutmaster and a little about clicker training
It used to be that the only way to get the badges was to attend a Dog Scout camp in MI. And becoming certified to administer the testing in your home town required several trips to camp. Well, with troops spreading nationwide and as far as
Currently, anyone can use a video to take the place of the in-person evaluator and show the training and check-off list behaviors that they and their dog have mastered. The video is reviewed (usually by the certification program director) and if everything is satisfactory, the badge form is signed and mailed back. The person can then submit that signed form with the badge fees to Cindy in TX who adds the information to the database and mails out the badges.
Because each badge has components for both the dog and the handler, some badges also have a written test for the handler to show they have learned their part of the badge. Other badges allow for the person to show their understanding of their part of the badge on the video by verbally demonstrating what they need to know.
Scoutmaster/ Evaluator status:
If you (or any member of your community/troop) would like to be certified by DSA to administer the testing for the Dog Scout badge (getting the title of Scoutmaster) and/or any one (or more) of the specialty badges (getting the title of Dog Scout Evaluator), then it can benefit the members in your area. Once a Scoutmaster or Evaluator is certified by DSA, that person and the people they test no longer have to use a video. The SM/DSE can verify, in person, that the training was done correctly and that the behaviors for the badge have been mastered and then sign the badge form right then. Video of the person giving the test instructions and teaching others how to train the behaviors using DSA methods can be used to get the certification as a Scoutmaster or Evaluator.
This new system has been developed so that the Scoutmaster and Dog Scout Evaluator titles are available worldwide. We simply need to see a video of you putting another person/dog through the badge tests to be evaluated based on the badge guidelines. This ensures that you understand the teaching and testing process for the badge you want to be certified to administer. The video should show examples of the training steps used to get the desired behavior in the dog as well as the testing using the check-off list for the badge. Both the testing criteria and the check-off lists are available on the www.DogScouts.org website (DSA badges link.) And there is all the info you need found in the "Guide to the Dog Scout Title" manual.
Dogs and their parents need to pass the Dog Scout test and be registered as a Dog Scout team to show they have basic obedience and an understanding of requirements for the loop end of the leash before the signed paperwork for the specialty badges can be submitted to DSA.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Certification Program Director. Our intent is to keep the standards high, but still make these goals attainable by those who can't get to a camp.
Here's more info on becoming an Evaluator and Scoutmaster:
To become an Evaluator of dogs that are already Dog Scouts (so they can get the specialty badges,) there are a few steps that DSA requires to be sure that all testing is done the same way and using the same standards. These steps are repeated for each specialty badge the evaluator wants to get certified to issue.
1. You'll need to show us your training and teaching methods via video. Please review the DSA guidelines for the badge(s) you are demonstrating before making the tape to reduce the chances of having to re-do the video. Also be sure it's a format that can be viewed by the Scoutmaster/Evaluator trainer.
2. Video the testing that is done based on DSA guidelines for the badge. This can be on the same tape as the training examples. Be sure to include the parent's part of the testing as well as the dog's portion of the test. And include your review of the performance.
3. These will be evaluated and you'll get a review by phone or email (your preference.) Please include your email and/or phone number when submitting a video. If there are errors that need to be corrected, you'll need to repeat step 1 and/or 2 of those parts that were incorrect until the training and testing is demonstrated in a manner that is compatible with DSA training/testing.
4. Some badges include a written test for the student and some include a written test for the evaluator (prior to DSA certification.) Once the Evaluator is certified, they no longer need to fill out their written test, but the people being tested may need to continue to submit the written test answers to either DSA or the Evaluator.
If you are interested in becoming a Scoutmaster (evaluating and certifying dogs/parents for their Dog Scout title): The steps are the same, but the standards are even higher and the guidelines for the Dog Scout test are more comprehensive.
It is the goal of DSA to have the badges be something worth having and something to be proud to have. The standards are high to ensure that the DSA title and the badges mean the same thing regardless of where they were earned or who did the testing and that the same set of minimum standards are applied for each person/dog being tested (although some testers require more precision than the minimum standards set.)
Don't be surprised if you are asked to submit a second video after your initial evaluation. This may be done to clarify your understanding of certain points of the process. You may not need to re-submit the entire performance, but instead, only specific parts. Or you may be asked to submit the training/testing again so we may be certain of your level of understanding. This is done to keep the criteria uniform and consistent and to be sure misunderstandings are kept to a minimum.
Example videos:
You can get an example DVD of the Dog Scout training and testing from the DSA Certification Program Director. Click on the "example DVD" link to find out how.
The following links are not DSA videos, but they are good examples of what we are looking for in the videos that get submitted for review. These can also be provided to troop members and others that are interested in learning about clicker training.
Here's some free clicker training videos I found on-line that are good examples of the training steps we are looking to see demonstrated:
http://www.clickertrainusa.com/clicker-training-videos.htm They are just short 1 or 2 minutes clips showing both some basic behaviors and some more advanced behaviors.
Here's some great ones too! The first is a great clicker training over view:
http://wwwclickertraining.tv/subject.html?cat=free
Tons of short training videos are available from the same website for a small fee at: http://www.clickertraining.tv/search.html?keywords=video
There are more files regarding the videotaping of the training and testing available on the Dog Scouts website in the "Worldwide Dog Scout Test" section and in the "Dog Scout Title manual" (these apply to the specialty badges too.) The "start a troop" section also has several helpful files/links. Anyone can use the video/written test method to get the badges, even if there is no scoutmaster/evaluator in their area. However, if there is a certified scoutmaster/evaluator in their area, they do not need to use the video method because they can do their testing in person with the certified evaluator or scoutmaster.
If you are not experienced with clicker training
Some ideas for teaching people about clicker training:
Start by having the PEOPLE play the clicker game (see below), then have them teach their dogs the eye contact game. From there, go to the target stick. Then start working on the certification behaviors. At each session/meeting you can also cover some of the things they need to know to be the "smart end of the leash" for their Dog Scout certification. See below for explanations of the above games/activities.
You can check out the "how to train the Dog Scout behaviors" page on the DSA website and work through those one at a time.
If you have sign-in sheets for activities, you can use these to verify what info each person has heard. Just put the topics of the day at the top of the sign-in sheet.
Urge people to work through the steps one by one so that both they and their dog can learn the new way of training (even if their dog knows lots of traditionally trained behaviors on cue/command.) For the folks that can't attend the meeting, you can put out (by email) a detailed description of how to train the behavior that was worked on so they can do it at home or direct them to the troop or DSA website. Or, if you start a blog for your troop, you could post it there with photos.
The Clicker Training game (at least 2 humans needed - no dogs):
An excellent explanation can be found on the www.clickertraining.com website. Here's how to find it: Go to the home page of the clickertraining website, under the picture, look for "Skill Builders" and click on "Free! Clicker Training Library." Under the "Browse by category" Section" and the "Learn" heading, click on "Fundamentals." There are a few pages and the training game is on page 2. This website has TONS of great articles, so take some time to poke around :-) If you register on this website, you can get even MORE info!
The Eye Contact game (training between one human and one dog):
http://www.dogscouttroop107.com/ScoutClass.html This training is explained on the troop 107 website on the "Learn new things page" under "training the Dog Scout behaviors." There is also great info on this site, so poke around here too!
Teaching the target stick (training between one human and one dog): http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/Levels/LevelBehaviours/TL23Target.html
This is another excellent site with lots of info!
