What is the purpose of using multiple boxes during scent box training?

• A. It teaches the dog scent discrimination.
• B. It makes the dog more aggressive.
• C. It trains the dog to ignore odors.
• D. It trains the dog to target furniture.

Answer: (A)

Using multiple boxes in scent box training focuses on teaching the dog to discriminate the target odor from other smells. With several boxes, only one hides the scent the dog has learned to alert on, so the dog must compare scents across boxes and select the correct one. This builds robust scent discrimination, enhances decision-making under search conditions, and promotes reliable alerts regardless of box location or surrounding odors. As training progresses, the setup often randomizes which box contains the target odor, reinforcing true odor identification rather than memorizing a specific box. The other options don’t fit because this training is not about increasing aggression, teaching the dog to ignore odors, or targeting furniture.