Our Training and Certification Standards

                 Each Team Must Cover the Basics before Training or Testing for Operations Level.

• Obedience Evaluation
  • The dog will heel on command through a straight walk, a right turn, a left turn, and a 180 degree turn. The dog will be off lead or on a loose lead. The dog will sit or stand in the heeling position when the handler stops.
  • The dog will remain in place without correction for a minimum of three minutes with the handler a minimum of 50 feet away. The dog will remain in place even if people or other dogs are present and moving around the dog. The dog will not be tied.
  • The dog will return to the handler immediately when called.
  • The handler must be able to stop the dog while it is in motion.
• Agility Evaluation
  • The dog will jump onto an object, such as the tailgate of a pickup truck or an elevated platform, having a minimum height of 2.5 feet.
  • The dog will walk across a board that is at least 12 feet long, no more than 12 inches wide, and is at least 3 feet above the ground.
  • The dog will go through a 36" diameter passageway at least 8 feet long.
  • The dog will perform these tasks physically unaided.
• K-9 Tracking / Trailing Standards - Adopted - December 2003

PURPOSE: ORDA K-9 Tracking/Trailing Standards are in place so that any agency that requests a tracking/trailing dog is assured that all the ORDA dogs are trained to the same degree in each level. Dogs trained to these standards are tested and re-evaluated annually to establish and maintain professionalism and performance quality control over both handler and dog.

ORDA has adopted NASAR's Canine SARTECH Certification Standards. The team does not require the handler and dog be certified through NASAR. They do require the handler and dog to be tested and re-evaluated by the team annually. In addition to NASAR's standards, ORDA requires additional standards for their tracking/trailing dogs. Once Level 1 is reached successfully, the handler may choose to cross train their dog in: area, water, cadaver, or other specialized field. Tracking/trailing is recommended before other areas of search if cross training is desired. It is much easier to bring the dog's nose up then it is to bring it down.

• LEVEL 3 - Wilderness/ Rural
  • The track must be completed in the time it takes the target to lay the track.
    • 1 - 1 ½ mile unknown track (through varied terrain)
    • 60 minutes old (time starts when target is in place)
    • 2 road crossings (gravel, dirt, logging road, etc..)
    • 4 right angle turns
    • 1 cross track that is more recent then the track
    • 4 target related articles (articles will be within 5' of either side of the track and can be clothes, shoes, pack, or anything a person might carry with them)
    • 1 dead-end with a backtrack (backtrack will be a maximum of 50')

Testing area can include light distractions such as but not limited to; another handler/dog team, animals, deer trails, squirrels, rabbits, etc. Track can go through or across shallow streams, puddles, or around the inside edge of a pond. Obstacles may also be present in the testing area. Such obstacles may include but are not limited to; fences, both field fence or barbed wire, chain link and rock or brick walls, deep drainages, cliffs, etc. These obstacles are things a handler/dog team might find on an actual search. Handler must be able to recognize when the dog is actually working the correct track and must be able to recognize when the dog loses the track (gives a negative).

• LEVEL 2 - Suburban
  • The track must be completed in the time it takes the target to lay the track.
    • ½ - 1 mile unknown track (through an industrial area on the edge of a town)
    • 30 minutes old (time starts when target is in place)
    • 1 major road crossing (gravel, paved, etc.)
    • 1 cross track that is more recent then the track
    • 1 target related article (articles will be within 5' of either side of the track and can be clothes, shoes, pack, or anything a person might carry with them)

Testing area can include distractions such as but not limited to; another handler/dog team, animals, vehicles, heavy machinery, other loose dogs, cats, bystanders, etc. Track can go through or across shallow streams, puddles, or around the inside edge of a pond. Obstacles may also be present in the testing area. Such obstacles may include but are not limited to; fences, both field fence or barbed, chain link, and rock or brick walls, etc. These obstacles are things a handler/dog team might find on an actual search in a suburban area.

Handler must be able to recognize when the dog is actually working the correct track and must be able to recognize when the dog loses the track (gives a negative).

• LEVEL 1 - Urban
  • The track must be completed in the time it takes the target to lay the track. Testing can be done in either daylight or dark conditions.
    • ½ - 1 mile unknown track (in a residential, high traffic area in town)
    • 30 minutes old (time starts when target is in place)
    • 2 major road crossing (gravel, paved, etc.)
    • 1 cross track that is more recent then the track
    • 3 right angle turns
    • 2 blocks of alleys
    • 1 target related article in the alley (articles will be within 5' of either side of the track and can be clothes, shoes, pack, or anything a person might carry with them)
    • Track will have a minimum of 50' laid on a hard surface such as asphalt, gravel road, sidewalk, etc.

Testing area can include distractions such as but not limited to; another handler/dog team, animals, vehicles, heavy machinery, other loose dogs, cats, bystanders, etc. Track can go through or across shallow streams, puddles. Track will also include some areas of short grass. Obstacles may also be present in the testing area. Such obstacles may include, but are not limited to; fences, both field fence or barbed wire, chain link, and rock or brick walls, etc. These obstacles are things a handler/dog team might find on an actual search in a city.

Handler must be able to recognize when the dog is actually working the correct track and must be able to recognize when the dog loses the track (gives a negative).

All K-9 teams must fulfill the following requirements and pass the Mission Ready evaluation in order to achieve Mission Ready status and be deployed on a search.

Requirements for Mission Ready Air Scent Team

1. The handler must do the following:

• Meet all of the requirements for an active member. Follow established guidelines for search procedures, strategy, and protocol. Document K-9's response to cadaver scent exposure. Have equipment required for K-9 first aid. Read all required materials. Have participated in at least 5 searches as a flanker. Demonstrate required K-9 obedience and agility.

2. The team must be able to locate victims in the following situations:

• Single victim in the daytime in 40 acres of moderate to difficult terrain.
• Multiple victims, up to 3, in 20 acres of moderate to difficult terrain with victims in different locations.
• Single victim at night in 15 acres of moderate to difficult terrain.
• Single victim in an area heavily contaminated with human scent.
• Moving victim.
• Concealed victim.
• Unreachable victim.
• Determine no victim is present.

Requirements for Mission Ready Trailing Team

1. The team must be able to do the following:

• Utilize scent from a variety of articles.
• Cast to find a trail in heavily contaminated areas.

Follow a trail under the following conditions:

• 12 hour old trail.
• Heavily contaminated One mile long Across a variety of surfaces Four turns and/or corners of different direction Locate victim at end of trail.
• Recognize loss of trail.

Requirements for Mission Ready Cadaver Team

1. The handler must do the following:

• Meet all requirements for an active member. Be a current mission ready air scent or trailing team. Have participated in at least 2 searches as a K-9 handler. Have all special equipment required to conduct cadaver search, Properly document training, Be knowledgeable about courtroom testimony. Accompany Mission Ready Cadaver team on 2 searches, Read all required materials.

2. The team must be able to locate cadaver material in the following situations:

• Above ground in 10 acres of moderate terrain, aged 12 - 24 hours.
• Under brush in 5 acres of moderate terrain, aged 24 hours.
• Buried 6 inches in 2 acres of moderate terrain, aged 48-60 hours.
• In area heavily contaminated with trash, people, and animal cadaver scent.
• Area with false holes or negative aides.
• No cadaver material present.

Requirements for Mission Ready Water Team

1. The handler must do the following:

• Meet all requirements for an active member. Be a current mission ready air scent or trailing team. Have participated in at least 2 searches as a K-9 handler. Have all special equipment required to conduct a water search. Properly document training. Be knowledgeable about boat and water safety. Demonstrate ability to swim 50 yards. Observe from the boat, team on actual water search.

2. The team must be able to do the following:

• Current Mission Ready Air Scent or Trailing Team.
• Demonstrate ability to swim 50 yards.
• Locate submerged diver from a boat in 2 acre area.
• Locate submerged cadaver aide from boat in 2 acre area.
• Locate submerged cadaver aide from boat in 2 acre area with distractions of ducks, buoys, or boats.
• Determine no cadaver aide in area.

Requirements for Mission Ready Light Disaster Team

1. The handler must do the following:

• Meet all requirements for an active member. Be a current mission ready air scent or trailing team. Have participated in at least 2 searches as a K-9 handler. Have all special equipment required to conduct a light disaster search. Properly document training. Complete FEMA comparable, Disaster Class.

2. The team must be able to do the following:

• Demonstrate obedience.
• Demonstrate directional control.
• Demonstrate agility.
• Demonstrate bark alert.
• Locate and indicate victim location in rubble pile within 10 minutes.
• Determine that no victim is present.

Cadaver Search

• Type 1, locate multiple sources of human remains (1) placed in or around the ground surface among animal remains and dog food and (2) in a vehicle.
• Type 2, locate multiple sources of human remains placed in (1) articles, (2) on the ground surface among animal remains, (3) in a building, (4) in a vehicle, and (5) buried under ground.
• Advanced Water-Type 1, locate a single source of human remains submerged underwater from the (1) shoreline and (2) from a boat.
• Advanced Disaster-Type 1, locates a single source of human remains in a collapsed structure.

Live Victim Search

• Basic Area-Type 3, locates a single, live human subject in a rural or wilderness setting.
• Basic Building- Type 3, locate a single, live human subject in residential, commercial, or industrial style building.
• Basic Tracking-Type 3, track and locate a live, human subject in a rural setting.
• Basic Trailing-Type 3, trail and locate a live, human subject in a rural setting.
• Disaster (First Responder Search Dog) Type 3, locate a single, live human subject in a collapsed residential, commercial, or industrial style building.
• Intermediate Tracking-Type 2, track and locate a live, human subject and locate multiple scent articles in an urban setting.
• Intermediate Trailing-Type 2, trail and locate a live, human subject in an urban setting.

Each Handler is Required to be Knowledgeable in the following

Scent Transport Theory - understand the following concepts:

1.                 Lofting

2.                 Pluming

3.                 Fumigating

4.                 Coning

5.                 Looping

6.                 Fanning

7.                 Pooling

 

Search Skills

Demonstrate an understanding of these search tactics:

1.                 Attraction

2.                 Containment

3.                 Contour Search

4.                 Hasty Search

5.                 Sweep Search (Open Grid Search)

6.                 Line Search (Closed Grid Search)

7.                 Interviewing

8.                 Ridges/Drainages

9.                 K-9 Grid Search

10.            Corridor Search

 

Copyright © 2008  All rights reserved.
Revised: 18 Jan 2009 20:35:53 -0500 .