Wake Canine Search and Rescue

Canine/Handler Team Standards

 V 2.4      05/10/2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

Table of Contents                                                                                                    2

Table of Revisions                                                                                                    3

Apprentice Canine/Handler Team                                                                   4

Standards                                                                                                                                                                       4

Training Requirements                                                                                                                                                4

Required Equipment                                                                                                                                                     4

Operational Canine/Handler Team                                                               5

Standards                                                                                                                                                                       5

Training Requirements                                                                                                                                                6

Required Equipment                                                                                                                                                     6

Search Operations – Wilderness Trailing Dog Team                         7

Wilderness Evaluation                                                                                                                                                7

Search Operations – Urban Trailing Dog Team                                     8

Urban Evaluation                                                                                                                                                          8

Search Operations – Wilderness Air Scent Dog Team                        9

Day Area Search                                                                                                                                                           9

Night Area Search                                                                                                                                                        9

WCSAR Canine Qualification Procedures                                                10

Wilderness Trailing/Air-Scent Dog Team Evaluation Checklist 11

Wilderness Trailing / Air-Scent Dog Team Evaluation Checklist Instructions    12

Handler Skills:                                                                                                                                                             12

Canine Skills:                                                                                                                                                               13

Team Skills:                                                                                                                                                                  14

Overall Recommendation:                                                                                                                                         14

Evaluator instructions - items covered with candidates:        15

Starting the test:                                                                                                  16


Table of Revisions

 

Version

Date

Author

Changes

V 2.1

05/28/2003

Team effort - with Paul Jarmul formatting

Review, update, and publish previous standards w/gracious help from Cathy, Todd, Bob, and Gail.

V 2.2

06/05/2003

Paul Jarmul

Navigator OK for trailing team. Full debrief at exam finish. Night Search add for Air Scent.

V 2.3

04/05/2004

Paul Jarmul

Trailing – subject in place at test start, not 2 hours prior (goal is to minimize air scent finish). End point such that prevailing winds allow for minimal air scent finish as well. Both - evaluators to remain within talking distance of the team being tested at all times/take notes.

V2.4

05/10/2004

Paul Jarmul

Air Scent – subject in place 2 hours prior to test start (was 5 hours).

 

 

 

 

 

Apprentice Canine/Handler Team

 

Standards

 

·         Must be an Operational-Beginner Member with WCSAR.

·         Canine must have adequate size and strength to negotiate the terrain encountered in wilderness areas.

·         Canine must be willing to find and approach strangers.

·         Canine cannot be aggressive towards people or other dogs.

·         Canine must have basic obedience and be controllable by the Handler.

·         Canine must be current on all vaccinations and must be in good health.

·         The Handler must maintain training logs to document all training as required by the SOGs set by Wake Canine Search and Rescue.

 

Training Requirements

 

·         Must maintain Operational status

·         Must maintain consistent SAR training for the canine averaging a minimum of twenty runs per quarter reviewed on a quarterly basis.  This training can consist of WCSAR sponsored training events and other training opportunities.

·         Attend and train canine at WCSAR sponsored training events at least 6 times per quarter.

·         Assist other canine handlers as needed with the training of their dogs.

·         While not a requirement, canine handlers are encouraged to attend canine training seminars sponsored by other SAR teams and canine training organizations on an annual basis.

 

Required Equipment

 

·         Field Team Member 24-hour SAR Ready Pack

·         Canine lead

·         Water for canine

·         Device for lighting canine during night training (lighted collar, etc.)

·         Harness and lead for on-lead canines

·         Bell for off lead canines

Operational Canine/Handler Team

Standards

 

·         Handler must be certified by NASAR as a SARTECH II or possess an equivalent certification approved by the Board of Directors. 

·         The Handler must meet the standards set by WCSAR for an operational team member.

·         The Handler must produce written proof of the canine having successfully completed a recognized obedience evaluation, approved by the Board of Directors, which meets or exceeds the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizens test.

·         Prior to testing the Handler must present the dog team’s written training records to the Board of Directors for review.  The records must indicate a history of success in locating and appropriately alerting to lost subjects in a variety of terrain and weather conditions similar to the terrain normally searched by WCSAR.  The training records must document the necessary knowledge and performance skills for the type of certification being challenged.  The training records must reflect continuous training for a minimum of six months. 

·         The dog team must have received a recommendation for qualification from the Deputy Search Commander, or his/her designee, and the Search Commander based on their evaluations of the team’s performance during regularly scheduled training events.

·         Canine must be non-aggressive and controllable in a variety of situations including crowds, noise, other dogs and a variety of distractions.  Aggressive behavior is defined as biting, lunging at people or controlled animals.  Aggressive behavior is also defined as continuous growling at people or controlled animals that cannot be corrected by the handler.

·         Further, the canine must be at least one year of age prior to qualification testing.

·         The Handler must have taken Canine First Aid training and be able to:

Ø       Define the normal physiological parameters for and perform medical assessments of the following on a canine:

    • Respiration rate
    • Core body temperature
    • Heart rate
    • Pulse

Ø       Explain the signs of and proper field treatments for:

    • Hypothermia
    • Hyperthermia
    • Dehydration

Ø       Demonstrate how to improvise a muzzle to control a canine while performing emergency medical treatment.  Demonstrate the ability to effectively restrain a canine for examination.

Ø       Demonstrate how to bandage an injured canine foot and leg using equipment carried in the Handler’s pack.

·         The Handler must describe and explain to the Deputy Search Commander, or his designee, the effects of the following on how the canine will work:

Ø       Wind

Ø       Water

Ø       Temperature

Ø       Terrain

Ø       Time of Day

·         Canine must be current on all vaccinations and must be in good health.

·         The Handler and Canine must successfully pass the field Search Operations Qualifications Test for the discipline that the team is attempting to qualify for operational status in.

·         All qualifications are based on the Canine and Handler as a team.  If the Handler wishes to qualify another canine or another handler also wishes to qualify with an operational canine, they must meet the same qualification procedures. 

·         For the team to maintain its operational status, the team must successfully complete a certification from an independent regionally or nationally recognized SAR dog certifying organization approved by the Board of Directors within 18 months of the date of WCSAR’s qualification of the team.

·         Further, all teams will be subject to re-qualification to maintain their operational status if the Board of Directors has justifiable reasons to question the team’s search effectiveness or if the team fails to train on average at least once a week over a quarterly period.  Further, all teams shall be required to re-qualify at the end of two years from the last WCSAR qualification date (or outside recognized certification date) to maintain operational status.  To re-qualify, the dog team must successfully pass the WCSAR field Search Operations Qualifications Test for the discipline(s) that the team wishes to be operational in – or pass an independent regionally or nationally SAR dog certified exam approved by the Board of Directors.

·         To maintain operational status, the Handler must maintain training logs to document all training as required by the SOGs set by Wake Canine Search and Rescue.

 

Training Requirements

 

·         Must maintain Operational status

·         Must be a NASAR SAR Tech II or equivalent certification approved by the Board of Directors

·         Must maintain consistent SAR training for the canine averaging a minimum of twenty runs per quarter reviewed on a quarterly basis. This training can consist of WCSAR sponsored training events and other training opportunities.

·         Attend and train canine at WCSAR sponsored training events at least 6 times per quarter.

·         Assist other canine handlers as needed with the training of their dogs.

·         While not a requirement, canine handlers are encouraged to attend canine training seminars sponsored by other SAR teams and canine training organizations on an annual basis.

 

Required Equipment

·        In addition to equipment listed in Apprentice Canine/Handler Team section:

o        NASAR Equipment list for Canine SARTECH III.

§         1 – eye wash bottle (normal saline)

§         6 – antiseptic cleansing pads

§         1 – muzzle or item to improvise one

§         2 – pair latex gloves

§         2 – roller gauze bandages

§         2 – rolls of vet wrap (2 inch)

§         4 – LARGE safety pins

§         4 – sterile dressings (4X4 gauze pads)

§         1 – super glue (tube or bottle)

§         2 – towelette

§         6 – water purification tabs or commercially approved device

§         1 – instant heat or cold packs (based upon environment)

 

 

 

 

 

Search Operations – Wilderness Trailing Dog Team

·         The Handler must utilize or explain proper techniques for gathering and handling scent articles such that they do not contaminate the scent article with their scent.