Kentucky Handler and Search Dog Certification Program

DRAFT

Kentucky Handler and Search Dog Certification Program

A.  Hasty Search Tracking/Trailing Test (30 Minutes) (NIMS TYPE IV Test)

This testing shall be performed at any time of day or night

All aspects of the hasty search test shall be performed on-lead and without physical assistance from the handler. If needed, the handler may take whatever actions needed to prevent injury to the dog in the event the dog becomes endangered. This is not to be interpreted to imply that the handler can assist the dog. The action can be taken only to prevent injury.

This test shall provide a great deal of information for the evaluators. This test shall allow the handler to ensure the dog is working and provide a demonstration of the dog’s ability to find, alert, and perform a re-find.

An evaluator shall be placed in an area of moderate to heavy contamination as a victim within 20 feet of a quarter mile (.25) to one half-mile (0.5) trail aged from zero to one and one half (0-1 1/2) hours. The victim shall be positioned as to provide the greatest probability of the dog encountering the scent. The victim shall enter the area in such a manner as to increase the possibility of the dog tracking. When determining placement of the victim terrain, wind direction and other variables shall be taken into consideration. The victim and evaluators shall have radio contact with base. The Lead Evaluator and Base are responsible for all time keeping and evaluation checklists.

At the direction of the evaluator and notification of the beginning of the test to base, the handler shall start the test. The dog shall start in a 4 x 4 marked spot with a identified scent article present, lead the handler to within sight of the victim, locate the victim and properly alert the handler. The handler shall continually maintain reasonable range of control of the dog’s action. If the dog locates the victim and fails to alert the handler, the dog shall receive a score of fail. The handler shall not be permitted to direct the dog into the victim if the handler is aware of the victim’s location. The evaluator shall notify the handler when ten (10) minutes are remaining. The hasty search test shall be completed within 30 minutes failure to locate and properly identify the victim shall be considered as a failure of the test and the handler shall be disqualified from proceeding in the testing process until they retest and complete this level. Note: Retesting of the "Hasty Test" on the same day will be at the discretion of the Lead evaluator and KYEMS representative at the test site.

Successful completion of the Hasty Search Test shall be required before attempting the Tracking /Trailing Scent discrimination Test. Evaluators may provide constructive suggestions and encouragement to the handler. The same area may be used for consecutive tests if adequate time is allowed for scent dispersion. If the victim must relocate, the dog shall not be penalized for showing interest and alerting on the previously used location.

D. Tracking/Trailing/Scent Discrimination Test (1 hour) (NIMS TYPE II TEST)

All aspects of the tracking/trailing/scent discrimination test may be performed on-lead or off-lead, at the handler’s discretion. Dogs working Off Lead shall meet all of the requirements for off lead testing found in the sections describing air scent testing

The test shall demonstrate the dogs and handlers ability to follow the scent trail and successfully locate and identify a single person for a trail approximately one mile in length and aged 4-12 hours. The trail shall be contaminated by a minimum of one (1) other person during the test. The handler shall demonstrate the ability to read their dog’s actions and use of a topo map to determine their location. The tracklayers are excluded from the evaluation of the dog. The tracklayers shall be unfamiliar to the dog and handler.

The test shall be setup as follows:

·  A minimum of 4(four) hours and a maximum of twelve (12) hours prior to scheduled testing, two (2) tracklayers shall establish a trail.

·  Two (2) tracklayers (primary tracklayer and crossing tracklayer) shall each be assigned tasks and a scent article (gauze pad, clothing, ball cap, stocking cap etc.) shall be left by the primary tracklayer with the primary evaluator. The handler shall obtain the scent article from a brown paper bag provided by the lead evaluator and demonstrate and describe to the lead evaluator the technique that they will use to "present" the scent article to their dog. If they use a separate item such as a gauze pad, plastic bag etc. for scent presentation they shall use sealed uncontaminated item(s) and present the item(s) to the lead evaluator for inspection prior to testing. The scent article may be left at the starting point or taken by the handler to use for re-scenting purposes by the handler being tested.

·  The primary tracklayer shall lay a trail that shall be approximately 1 (one) mile in length. The trail shall be run in an area of moderate to heavy contamination that has moderate access during all phases of the test (laying and running of trails). The trail shall follow a natural wandering path including at least two (2) changes of direction, one of which shall be a turn of at least 90 degrees. The path shall not follow an obvious natural or man made path for the entire length of the trail. The primary tracklayer shall start from a 4 x4 foot grass cover area identified by the lead evaluator and marked with colored flags then proceed to lay the trail. A small piece of flagging tape identifying the color of the starting area shall also be placed in the paper bag with the scent article.

·  The crossing tracklayer shall cross the primary runner’s trail only once and as close to the trail’s halfway point as possible. The crossing tracklayer shall move perpendicular to the main trail for approximately one hundred (100) yards and shall be in a location on ground level and shall be dressed in non specific scent trapping clothing and should avoid bright colors that would assist the dog and handler in locating them. To permit access to and exit from the primary runner’s trail, the crossing runner may parallel the primary runner’s trail, provided that the parallel trail is no closer than twenty (20) yards from the primary trail and downwind from the primary trail.

The test shall be conducted as follows:

·  The Lead Evaluator shall be given a sealed paper bag containing the scent article and a piece of color flagging tape used in marking the starting area for the trail to be used for the test. The handler shall not have knowledge of the trail to be used If the handler knows or becomes aware of the color of the flagging tape in the bag, another trail shall be used.

·  The Lead Evaluator shall provide the handler the scent article and a black and white copy of a topo map with staging area marked and a bearing to the position of the start of the trail. It is the responsibility of the handler to locate the search area within fifteen (15) minutes. The 15-minute time limit shall begin when the Lead Evaluator notifies Base that the team is leaving Base. The evaluator shall not provide assistance in locating the search area.

·  Once the search area is located, the time for the Tracking / Trailing / Scent Discrimination Test will begin. The team will have 1 hour to locate the victim. The Lead Evaluator shall notify Base of the start time. Base shall inform the Lead Evaluator when 15 minutes remain for the test.

·  The evaluators shall follow the path taken by the handler behind the handler and canine and shall not assist the handler.

·  If the dog follows a path taken by the crossing tracklayer for over 50 yards and or indicates at the wrong tracklayer, the dog shall receive a grade of fail and the evaluation shall be stopped.

·  The victim shall be in a location on ground level and shall be dressed in non specific scent trapping clothing and should avoid bright colors that would assist the dog and handler in locating them. If the handler indicates that the dog has indicated the proper hider, the hider may give praise as reward if requested by the handler.

·  Once the victim has been found, the handler shall describe in common English how to get from the base to the victim and mark victim location within a 30 meter radius on the map

·  Evaluators and victim shall discuss in private how the dog and handler performed on search aspect of the test. The KyEM representative shall compare the victim location on the map in base to the handlers map and in consultation with the lead evaluator certify that the test was successful or was failed. The Lead Evaluator shall inform the handler of the pass or fail decision.

02/13/0901/22/0912/30/08 DRAFT 3