SUGGESTED STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE
TRI-STATE EVALUATIONS
(Edited for publication by Wyoming K-9
Search & Rescue)
·
Absaroka Search Dogs /
·
·
Eagle Eye K-9 /
·
High Country
K-9, Inc. /
·
Northwest K-9 /
·
·
The above listed K-9
units agreed to test
their teams to these standards
using evaluators that are operational
handlers, certified by these standards or equivalent in
the discipline they evaluate. Non-compliant
K-9 Units will be removed
from the list.
All teams who
have adopted this Tri-State Standard must be certified by these standards or
standards of higher difficulty. All
teams must be evaluated by an operational handler who is certified in that
specific discipline and is certified through Tri-State or equal. If a team does not certify to these standards,
they will be removed from the Tri-State Standards.
§The purposes of theseThe Tri-State Standards of Performance are to provide:
·a uUnified, documented set of guidelines for the evaluation ofto evaluate SAR dog teams.
·
·the ability to conduct consistent inter-unit evaluations.
·
·
Provide bi-annual testing, allowing evaluations to be conducted in a
consistent manner and by impartial evaluators.
·
Present aa consistent set
of standards and expectations professional image to law enforcement and
requesting agencies.
§se Standards of Performance define theprovide minimum minimum requirements for the following K-9 team disciplines:
¨·
Wilderness
Search
¨·
Trailing
¨·
Cadaver
¨·
Human
Remains Detection (HRD)
¨·
Water
¨·
Evidence
¨·
Avalanche
¨·
Building
ØThe training/testing officer forin each individual unit is responsible for validating that all individual teams have met or exceeded these guidelines before obtaining
operational status.
Ø·
The
handler must meet individual unit handler skills requirements prior to testing
the dog.
Ø·
The A novice
handler must respond to at least one actual search incident, as supporting
an operational dog
team before support, pr obtaining
operational status.ior to becoming an operational dog
team.
Ø·
Adjacent area searching: The dog must be able to effectively
work along
side other dog teams without undue distraction.
Ø·
Endurance: The dog must be able to work a
prolonged search while maintaining optimum performance.
Ø·
Night work: The dog team must show the ability to
work without daylight.
Ø·
Wilderness Refind/Alert: The free-ranging dog must either return to the handler upon making a
find and take the handler back to the subject, or the dog must stay and bark. The handler must be able to read
either alert.
Ø·
Alert: In regards to disciplines other than
wilderness, other types
of alerts are acceptable: i.e., barking, down, sit
and dig. The handler must state alert behavior
prior to testing and must be able to read alert during the test.
Ø·
Age: The dog must be at least 12 months of
age in order to be fielded for operational status.
Ø·
Temperament: The dog must be able to operate
effectively and non-aggressively in all working situations.
Ø·
Vaccinations: All dogs must have proof of current
required vaccinations.
Ø·
Agility: HThe handler must demonstrate, off lead, the
ability to safely and confidently control the
dog through the following skills:
·o
Jump
up at least three feet into a specified area.
·o
Crawl
under an obstacle ¾ of the dog’s height.
·o
Climb
onto, and walk along a log or obstacle 3-4 feet off of the ground and 10 feet in length.
·o
Not
jump off of area/object until commanded to do so.
·o
Walk
through a culvert or small tunnel.
·
The handler must have off-lead control
of the dog at all times.
·
The Dogs will not beis not allowed to approach other dogs while training/searching.
·
The Dogs must be responsive to handler commands at
all times.
·
The Dogs must demonstrate the following:
o Come – dog must come directly
o
Stop on recall (dog will go towards handler and when given a
command, stop, down or sit within a very short distance) (a safety issue)
oSit or Down
o sStay – 5 minutes with handler out of
sight
o Heel or Close – within 2 feet of
handler
1
All K-9 disciplines must
be re-certified every two years.
2
Upon the discretion of the evaluators, a test may be stopped
at any time if the dog team:
·
Is not ready for testing.
·
Does not demonstrate forward progress.
3
It is the responsibility of the training/testing
officer within each unit to elect evaluators for each K-9 discipline.
4
A candidate team has the right to request
a different evaluator.
5
A candidate team must verbalize a search strategy
and the dog’s indication at the beginning of a test.
1. All disciplines must be
re-certified every two years.
2. Upon
discretion of an evaluator, a test may be stopped at any time if
the
dog team is seen to have:
a) not been ready for testing
b) unsatisfactory progress
c) no forward progress
3. It will be the
responsibility of the training/testing officer within each
dog unit, to specify
which handlers will participate in the testing
process, as evaluators.
4. If a handler who is
testing their dog has hesitation as to the
evaluator assigned to them, the handler
may approach his/her
training/testing officer and request a
different evaluator.
5. The handler must verbalize area strategy and
dog’s indication, prior
to each test.
·
Mini-Area Search: This mThis test must
be completed prior to the Wilderness Search test. The
area is to be approximately 1/4 by 1/4 mile in moderate terrain containing 3
well-hidden subjects. The search time is limited to 2 hours.
Evaluators may unless testers extend the time due to weather or terrain concerns. For a
conclusive test, Tthe dog team must find all three subjects and
demonstrate at least two re-finds or bark alerts. .
If
less than
two re-finds or bark alerts are demonstrated, the test is inconclusive and must
be repeated. The purpose of this test is to show
the reliability of the
dog’s re-find or /bark alert and the strategy and
navigation skills of the handler. Upon successful completion, the handler may request the Wilderness
Search test. The Wilderness Search test must be completed within six months of
the Mini-Area test.
§·
Wilderness Search: In a 1 square mile area of moderate
terrain, 1 – 3 subjects will be placed, either hidden or roaming. Subjects will enter area in a manner,
which will make it difficult for the dog to cut the track. If a dog cuts a track, and follows it to the subject, this is an acceptable find. There may or may not be a simulated
injury when subjects are located. Before beginning the test, t The dog handler will completes an interview with the RP and verbalizes a search
strategy to the evaluators, at the search base, prior to beginning the test. A search strategy must be developed and verbalized to evaluators,
prior to the test. The handler will tell the evaluators
what the dog’s alert will be. Adjustments may be made, considering wind shifts, obstacles, etc. The handler must tell
the evaluators what the dog’s alert is. The
test team will beis expected to communicate with the base via radio and relay all pertinent information as well as
alerts, clues , and finds. After
covering the areaUpon completion of the
search the, the test team will return to the search base and explains using
a topographical map, theexplain
percentage of area covered and give with POD
information and list areas
that should be searched more thoroughly. TThe test team will coveris expected to search
the area as is customary on an actual
search the area just as he/she would on an
actual search. The test team is expected to covering as much area as possible in three hours. (Remember, it isn’t possible to cover the whole area, so segment the area in workable sections.) After handler has completed test, they will be asked what areas,
if any, should be searched more thoroughly. Handlers must show on a
topographical map which areas were covered, location of alerts and finds. Passing the
operational wilderness search test will be a matter of the teams’ overall performance, taking all factors
into consideration. TThe team is not expected to locate all subjects. If a dog locates a subject, and but does not successfully alert the handler, the evaluators will terminate the test. Passing
this test involves evaluating the
teams’ overall performance, taking all factors into consideration. The focus of this test is on the quality of the search strategy,
proficiency in navigating through
the search area and the team’s ability to search efficiently, for the full
duration of the test. After a dog team has successfully
completed this test, t operational status in wilderness search, the mini-area search will be used for re-certification.
·
Level 1: The length of the trail will be at least 1 mile and
will be aged not less than 4 hours. The handler is responsible for collecting
the scent article. The handler will be given a designated PLS, with area
approximately 20 X 20 feet. The PLS will be contaminated by two persons walking
away in different directions. The subject’s trail will be laid in moderate
terrain and all attempts will be made to prevent the dog from air-scenting the
subject. The start of the track should allow for a
360-degree possibility of direction of travel. One cross track will be laid
within one hour prior to the test and will be laid after the first third of the
actual track. There should be a road crossing, either paved or dirt, in any
part of the test. The dog must obtain direction of travel and locate subject
for successful completion. It is an acceptable pass if wind change allows the
dog to air scent the subject after it has located the direction of travel, has
successfully worked through the contamination, and successfully passed the
cross track.
·
Level
1: The length of the trail will be at
least 1 mile and will be aged not less than 4 hours. The handler is responsible
for collecting the scent article. The handler will be given a designated
PLS, with area approximately 20 X 20 feet. The PLS will be contaminated by two
persons walking away from the PLS in different directions. The subject’s trail will be laid in
moderate terrain and all attempts will be made so that the dog cannot air scent. The start of the track should have a 360-degree possibility of direction.
One cross track will be laid within one hour prior to the test and will be laid
after the first third of the actual track. There should be a road crossing,
either paved or dirt, in any part of the test. The dog must obtain direction of
travel and locate subject for successful completion. It is an acceptable pass if wind
change allows the dog to air scent after it has located the direction of
travel, has successfully worked through the contamination, and successfully passed
the cross track.
§
q·
Level 2: The length of the trail will be at least one mile and will be aged
not less than 12 hours. Handler will
conduct an interview with RP. The handler is responsible for
collecting the scent article. The handler will be given a designated PLS,
with area approximately 100 X 100 feet. The
PLS will be contaminated by two persons walking away in different directions.
The subject’s trail will be laid in moderate terrain and all attempts will be
made to prevent the dog from air-scenting the subject. The start of the track
should allow for a
360-degree possibility of direction of travel..
The PLS will be contaminated by two persons walking away from the PLS in
different directions. The subject’s trail will be laid in moderate terrain,
and all attempts will be made so that the dog cannot air scent. The start of
the track should have a 360-degree possibility of direction. One cross track will be laid within
one hour prior to the test and will be laid after the first third of the actual
track. There should be a road crossing, either paved or dirt, in any part of
the test. It is an acceptable pass if wind change allows the dog to air scent
after it has located the direction of travel, has successfully worked through the contamination, and
successfully passed the cross track..
·
·
·
·
Level 3/Urban:
This urban test may be taken without
passing level 1 or level 2 trailing tests.
·
The Hhandler will conduct an interview with RP. The handler is responsible for
collecting the scent article. The handler will be given the PLS of
either a residence or vehicle. The area will be contaminated. The trail will be aged not less than 2
hours and will be 6 – 8 blocks in length. The trail will include asphalt, concrete,
sidewalks, alleys, grass, etc. There will be at leastAt
least two street crossings
should be part of the trail. RegularAll day-to-day activities in the area will not be cause for delay or cancellation of the test. The Ttime limit is 1 hour but may be
extended by the evaluators if there is sufficient
forward progressthey
deem that there continues to be forward progress. The Ddog must locate and identify correct
subject for completion of test.
q· The team that is being tested may also request to view the sources
to be used for their test. The sources must be concealed extremely well so that the handler
is unable to see them. Proper strategy must be used to ensure coverage of the entire search area. Dog team will search an area 100 X 100 yards,
or equivalent square footage, in moderate terrain. One sample will be on the surface.
The second sample will be buried 4 – 6 inches. The dog must be able to locate both samples within 1 hour. The handler must call a find by recognizing the dog’s indication
behavior as stated prior to the test. False holes will be present. Scent rise
time will be not less than 2 hours.
·
·
Part 2: After completing this test, part 1, the dog team will search for human bones. This test will have bones set up in a line or scattered in a small area. The handler will determine how far apart the bones will be placed.
The lineup may contain all animal, all human, or a combination of
both. The handler must be able to identify the human bone(s) by the
dog’s behavior.
·
Cadaver search test must be successfully completed
prior to testing for Human Remains Detection.
§Human Remains Detection
Search:
Note: Part 1 and 2 of the cadaver search test must be
successfully completed prior to testing for Human Remains Detection.
·
Part 1: The dog team will search three separate areas, 100 X 100 feet each, or
equivalent square footage, in moderate terrain. The search strategy and the dog’s indication must be verbalized prior to the test. Two
of the areas will contain a total of fourteen samples. One of the areas will
contain no samples. Blood and bone will be used for eight of the fourteen
samples. There will be animal bones present. There will be false holes present. For successful completion,
the dog must locate ten out of fourteen samples, without disturbing the
samples and with no more than one false alert. The handler will have 30 minutes per area to complete the test, unless evaluators extend the time due to weather or terrain concerns.
·
Part 2: The dog team will search one room in a
building, approximately 20’ x 20’. Three samples will be in the room. The
samples will be blood and/or tissue. The handler must locate 2 of 3 samples for completion. Dog
must not disturb the samples.
§
qThis will contain two
separate tests.
§1. Dog team will search three separate areas,
100 X 100 feet each, or equivalent square footage, in moderate terrain. The search strategy and the dog’s indication
must be verbalized prior to the test. Two of the areas will contain a total of
fourteen samples. One of the areas will
contain no samples. Blood and bone will
be used for eight of the fourteen samples.
There will be animal bones present. There will be false holes
present. For successful completion, the
dog must locate ten out of fourteen samples, without disturbing samples, with
no more than one false alert. Handler will
have 30 minutes per area to complete the test, unless evaluators extend the
time due to weather or terrain concerns.
Special care must be given while setting this test up, due to the subtle
nature of the samples..
§2. Dog team will search one room in a building,
approximately 20’ x 20’. Three samples
will be in the room. The samples will be
blood and/or tissue. The handler must locate 2 of 3 samples for
completion. Dog must not disturb
samples.
q·
The Ddog team will search an area 200 X 200 feet, or equivalent square
footage, in moderate terrain. Three human
scented articles will be well hidden on the
surface or hanging, but not buried. A variety of articles will
can be used, including but not limited to:
metal, plastic, and cloth. All three articles must be found within 1 hour. Scent rise time will be
no less than 30 minutes. The h Handler must state crime scene
preservation procedures.
Note: There are 2 separate tests for certification: shore and open water
After
a team passes one of the tests, they will be certified for that type of water search.
q·
Shore search: The dog team will search a stream or
shore line, approximately 100 yards in length.
A scent source will be placed 5-10 feet off the shoreline and will be 2
- 10 inches deep. The dog may indicate from the shore,
or in the water,
as long as handler can describe the location of the scent source within 15
yards. Scent rise time will be no less than 15 minutes.
q·BoatOpen
water search: The team will perform an open water
search. This will be done from a boat, in an area approximately 3 – 4 acres. A scent source will be used for the
open water search. There will be no divers used for this
certification. Scent source will be
placed approximately 15 feet under water surface. The team will be tested on
the strategy used to search the area, how efficiently the dog
handler communicates to the boat operator and how efficiently the handler can
read the dog alerts at the subject’s location.
The handler must be able to define a search area for the divers. This area must be within 100 feet of scent source. . The H handler will plot location on map and explain what effects the wind
and current may have on the scent. Scent rise time will be no less than 15
minutes.
·
Note: All
of the following safety precautions must be observed for a live burial:
1
The subject must have a
radio and transceiver. The radio
and the transceiver must be turned on and checked and
the subject must hold the radio in hand while buried (an
2
The subject’s location
has to be marked and watched by an observer with a radio and transceiver.
Ø·
The Hhandler will conduct an
interview with the RP prior to testing. Dog team will search an area no less
than 150 X 150 feet that has been adequately tracked up/contaminated to hide
ski tracks and holes. Other searchers will actively be searching the area.
o Initial
Certification: There will 1 or 2 live
victim(s) and four scented articles placed in the test area. For successful
completion during the initial certification, the team must locate all the live
victim(s) and 1 or 2 articles (for a total of 3 finds). The victim(s) must be
hidden at a depth of 2 - 5 feet. Victim will enter the area in a manner making
it difficult for the dog to track to the cave. Minimum scent rise time is 15
minutes for the live victim, and 1 hour for the articles. The longer the rise
time for the articles, the deeper they can be buried. The optimal way to place
articles for tests are as follows: Place articles the day before if possible,
use large articles (such as shirts, pants, scarves, gloves), when placing the
article in the snow be sure to have the article opened up to full size, place
blocks of snow on the articles to cover and then throw snow over the blocks to
cover up the blocks (just like covering up live victims…with blocks covering
the holes and snow thrown over the blocks), if this method is used you can bury
the articles 1-3 feet deep, otherwise they should be buried 2-6 inches. The test area will have false
holes. The
team will be given ½ - 1 hour to complete the test, depending on size and
terrain.
o Re-certification: This test may be set up the same as the
initial certification test or as an “articles only
test” if there is not enough snow to bury live victims. The evaluators will
place four articles
in the test area. The
handler must find three of the four articles. If
possible the articles used on the test should have been worn by people not
setting up the test area or hiding the articles. The handler must accurately
describe all areas that were searched and provide POD information. The test area will
have false holes. People in the area will be placed so they will not clue the
dog and handler. The team will be given
½ - 1 hour to complete the test, depending on size and terrain.
Ø
ØInitial Certification:
There will 1 or 2 live victim(s) and four scented articles placed in the test
area. For successful completion during the initial certification, the team must
locate all the live victim(s) and 1 or 2 articles (for a total of 3 finds). The
victim(s) must be hidden at a depth of 2 - 5 feet. Victim will enter the area
in a manner making it difficult for the dog to track to the cave. Minimum scent
rise time is 15 minutes for the live victim, and 1 hour for the articles. The longer
the rise time for the articles, the deeper they can be buried.
Ø The
optimal way to place articles for tests are as follows: Place articles the day
before if possible, use large articles (such as shirts, pants, scarves,
gloves), when placing the article in the snow be sure to have the article
opened up to full size, place blocks of snow on the articles to cover and then
throw snow over the blocks to cover up the blocks (just like covering up live
victims…with blocks covering the holes and snow thrown over the blocks), if
this method is used you can bury the articles 1-3 feet deep, otherwise they
should be buried 2-6 inches.
ØThe
test area will have false holes. The
team will be given ½ - 1 hour to work the area, depending on size and terrain.
ØRe-certification: May
be set up as above or:
ØIf there isn’t enough
snow for live victims, the testers will place four articles
in the test area. If only articles are placed they must find three of the four articles. If possible
the articles used on the test should have been worn by people not setting up
the test area or hiding the articles. Handler must also accurately
describe all areas that were searched and give a POD for the area. The test
area will have false holes. People in the area will be placed so they will not
clue the dog and handler.
ØAll of the following
safety precautions will be observed for a live burial: 1. Victim must have a radio and transceiver.
Both must be in a position to be easily activated. 2. Victim location is to be
marked and watched by an observer with a radio and transceiver.
q·
One
to three victims will hide in a large building at least 15 minutes prior to the
test. All victims must be found within designated time limit.
vNote: *** Due to the complexity of the building search, specifics will be discussed
prior to testing.
Revised:
BMMarch,
2006