This test is designed to show the K-9 teams reliability and proficiency in detecting and indicating the presence of explosives.
All teams will be tested on the following odors:
1. Black or Smokeless gunpowder.
2. Dynamite (Both Military and Commercial Varieties)
3. TNT
4. Primer Cord
5. Water -Gel type explosives
6. C-4 or Flex-X
The minimum weight of the explosives used for testing will be no less then four (4) ounces. Each type of explosive being tested will be at least two (2) hides. The handler will not be told what type of hide it is or the number of hides. The hides will be hidden 45 minutes prior to the start of the test. There is a twenty five (25) minute time limit for this test. If a K-9 team fails any particular area of this test, they may not be re-tested until a twenty four (24) hour time period has elapsed from the end of the failed test.
The K-9 team must score a perfect score on all of the areas and explosives being tested. If the K-9 team misses at least one (1) hide, that area of the test will considered to have been failed.
All K-9 dogs will use the "passive" type alert for this test. A dog which performs an active alert shall immediately fail the test. The alert shall be noticeable to the examining K-9 trainer.
The K-9 team will be tested in the following areas:
1. Buildings - both commercial and residential type dwellings
2. Vehicles - at least 10 vehicles shall be made available for the test. One of those vehicle must be a truck with a GVW of over 25,000 lb..
3. Baggage or packages - these are to include both cardboard, and both soft and hard shell type luggage. A minimum of 20 bags/packages must be used for the testing.
4. Open type areas - wooded areas, open type fields.
5. Aircraft (if available)
The K-9 team will be tested in 4 out of the 5 above mentioned areas.
It is the responsibility of the K-9 team that is being tested to provide the examining K-9 trainer with the necessary training aids (explosive compounds) to use for the test.