NARCOTIC DETECTION K-9 TEAM EVALUATION
This examination is designed to establish the effectiveness in the detection capability of the Narcotic Detection K-9 Team. The examination consists of a number of different detection exercises. The handler and dog will be required to successfully complete the exercises as a team. These exercises are designed to be as closely related to realistic situations and conditions as possible. The exercises present the detector dog with various amounts of appropriate narcotic substances, contained in an assortment of wrappings and packaging, concealed in any number of different locations, amongst a multitude of distractions. These exercises provide for the evaluation of the detector dog while the team is engaged in a search where the narcotic involved is positively emitting a detectable odor. The detector dog will be required to demonstrate a 100% success rate at closely examining, detecting, and responding to the odor of the concealed narcotics. Equally important, the detector dog and handler must complete the examination without exhibiting any false indication. The appearance of a false indication during testing will result in an unsatisfactory completion of the Narcotic Detection K9 Team examination and a certification will not be granted. The evaluation will be scored on a Pass/ Fail basis,
The K-9 Team will be required to perform searches in three general categories:
1. Vehicles: May include but not be limited to -- Passenger cars, trucks, buses, boats, trailers, etc.;
2. Areas: May include but not be limited to -- Building interiors and exteriors, fields, various open areas, etc.;
3. Articles: May include but not be limited to -- Suitcases, boxes, mail, etc. .
The K-9 handler shall be responsible to:
1. Direct the search to the extent that he/ she provides for the effective examination of the area, article, or vehicle and the safety of himself/ herself and the canine.
2. Recognize and interpret the indication(s) given by the canine. Demonstrating the ability to differentiate between the dog’s alert, any abnormal response, general
interest or normal behavior.
3. Provide the appropriate reward for the canine, maintaining the dog's motivation
The canine shall be required to:
1. Demonstrate recognition/ scent association with the narcotic odor.
2. Demonstrate intent. Intent is demonstrated by the dog through the attitude and enthusiasm he displays while searching.
3. Demonstrate interest, reflected by the dog's enthusiasm and desire to pinpoint, and not leave the place of narcotic concealment.
4. Demonstrate an appropriate, recognizable, physically readable, response to the narcotic odor.
The exercises will be conducted in areas selected by the examining K-9 trainer. The areas selected should present realistic situations and conditions including noises and other similar distractions that the dog will normally be confronted with in actual deployments.
The examining K-9 trainer will determine the type of narcotic substance used in each exercise along with, the amount of narcotic substance, the type of wrapping or packaging, and the placement of all narcotic substances. The evaluator will ensure that the area/ article/ vehicle is free of any residual narcotic odor, and that the narcotic is positively emitting a detectable odor.
In each exercise the location of the narcotic substance will be unknown to the handler.
The amounts of narcotic substances used for testing shall be the same for each substance; one 5 gram package, one 25 gram package, and one 100 gram package.
Only actual narcotic substances will be used to determine and establish the canines "scent association."
Each exercise is designed so that it may contain a "blank." A "blank" article/vehicle/ area is defined as one not containing a narcotic substance. However, the blanks should contain other realistic items that will emit a variety of odors. The examining K-9 trainer may use "blanks" at his/ her discretion at any point during the evaluation.
In order to assure that narcotic odor is available for detection, all narcotic laden packages will be prepared at least twelve hours prior to their use. This time frame allows the narcotic odor to escape from the container and permeate the filler and packaging material, thus enabling its odor to be available for detection by the dog.
In order to assure that narcotic odor is available for detection in other exercises, the narcotic will be in place for fifteen to twenty minutes before the dog is required to search for it.
No rewards will be hidden with the narcotic substances. (towels, balls, pipe, etc.)
The exercises will be conducted so that the amount of time that the dog is required to work before encountering the narcotic odor varies with each exercise. However, there will be no time limits on the exercises, the handler will determine when the search is complete and if and when his/ her dog needs a break.
The examining K-9 trainer may terminate the exercise if he/ she determines that the dog is no longer searching.
The examining K-9 trainer may terminate the exercise if he/ she feels that the K-9 team's safety is in jeopardy.
Exercises:
Recognition/ Scent Association
In order to ascertain the dog's response to the actual narcotic odor a point-to-point exercise will be conducted using the actual narcotic. The team will be required to search for approximately twenty paces in straight line from one point to another. The narcotic substance shall be concealed between the two points no more than three feet off the ground. The substance will be positioned so that the odor will be
available for the dog to detect, but not allowing for him to physically contact the substance. This exercise will be conducted using a sterile glass container with 10 grams of the narcotic substance.
The team must demonstrate the ability to successfully complete this exercise prior to proceeding with any other exercises.
This exercise will be conducted for each odor that the dog will be tested on.
Vehicles
The examining K-9 trainer will determine the number and type(s) of vehicle(s) to be used.
Narcotics will never be concealed in more than one location in or on a vehicle for a single exercise.
Factors such as the temperature inside of the vehicle and length of time dog must work should be taken into consideration during exam.
Engine areas -- exercises in the engine area of the vehicle will not be conducted. In normal utilization the dog is not required to examine the engine area of a vehicle if the engine and/ or its components are hot. Also, there is a possibility that the dog may be injured during this examination. Training exercises should be conducted in this area, at another time, to familiarize the dog with this type of exercise.
Articles
The examining K-9 trainer will determine the number and type of articles to be used.
The article(s) containing the narcotic substance should be placed in a line with at least five blanks.
All articles containing narcotic substance will set-up for at least 12 hours in advance of their being presented to the dog.
Areas
The examining K-9 trainer will determine the type and extent of the areas to be used. Areas shall include buildings, fields, yards, freight terminals and such to present the K-9 team with as realistic a situation as is possible.
Certification
The handler and canine will be certified as a team. The examining K-9 trainer will determine if the team is certified at the completion of the exercise(s).
A Eastern States Working Dog Association Inc. Narcotic Detection Certification is good for a period of one year.
The purpose of this certification document is to certify the dog’s narcotic detection capability. The document also serves to provide proof to legal authorities that the dog has demonstrated the capability to detect narcotic odor and has successfully completed an examination of that ability administered by a competent authority.
The essence of annual evaluations and accurate certifications are an extremely important facet of any K-9 program. They are essential if the quality of training and effective utilization of the K-9 team are to remain standardized and the program
productive.
|