DOGS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

“COMMITTED TO THE WORKING DOG TEAM”

“POLICE SERVICE DOG” CERTIFICATION

  1. To obtain a “Police Service Dog" certification; the police canine team must pass all phases.
  2. All rulings by the Master Trainer are final.
  3. The testing will be conducted in no set order during a one-day test.
  4. The exceptions to the one-day test rule is when testing is conducted during a DLE national; state workshop or canine teams limited times do to commitment to work.
  5. A break between tests is acceptable.
  6. The test requirements will be explained prior to starting the certification.
  7. The team must pass each phase on the first attempt and will be tested at random in the following areas:
  8. Obedience Test
  9. Article Search
  10. Tracking
  11. Building Search
  12. Apprehension/ Canine Control

DOGS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

“COMMITTED TO THE WORKING DOG TEAM”

OBEDIENCE TEST

Master Trainer will determine if the obedience test is appropriate for certain types of dog breeds. The obedience phase of this certification will consist of the following exercises:

  1. This certification is a minimum of 3-5 minutes with multiple commands to determine if the police work dog is capable of performing off lead obedience exercises.
  2. The time limit is determined by the Master Trainer.
  3. The certification is designed to certify the dog’s ability and proficiency and the handler’s total control over his/her dog.
  4. The canine team shall be allowed to use any and all equipment they would normally wear while on duty.
  5. During these tests, there will be gunfire used and at no time will the canine break and charge towards gunfire.
  6. If the canine breaks towards the gunfire then test is terminated.
  7. The police canine team will be tested on the following:
  8. Obedience
  9. Unacceptable behavior would be, but not limited to, one (1) of the following:
  10. Lunging
  11. Uncontrollable barking
  12. Over-aggressiveness

Obedience Test:

The following phase will not have any particular order and the Master Trainer will decide order.

  1. The handler and dog will begin with dog at his/her side in a heel position and walk forward together at a normal pace either on leash or off leash.
  2. Walking with canine at heel position, unless otherwise directed by the Master Trainer.
  3. The Master Trainer will command the handler to complete a minimum of, but not limited to:
  4. Two (2) right turns
  5. Two (2) left turns
  6. Two (2) about turns
  7. Fast pace
  8. Slow pace
  9. Sit and down dog while in motion
  10. Call dog to a heel while in motion
  11. Temperament Test
  12. Put the leash on the dog and perform some of the obedience test or remove the leash to perform some of the obedience test.

Temperament Test:

  1. Temperament test may be included with the above.
  2. Handler will walk with canine at a heel within 8-10 feet of the Master Trainer
  3. Or the Master Trainer will approach the canine team at a normal pace from the front, stopping at a distance of 8-10 feet from the canine team.
  4. The canine team will then walk at an angle away from the Master Trainer.
  5. At no time will the Master Trainer attempt to touch the handler or the canine.

DOGS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

“COMMITTED TO THE WORKING DOG TEAM”

ARTICLE SEARCH

This certification is designed to test the police work dogs’ ability and proficiency in searching a designated area for articles having human scent on them. This would represent a search for discarded evidence or lost items.

Search Area:

  1. The area to be searched will be determined by the Master Trainer.
  2. Master Trainers will observe the certification from outside the search area.

Search Articles:

The Article search phase of this certification will consist of the following:

  1. Four (4) articles of different composition (metal, wood, paper, etc.) will be thrown at random into the search area.
  2. To successfully test for certification, the canine team cannot miss more than one (1) article.
  3. The team to be tested will not view this being done.
  4. One (1) article will be of metal composition.
  5. Only Firearm Detection Dogs or Explosive Dogs will be allowed to search for ammunition or guns recently fired or loaded.
  6. The articles to be used will be selected from, but not limited to, the following list:
  7. Plastic credit card
  8. Wood or plastic handle screwdriver (4"-6")
  9. Paper match book
  10. Shotgun Shell
  11. Empty metal hand gun
  12. Leather Wallet
  13. Articles are to be selected by the Master Trainer according to availability.

Time and Area:

The size of the area the search takes place in and the time allowed for the search will be at the discretion of the Master Trainer.

DOGS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

“COMMITTED TO THE WORKING DOG TEAM”

TRACKING TEST

This certification is designed to determine if the police work dog is capable of locatingan unknown subject in an unfamiliar area and is intended to be closely simulative of working situations.

Decoys:

  1. The decoy will be unknown to the dog when possible.
  2. If possible, the certification should be set up in the area or location similar to a working environment.
  3. The testing area will be out of view of the handler.
  4. The decoy should choose a direction with a path a fleeing suspect would choose to avoid being followed.
  5. The decoy will receive instructions from the Master Trainer for the method and direction for the search.
  6. Before the search, the Master Trainer will decide if the canine team will have a decoy or a scent article from the decoy at the end of the track.
  7. Decoy will be hidden in a safe manor, in a place of concealment, as to which the canine can or cannot make contact.
  8. During certification, no toys will be used as a find or final find for the canine team.

Track:

  1. The handler and dog will be secluded from view of the decoy, while decoy is setting up the search problem.
  2. When the certification begins the Master Trainer will inform the handler of the approximate area to begin.
  3. The handler may or may not be told in which direction the decoy fled, but will be told the area to search.
  4. There may be one (1) fresh cross track laid at least fifteen (15) minutes after the original track is laid.
  5. The cross track will be laid by a second person to test the dogs scent discrimination.
  6. It is recommended the search should be laid in the type of environment the canine team works in, if possible.
  7. The length of the search shall be determined by the Master Trainer and have at least two (2) types of surfaces which are covered:
  8. Dirt
  9. Grass
  10. Concrete
  11. Asphalt
  12. Woods
  13. The age of the search will be at the Master Trainers discretion prior to beginning the test.

DOGS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

“COMMITTED TO THE WORKING DOG TEAM”

BUILDING SEARCH TEST

This certification is designed to determine if the police work dog is capable of a building search for an unknown subject in an unfamiliar area and is intended to be closely simulative of working situations. This test is to determine the handlers’ ability to read his canine partner. Three (3) basic types of buildings are selected and described for use on this test.

Building Types:

The building search test of this certification will consist of the following:

  1. Residential dwellings
  2. Warehouse, armory, barn, open areas within the building
  3. School, hotel, office building, multi-room interior

Decoys:

  1. Will or will not be hidden prior to the certification start.
  2. The decoy will be hidden in a safe manor, in a place of concealment, as to which the canine can or cannot make contact.
  3. Decoy will not wear protective sleeve for non-contact.
  4. Decoy will wear a protective hidden sleeve for contact.
  5. Whenever possible, will be a person unknown to the dog, and not normally used in training with the dog.
  6. Should be brought into the building by way of a different route than that to be used by the dog and handler.
  7. The handler must demonstrate sound tactics during all phases of the test.

DOGS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

“COMMITTED TO THE WORKING DOG TEAM”

APPREHENSION / CONTROL TEST

The aggression control test of this certification will consist of the following:

  1. This certification is to determine if the police work dog is capable of performing exercises encountered by the canine team, under simulated situations, encountered while working.
  2. The certification is designed to certify the dog’s ability, proficiency, courage, and the handler’s total control of his/her dog.
  3. There are two (2) phases of this test.
  4. The canine team will be tested in all phases listed and will be on a pass/fail basis and must be passed before proceeding to the next phase.
  5. All rulings by the Master Trainer are final.
  6. The canine team shall be allowed to use any and all equipment they would normally wear while on duty.
  7. There are options for equipment utilized during the test.
  8. Prior to the certification the Master Trainer must approve of the option utilized and inspect and approve all equipment used by decoy and canine team.
  9. Hidden, concealed protective gear will be worn by the suspect.
  10. This equipment is to be completely concealed by clothing so as to provide no visual cue to the dog as to its existence or location or a visible colored (other than jute color) full protective aggression suit may be used.
  11. In the event of any safety issue raised by the suspect, handler or Master Trainer, the Master Trainer has the discretion to mandate the use of a protective aggression suit described above.
  12. The type of lead used by the handler will be at his/her discretion, but will not be over six (6) feet long. Each phase shall be completed off lead unless specified otherwise.
  13. Whenever possible, the suspect will be unknown to the dog.
  14. The suspects may be other handlers being tested or volunteers, with the approval of the Master Trainer, or in some cases the Master Trainer themselves.
  15. In the phases requiring the dog to physically apprehend the suspect, the dog must fully engage and hold/fight the suspect.
  16. In the phases requiring the dog to stop his pursuit and apprehension of the suspect, the handler may use any command or series of commands to control the dog.
  17. Failure of the dog to release and/or to respond to obedience commands in a timely manner is grounds for failure.
  18. The handler must demonstrate sound tactics during all phases of the test.

The following phases will not have any particular order, Master Trainer will decide order:

Phase 1: Canine Control

  1. The dog will begin this phase from the heel position.
  2. The suspect will begin at a random distance away from the team.
  3. At the direction of the Master Trainer, the suspect will run away from the team in any direction.
  4. The Master Trainer will inform the handler when to send their dog.
  5. The suspect will stop and surrender, terminating the pursuit, when instructed by the Master Trainer.
  6. The type of call off used is at the handler’s discretion, but the Master Trainer must be informed of the type to be used prior to the test. It may be one of the following:
  7. Dog is recalled to the heel position.
  8. Dog is commanded to the down, sit, or stand position and the handler will join their dog or recall the dog to the heel position.
  9. The dog will display reasonable force or detaining behavior.
  10. The importance of this certification is that the suspect is not mouthed, nipped or bitten by the dog regardless of the type of call off used.
  11. Non-aggressive incidental contact made by the dog while attempting to respond to the call off is not faulty.
  12. This phase will be complete when the dog is in the heel position with the handler.

Phase 2: Chase from or Next to a Vehicle/ Canine Courage

  1. The dog and handler in or next to a stationary vehicle will order the suspect approach to them.
  2. When the suspect refuses and after the handler issues the appropriate verbal warnings, the handler will command their dog to apprehend the suspect.
  3. The dog will pursue, apprehend, and hold the suspect.
  4. Upon the handler’s arrival at the location of the dog and suspect, and at the direction of the Master Trainer, the handler will then command the dog to release and call off.
  5. The release or call off can be by either voice or removing the canine by gripping the collar and giving the release command and immediately controlling the canine.
  6. When the canine is shown to be under control by the handler and the suspect has remained still then the suspect will simulate attacking the handler.
  7. The dog will apprehend and hold the suspect.
  8. The Master Trainer will direct the handler to release the dog from the suspect.
  9. The handler will then command the dog to release and call off by either voice or removing the canine by gripping the collar and giving the release command and immediately controlling the canine.
  10. This phase is complete when the dog is shown to under control by handler.

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