Transcript Canine Search Specialist Training

National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Canine Search Specialist Training
Unit 1:
Canine Selection
and Screening
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Unit Objective
Upon completion of this unit, students will
be able to describe the components of
canine selection
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Enabling Objectives
 Explain why there is a need for a
standardized screening process
 Identify the pros and cons of choosing a
puppy versus a young adult
 Describe the characteristics of a
qualified disaster canine candidate
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Introduction—Canine Selection and
Screening
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Purpose
 Select a canine
candidate
 Which will train to CE
level in least amount of
time
 With highest likelihood
of success
 That can do the job on
deployments
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Rationale for Standardized Selection
Process
 Improves Certification Evaluation success
rate
 Reduces training time
 Is able to be repeated by multiple screeners
 Gives objective basis for selecting or
rejecting a canine candidate
 Aids in maintaining a viable canine element at
all times
 Provides a means to support a canine-intraining prior to certification
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Puppy Versus Young Adult
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Puppy—Pros
 More options on breed,
sex of dog
 Control of early training
 Early exposure to US&R
environment
 Socialization
 Drive and reward
building
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Puppy—Cons
 Low prediction of success based on
puppy tests
 Intensive training delayed until puppy is
6 to 12 months old
 Will take longer to train
 Physical and temperamental problems
may develop when puppy matures
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Young Adult—Pros
 What you see, is
what you get
 High prediction of
success
 Reduced training
time
 Can screen for
physical problems
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Young Adult—Cons
 Dog must be at least 12 months old
 Limited selection of qualified dogs
 Unknown early socialization and
exposure
 May not have access to dog’s genetic
history (pedigree) if wanting to breed
dog
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Puppy Selection
 Should be based on success and
quality of both parents
 Should be based on success and
quality of previous same parent litters
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Breed Selection
 Working breeds
statistically more
successful
 Labrador Retrievers
 German Shepherds
 Golden Retrievers
 Border Collies
 Belgian Malinois
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Standardized screening
will select best candidate of
any breed or mixed breed dog
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Screening and Selection
Process
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Screening Process
 Dog is at least 12 months old
 In good physical condition
 Performed in an unfamiliar area
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Selection Process Components
 Sociability
 Drive
 Nerve strength
 Physical screening
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Sociability
 Comfort around dogs and people
 Critical for dog’s ability to cope with the
pressures of deployment
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Sociability Test
 1 minute tie out with handler out of
sight
 Person with dog walk by
 Stranger retrieves dog
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Select canines that
 Attempt to greet or
ignore stranger and
canine
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Drive
 Innate impulse that
prompts a canine
into action
 The more
instinctive, the more
reliable
 Desire for the
reward
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Measuring Drive
 Independent possession
 Play drive
 Hunt drive
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Toy Possession and Play Drive Test
 Initially plays with handler and familiar toy
 Plays with unfamiliar person with favorite toy
 One minute observation of dog with toy
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Independent Possession Test
 Determine level of internal motivation
for reward article
 Handler plays with dog on flat ground
 Once dog is engaged with toy, ignore
the dog for 1 minute
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Select canine that
 Plays vigorously
with toys, guards or
carries
 Maintains focus on
toys
 Presents toy to play
or self-plays with
toy
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Play Drive
 Performed on rubble
 Handler plays with dog using familiar
toy
 Hands dog off to stranger
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Select canine that
 Engages with stranger
 Plays enthusiastically
 Never loses interest in toy or play
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Hunt Drive Test
 Assesses dog’s
willingness to search
for non-visible toy
 Performed on easy to
moderate rubble (FSA
level)
 Dog is allowed 15
minutes to acclimate to
rubble prior to test
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Hunt Drive Test
(continued)
 Handler holds dog at base of rubble
while helper throws toy on rubble
 Process is repeated and dog is released
after varying delay times, from no delay
to 1 minute
 Start point is relocated at least one time
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Select canine that
 Runs up on and navigates rubble with little or
no hesitation
 Hunts out of sight of handler for at least
1 minute on at least one hunt test
 Will run directly on rubble from any start
point
 Maintains focus on search
 Holds toy until returns to handler
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Nerve Strength
Emotional stability in
uncomfortable and
unfamiliar environment
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Incorporated into Play and Hunt Tests
 Willingness to traverse different
surfaces
 Comfort in moving across a moderate
rubble environment
 Will retrieve toy from a hole or
depression
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Select canines that
 Enter the rubble by the most direct
route and without delay
 Hunt for toy at a fast pace
 Show little or no hesitation on surface
changes
 Search until locates toy or times out (1
minute)
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Select canines that (con’t)
 Retrieve toy and carries back to handler
 Stay in search area and maintains focus
on search
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Physical Screening
 Screen for
 Hips
 Elbows
 Other breed specific issues (such as
cataracts in Labradors)
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Other Screening Considerations
 Trainability of dog
 Focus on handler
 Makes eye contact
 Reacts to handler
commands
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Specific Screening Tool
 FEMA US&R Proposed Process for
Screening Canine Candidates
 Available on Disasterdog website
(www.disasterdog.org)
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Components
 Measures
 Drive
 Nerve strength
 Sociability
 Defines
 Specific scoring criteria
 Pass/fail limits
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Other Testing Considerations
 Train screeners to common definitions
 Screen in same location with same
props
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Quick Field Screening
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Quick Field Screening
 Advantages
 Performed on-site
 Determines if canine is worth additional time
 Tests
 Repeated retrieves
 Hunt in grass, debris or under objects (vehicles)
 Elevated plank (park bench)
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Good screening eliminates the
mediocre dog
 Always re-fixing the
same problems
 Trainers are working
harder than the dog
 Does not want to do
the job
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We have NO RIGHT
to train a dog unsuitable
for the disaster environment!
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They may have
another idea
about their job!
“A Friend in Need” by
Cassius M. Coolidge
circa 1870
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Screening does not guarantee success!
It selects canine candidates
most likely to succeed in the
least amount of time with a
regimented training program
and dedicated handler
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Field Demonstration
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Unit Summary and Evaluation
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
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Unit Summary
 Explain why there is a need for a
standardized screening process
 Identify the pros and cons of choosing a
puppy versus a young adult
 Describe the characteristics of a
qualified disaster canine candidate
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Unit Evaluation
Please fill out the evaluation form for this
unit
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