Training & Standards

Building Types

• Residential dwelling, warehouse, barn, open garage/shop area, office building, school, hotel/motel etc.
• Building will be approximately 1000-1500 square feet.
• There will be a time limit of 10 min.

Decoy

• Will be hidden for a minimum of 10 minutes prior to the test.
• Will be in a safe hide with no bite equipment
• The test will be off-lead with the dog wearing only on-duty equipment. The  deployment will simulate an actual scenario utilizing tactics. The handler will act in compliance to their department’s policy regarding announcements.
• The dog’s indication of the decoys location must be obvious.
• The test ends when the handler calls the location of the decoy and takes control of the dog.

• There will be two (2) Certifying Officials present for the certification.
• Area to be used will be at the discretion of the certifying official.
• Dog will wear only on duty equipment.
• Additional substances will be placed away from the primary search area, and a time limit of five minutes.
• All finds will be planted a minimum of 30 minutes prior to testing.
• Certifying officials may terminate certification at any time.
• Certifying officials must be notified of any protest at the conclusion of the certification. If the protest cannot be resolved it must be put in writing and submitted to the chairman of the standards committee within 48 hrs. for resolution.
• If the team fails certification, the team must wait 1 day before attempting to certify again.

• The K-9 team will heel at different directions and at all time remaining under control at the handlers side.
• The test consists of the following exercises with the dog off lead.
• The dog will heel on a course with a minimum of two left turns, two right turns and two about faces (one being a finish). The team will walk three legs with a turn at the end of each leg. Each leg will be a minimum of 20 yards in length. At the halfway point on the final leg, the dog will be commanded to a sit, stand or down in motion or with the handler at a stop. The handler will then continue to the end of the leg, turn and face the dog. At the direction of the certifying official, the handler will call the dog to a finish position.
• The test will be judged Pass/Fail.
• A passing score will be the dog staying under control at the handler’s side and performing the sit stand or down without breaking. A minimal amount of forging or  lagging will not be considered a failure.

• The handler will hold the dog at the starting position designated by the certifying official.
• The decoy will appear at a distance of approximately 10-15 yards. The handler will issue two announcements. After the first announcement, the decoy will begin jogging away from the team.
• Following the second announcement, the handler will deploy the dog. The dog will pursue and engage the decoy by biting and attempt to subdue.

The handler will remove the dog from the bite in any of the following ways:

1. VERBAL OUT – The handler must remain 10 feet from the decoy and give the dog their release command. The handler can give the command up to 4 times. The dog must release, and not re-bite to pass. The handler has 45 seconds from the time the dog is sent for the bite until they release the bite to pass the exercise.
2. TACTICAL VERBAL OUT – The handler must remain behind cover, command the dog to release while using their e-collar. The dog must release, not re-bite, and return to  the handler behind cover to pass. The handler has 30 seconds from the time the dog is sent for the bite until they return to the handler to pass the exercise. No excessive correction will be allowed.
3. TACTICAL LIFT OFF – Once the dog is on the bite the handler and at least one cover officer will approach the decoy. Once the cover officer has simulated handcuffing the decoy the handler will lift the dog off the bite. The handler has 30 seconds from the time the dog is sent for the bite until they liftoff to pass the exercise.

The Recall will begin with the K9 Team at the start line. The handler may hold the canine at the start line until the canine is released for the apprehension. The decoy will be  concealed forty-five (45) yards away from the start line. When the handler makes an
announcement the decoy will appear and face the K9 Team.

The handler will send the canine for apprehension. The recall of the canine will occur after the canine crosses the fifteen yard marker, the handler will:

• Command the canine to stop the pursuit and return to handler.
• Or the handler will command the canine to stop (sit, down or stand) and remain at that point. The handler can then move to the canine’s position.
• Or the handler will command the canine to pursue the decoy and go to a guard position (sit, down, stand).
• Aggressive contact with the decoy will be considered a failure.
• Non-aggressive incidental contact is acceptable.

****This phase must be passed to continue with certification****

• This exercise will consist of a track not less than 200 yards and no more than 400 yards.
• The track will begin from an article or vehicle. The track layer will begin walking at a normal pace and stride. The track will contain two turns between 45 and 90 degrees. The track will terminate at an article.
• Surface for the track will be: grass, weeds, dirt, gravel or a combination of all.
• The track will be aged a minimum of twenty minutes and not more than an hour.
• There will be no evidence articles between the starting and ending points.
• It will be the responsibility of the K-9 team to determine direction of travel.
• The only direction eliminated will be the path taken by the team to arrive at the starting point.
• It must be obvious to the certifying officials that the team is on the track and successfully completes the track.