Canine Search Specialist Training

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Canine Search Specialist Training
Module 11 Program Update and Certification
Process
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Unit Objective

• Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to
  describe the current DHS/FEMA Canine Search
  Specialist Certification Process

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Enabling Objectives

• Describe how the current canine program evolved
• Describe the current Canine Search Specialist
  Certification Process

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Development of the Canine
Program
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Development of the Canine Program

• Canine subcommittee formed in early 1990s
• Mission Statement The mission of the DHS/FEMA
  Canine Subcommittee is to assist Task Forces in
  the acquisition, training, certification and
  maintenance of certified disaster search canine
  teams as resources for the National USR Response
  System.

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Past

• Evolutiondrew from wilderness groups
• Canine Program left largely to its own devices
• Volunteers structured and built the program
• Post OKCFunding, Standards
• 2003Change in Program Officecanine system
  restructured with funding and support

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Present

• Subcommittee composed of 6 members (two from each
  Region, one is an elected chair)
• Rotate membership every three years
• Subcommittee charged with developing, revising,
  updating and interpreting Certification Process

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1-1-06

• One certification (former advanced test)
• All Type II teams expired end of 2008
• As of 1-1-08, all deployed teams have been tested
  on multiple piles, multiple victims and
  distractions

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Training, Assessment, and Certification
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Training

• CSST course
• Certification Preparation
• Training Workshops

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Evaluator Program

• Shadow Process (current moratorium)
• Conference calls
• Rotation Roster

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Certification

• Mentoring
• CSST
• FSA
• Cert Prep
• CE
• Recertification

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Certification Evaluations

• Current Certification Process allows for funded
  Tests and Cert Preps
• Spread evenly across the country
• Scheduled annually about 6 months in advance
• Numbers of certifications continue to increase

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FSA

• Aggression
• Obedience
• Bark alert
• Agility
• Directionals
• Rubble search

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Aggression test
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Obedience
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Bark Alert (raised to 6 barks minimum)
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Directability
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Agility
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Rubble
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Certification Evaluation 2007

• Two Pileslimited access/full access
• 4-6 victims0-4 on full access, at least 1 on
  limited access
• One miss allowed
• Distractionsany/both piles
• No false alerts
• 20 minute search time

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Questions?
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Unit Summary and Evaluation
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Unit Summary

• Describe the development of the Canine Search
  Specialist Certification Process
• Describe the current process

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Unit Evaluation

• Please fill out the evaluation on this unit