The Service Dog Association (SDAssoc.) certification testing is comprised of the following testing component/s:
TEST
|
K-9 TEAM(S)
|
Odor Recognition
|
Tainted Drywall, Natural Gas (non-scented & scented) Mold, Weapons, Termites, Bedbugs |
Burned Matrix
|
Accelerants
|
Room Search
|
Tainted Drywall, Natural Gas (scented)
Explosives, Accelerants, Mold, Narcotics, Termites, Bedbugs
|
Vehicle Search
|
Explosive and Narcotics
|
Luggage Search
|
Explosives, Narcotics and Bedbugs
|
Suspect Line-Up
|
Explosives and Accelerants
|
Detection Rules:
> Finds may be provided by SDAssoc. or the requesting agency.
> Pseudo odors shall not be used for certification tests.
> For narcotics and explosives detection, each find should be less than two years old or authenticated by an approved local, State or Federal lab prior to use in a certification. A purity of 85% or greater is recommended.
> For narcotics and explosives detection, each hide should contain at least one (1) gram of the item to be detected with a maximum of 100 grams for any one test.
> For accelerant detection, any ignitable liquid that is a derivative of raw petroleum may be used. The amount of accelerant used for hides (other than the Burned Matrix test) should be one drop or approximately 5 ul. The following list is a suggestion for use as accelerant hides:
Gasoline – evaporated to 50% of its original volume
Diesel fuel – any grade, on or off road
Kerosene – scented or non-scented – any grade
Fuel Oil/Lamp Oil – any grade (lamp oil may be scented or non-scented)
Cigarette lighter fluid
Charcoal lighter fluid
Other accelerants may be used if approved by the Certified Master Trainer.
> At the discretion of the Certified Master Trainer and if requested by the handler’s agency, other substances may be incorporated into a team’s test procedure.
> For explosives detection, it shall be acceptable to use NESTT, (Non Explosives for Security Training & Testing), available from Ray Allen Inc. or equivalent product. All explosive detection items shall demonstrate the ability to locate the odors of the explosives PETN, RDX, TNT, and the oxidizers, KNO2 (nitrate) and KCLO3 (chlorate). Additional odors may be incorporated into a team's testing if approved by the Certified Master Trainer.
> For natural gas detection, the non-scenter gas used should come from the natural sources in the applicable geographic local. All scented natural gas must of the approved scent added to natural gas in the target geographic area. Other odors may be incorporated into a teams testing if approved by the Certified Master Trainer.
> For (Chinese) tainted drywall, the odor used must be chemically verified (lump sulphur and/or verified (Chinese) tainted drywall. Other oders may be incorporated into a teams testing if approved by the Certified Master Trainer.
> For termite detection testing, any species of termite is acceptable. The termite species that is the most prevalent in the dog's local area may be used, however, it shall be at the sole discretion of the Certified Master Trainer as to which species is used.
> Each hide used for termite detection testing shall contain a minimum of twenty and a maximum of 50 termites and a minimal amount of debris from the termite habitat.
> For bedbug detection, each hide shall contain a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 20 bedbugs at any stage of growth or viable growth.
> For mold detection teams, Mould Works Training Aids pure live species Kits (or comparable product) shall be used for all hides. These containers shall contain mold colonies with visible growth and adequate hydration.
> Scented rewards shall not be used during certification testing.
> For narcotic, explosives, (Chinese) tainted drywall, mold, termite and bedbug detection all finds shall be placed in the search area at least thirty (30) minutes prior to the test.
> For accelerant detection, hides shall be allowed time to dry so that no visible indication of the hide's location is apparent.
> Ideally, all search areas should be swept by the dog(s) to be tested prior to placement of the hides or by another previously certified team to reduce the potential of contamination interference and to randomize dog odor if multiple dogs are to be tested in the same area. It shall be the option of the tested team whether to search an area prior to placement of hides.
> Results of the certification tests shall be recorded as pass or fail rather than judgments of style.
> The maximum time to complete an individual search should be less than five minutes but disqualification due to time should be left to the discretion of the Certified Master Trainer.
> Certification is for the handler and the dog as a team. If the dog changes handlers or the handler is matched with a new dog then a new certification is required.
> A detection team which fails to complete the certification process is allowed to retest within 24 hours. A detection team that fails in its second attempt at certification should wait at least 30 days (and complete additional training) before making another attempt to certify.
> Any complaints or suggestions regarding how the certification was conducted should be sent in writing to the Certified Master Trainer who monitored the test, within two weeks of the completion of the test.
> The person placing the hides for each test shall record on the appropriate Certification Test Form, the location of hides prior to commencement of the test. The Certified Master Trainer monitoring the test shall not observe the placement of hides, nor have any knowledge as to the number or placement of hides or whether any hides are placed.
> The Certified Master Trainer shall make the document listing the location of hides available to the tested handler immediately upon completion of the testing if so requested by the tested handler.
> The person who placed the hides shall not be present in the testing area during the test.
> No persons shall be allowed to offer advice or cues to the tested handler or the tested canine.
> No person other than the Certified Master Trainer and Test Proctor is allowed to communicate in any manner with the tested handler or canine during the testing. If the Certified Master Trainer determines that such communication takes place and that the communication has substantially affected the team's performance the team may be disqualified.
> The Certified Master Trainer shall witness the entire test. At no time shall observers or witnesses be allowed to interfere with the tested team's movements or with the observation or view of the Certified Master Trainer observes the tested team. The tested handler may request that an additional witness observe the test. The handler shall be allowed to choose this additional witness. The chosen witness may not be the same person that placed the hides for the test. It shall be at the sole discretion of the Certified Master Trainer as to how many witnesses, if any, in addition to this one are allowed in the test area during the test.
> In all tests, it is the sole responsibility of the tested handler to ensure that the area(s) or containers on which the canine alerts are correctly communicated to the Certified Master Trainer. It shall be the sole responsibility of the tested handler to determine where and if the tested canine alerts and/or indicates that it has detected a target odor. The tested handler shall be the only person to determine and interpret the tested canine's alert.
> The only record of test results that will be preserved after tabulation of a team's score shall be Pass or Fail. All other documents and records, including photographs, videos or other records pertaining to the testing shall be discarded upon completion of the testing and review process.
> The term "Certified Master Trainer" refers to any individual who has met all experiential and educational requirements set out by and is properly certified by SDAssoc.
> All tests administered by SDAssoc. shall be “double blind”. Double blind means that neither the tested handler nor the Certified Master Trainer nor anyone else observing the test shall have knowledge of where hides are located or if hides are or are not present within the testing area.
> All hides shall be placed by a disinterested party who shall depart the testing area after placement of the hides and shall not return until testing is complete.
> Upon completion (or stopping of the testing procedure by the Certified Master Trainer), the person who placed the hides shall, at the direction of the Certified Master Trainer, return to the testing area and indicate to the Certified Master Trainer where hides, if any were located.
> The person placing the hides for the test shall be a person with a working knowledge of scent detection K-9 handling and training.
> A written record of where hides were placed (or the fact that no hides were placed) for the test shall be made by the person placing the hides. This written record is to be presented to the Certified Master Trainer upon the trainer’s signal that the testing procedure has ended.
> The Certified Master Trainer shall determining how many hides, if any, are to be placed in all tests that incorporate rooms and vehicles.
> A point value for each room or vehicle is calculated by adding together the total number of rooms and vehicles and dividing this number into 100.
> The result of this calculation is the value used in score calculations to represent each room or vehicle.
> If a team correctly identifies a room or vehicle as blank, the percentage assigned to that room is added to the team’s total score.
> If a team fails to correctly identify a room as containing a hide, then the percentage assigned to that room is deducted from the team’s score.
> If a team erroneously identifies a room or vehicle as containing a hide when it does not, then the percentage value assigned to that room or vehicle is deducted from the team’s score for that phase of the test.
> The minimum score required for passing certification testing is 66 and 1/3 points.
|
|