Courses

All Courses are POST credit hours along with Recertifications and Proficiency Training

Basic Narcotic Handler Course

This 160 hour course is for basic handler (narcotic) K-9 training. The course includes classroom and field work covering buildings, vehicles, open areas and other environments.

This course includes instruction in:

Safety Procedures
Maintenance and Sanitation Requirements
Maintaining Your Working Dog
Basic First Aid Procedures
Principles of Conditioning
Obedience
Search Patterns and Techniques
Record Keeping
Legal Issues

Basic certification requirements are a minimum of 20 training aids (marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates) hidden in different environments. Amounts vary from 1gm to x lbs. Certification requirements are 85% in three different areas: Handler Performance Skill, Training Aid Location, and a Written Exam.

No more than 10% of responses can be incorrect during certification or failure will result.

At least 2 articles to test for accurate odor discrimination will be placed.

At least 20 minutes of blank search time will be required (unknown) with no incorrect responses occurring.

If you fail a retest can be attempted no sooner than 30 days from last date of attempt.

Qualified officers will receive a Handler Certification and a TEAM certification good for period of 1 year.

Basic Explosive Handler Course

This 160 hour course (1-2 students), 200 hour course (3 or more), is for basic handler (explosive) K-9 training. The course includes classroom and field work covering buildings, vehicles, open areas, luggage, and other environments.

This course includes instruction in:

Safety Procedures
Maintenance and Sanitation Requirements
Maintaining Your Working Dog
Basic First Aid Procedures
Principles of Conditioning
Obedience
Search Patterns and Techniques
Explosive Materials
Safe Explosive Handling
Explosive Scene Management
Record Keeping

Basic certification requirements are a minimum of 32 training aids (TNT, PETN, N.G., RDX, NITRO CELLULOSE, NITRATES) hidden in different environments. Amounts vary from 1gm to x lbs.

Certification requirements are 90% in two different areas: handler performance skill and training aid location.

85% on the written exam.

No more than 10% of responses can be incorrect during certification or failure will result.

At least 5 articles to test for accurate odor discrimination will be placed.

At least 20 minutes of blank search time will be required (unknown) with no incorrect responses occurring.

Retest can be attempted no sooner than 30 days from last date of attempt.

Qualified officers will receive a handler certification and a TEAM certification.

Advanced Narcotic Handler Course

This 40 hour block of instruction will cover the following topics:

Socialization patterns of the canine
Obedience: maintenance and applications to detection work
Introduction to electronic training devices
Proper record keeping
Advanced canine emergency first aid
Identify / track team deficiencies
Planning training to address and correct team deficiencies
Basic Training aid placement and problem solving
Introduction to narcotic canine, buried narcotic detection
Introduction to conveyor belt training
Latent extinction and spontaneous recovery process

All persons will obtain a certificate and POST credit hours for this course. There is no test involved.

NOTE: Class will not run unless 3 or more are interested.

Advance Explosive Handler Course

This 40 hour block of instruction will cover these topics:

Socialization patterns of the canine
Obedience: maintenance and applications to detection work
Introduction to electronic training devices
Introduction to E.O.D. functions and capabilities
Advanced canine emergency first aid (licensed veterinarian)
Proper record keeping and tracking team deficiencies
Planning training to address and correct deficiencies
Basic training aid placement and problem solving (identify and diagnose, students will set up and supervise training sessions)
Introduction to explosive canine - weapons detection
Introduction to explosive canine - buried explosives
Introduction to aircraft bomb threats (odor work)
VIP and sterility sweeps
Booby trap course (awareness level)
NOTE: Must have least 3 or more students to run this class.

All persons will obtain a certificate and POST credit hours for this class. There is no test involved.

Patrol / Dual Purpose

This course is 2 weeks (80 hours) long. If going through the Dual Purpose Course it will be 6 weeks or 240 hours. This class is to ensure the dog and handler are familiar with the application of Patrol Work. This course covers Obedience and Criminal Apprehension.

OBEDIENCE

K-9 ability to walk at the heel follow
K-9 walk without impeding handler movement to right-left-and about turns
K-9 ability to sit-down-and recall on command ( verbal / hand signal )
K-9 must demonstrate the ability to be placed in down position, handler then departs to a place approximate 20 to 30 feet, K-9 must hold down position for a minimum of 3 minutes.

CRIMINAL APPREHENSION

During this phase the handler will not know if the suspect is going to surrender or not. The handler must make a decision based on information he / she perceives during the encounter. This may occur from a vehicle bailout, buildings, or open area searches. There will be two day and night situations for each of these areas. The K-9 teams will also be evaluated in the following areas:

Stand off / recall: the team must successfully complete 80% of the attempted recalls.
Release of bite or grip: the dog must release on command 80% of all engagements.
Gun Fire: the dog shall not be gun shy.
Handler Protection: the dog must demonstrate the ability to remain in the down position while handler engages in a pat down of suspect. Suspect attacks on handler shall be random.
K-9 must locate hidden suspect: suspect will be hidden in 50 yards of open area.

Supervisor Course

The main objective of this course is to exchange information regarding techniques to be successful in managing a police service dog unit. Department adminstrators and supervisors must first address important issues that are unique to the functions of this specialized unit. The course is designed into a 24 hour block of classroom and practical instruction, which address the following topics:

Planning and preparing the need for police service dog.
Organization and management of K-9 Unit.
Selection of police service dog and handler.
Training issues including handler and dog, minimum criteria for training, maintenance training/re-certification, package and storage of training aids, recordkeeping and record analysis, and practical exercise.