SAR 2

THE SAR CANINE INDUSTRY STANDARD:

The canine industry standard is what the dog team will be held to. This industry standard is usually determined by national K-9 associations, such as NASAR (National Association for Search and Rescue) and NAPWDA (North American Police Work Dog Association).

It may also be determined by actual SAR dog associations, such as WOOF (Wilderness Finders), CARDA (California Rescue Dog Association), etc. These smaller associations must at least meet the minimum standards are imposed by the national associations.

The standard may also be determined by a state agency, such as POST (Peace Officers Standards and Training). As an example, the State of Utah POST has a state SAR dog standard. The standard may also be determined by another state agency, such as OES (Office of Emergency Services). The state of California has also released their state SAR dog standard through OES.

There has been recent talk about establishing a national “best practice standard” for all working canines. The Scientific Working Group on Dog and Orthogonal Detector Guidelines (SWGDOG) was recently formed to address this task.

The Scientific Working Group on Dog and Orthogonal Detector Guidelines (SWGDOG) is a forum aimed at addressing the broadly expressed need to improve the performance, reliability, and courtroom defensibility of detector dog teams. It is also charged with recommending best approaches to the use of detector dogs in conjunction with electronic detection devices, or so-called orthogonal detectors. Modeled after the successful precedent of a variety of other scientific working groups, SWGDOG aims to develop internationally recognized consensus-based best practice guidelines developed by a membership of respected scientists, practitioners, and policy makers representing diverse backgrounds within the detection community.
SWGDOG guidelines will be made available to the public via the SWGDOG website at www.swgdog.org. SWGDOG is funded by the National Institute of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Transportation Security Administration.

SWGDOG Subcommittees
• Unification of terminology
• Protocols and documentation for minimum training, certification, and maintenance standards (Substances, scent)
• Selection of serviceable dogs and replacement systems
• Kenneling, keeping, and health care
• Selection and training of handlers and instructors
• Procedures on presenting evidence in court
• Research and technology
• Substance detector dogs (Agriculture, Arson, Chem. / Bio., Drugs, Explosives, Human Remains, other / misc.
• Scent dogs (Scent Identification, Search and Rescue, Trailing Dogs, Tracking Dogs)

The initial phase of SWGDOG will last two years, beginning mid-year 2005. Draft best practices guidelines emanating from each of the subcommittees will be available for public comment on the SWGDOG website by and large during 2006 at various points, with final, publicly-vetted guidelines from the initial phase posted by no later than mid-2007, and perhaps earlier.

The Three Legality Principles of Police Working Dogs

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