Southern Maryland Search & Rescue Dogs, Inc.

Southern Maryland Search & Rescue Dogs, Inc.

PO Box 667 Hollywood MD USA 20636-0667

Search Testing

Section I: Becoming Operational (K-9 Test)

Before any canine and handler becomes operational, they must pass a series of tests with their canine and individually.

Obedience: The team must perform the following tests off lead.

The canine/handler team must perform the following commands while heeling through a group of people milling around.

Right Turn: 90 degree turn to the handler's right.
Left Turn: 90 degree turn to the handler's left.
About Turn: 180 degree turn
Change of pace: Normal to fast, back to normal, and slow to normal
Halt: Canine must sit or stand next to the handler
Stay while away from Handler: The handler will send their canine out into a search pattern. When the handler is instructed to, he/she will have the canine stay or drop until the evaluator tells the canine to search again. The canine can not return to the handler or the canine/handler team will fail this section.
Long Down Stay: The handler will place the canine in a down-stay at least 5 feet away from any other canines.
Upon the direction of the evaluator, the handler will leave his/her canine and walk at least 15 feet way from the canine.
The canine will have to stay in place for no longer than five (5) minutes. The canine can go from a down to a sitting position as long as he does not move more than one (1) dog's length from his/her original spot.
The handler can not give the canine any additional commands.
If the canine leaves the spot he was placed in, then the canine-handler team fails the section.
The handler has the option to go out of site of the canine during this section if he/she wishes.
Transport: The canine must be willing to enter a vehicle with his/her handler containing at least 2 other dogs. They will then be transported for 5 to 10 minutes on a regular road and bumpy road. The dog must not struggle or show aggression toward the other dogs or people.
Animal/Human: The canine, while on lead, must allow any team member to move it a distance of 50 feet while the handler is out of sight. The canine must not show aggression or undue apprehension.
Animal/Animal: The handler will heel his/her canine on lead in a figure 8 around 2 other dogs that are in a sitting position next to their handlers. The canine can not show any signs of aggression or the canine/handler team fails this section.

Section II: Wilderness Test

The canine/handler team will have to search a 40 acre area and locate one (1) victim.
The canine/handler team will have 2 hours to complete the task.
The canine will have to complete a re-find or do a bark and stay with the victim.
The re-find method will be told to the evaluators prior to starting the test.
The bark and stay: The canine will have to bark at the victim until the handler arrives and the canine cannot be prompted by the victim.
The victim must remain stationary during the test and somewhat concealed.
The victim will be placed in the search area at least 30 minutes prior to the test beginning.
The handler will have to create a search plan for the area.
The handlers SAR Pack must be checked.
The handler must be appropriately dressed for the search.

Section III: Handler Skills and Test

The handler will have to be certified in Advanced First Aid or Higher.
The handler will have to pass the SMSARD Operational written test, with a score of 70%; (100 questions, 90 from Search and Rescue Fundamentals by: Donald Cooper, Patrick LaValla, and Robert Stoffel, and 10 from the SMSARD) or complete the Fundamentals of Search & Rescue course, or be a Search & Rescue Technician level I, II, III, through NASAR.
The handler will have to be certified in CPR.
The handler will have to have his/her SAR Pack checked and be in compliance with the National Association of Search & Rescue guidelines.

Section IV: Cadaver Test - Land

The team will be given 5 areas to search. The test will include the following:

Buried problems
Above ground problems
Hanging problems
Negative area

The hides will be placed at least 1 hour before the test, 2 of the hides will be 24 to 48 hours old.
The canine/handler team will have 15 minutes to do each problem.

Section V: Cadaver Test - Water

The team will be given 3 environments to search from:

From shore
From pier
From boat
Negative problem

The hides will be placed at least 1 hour prior to running the test.
The canine will have to give a noticeable alert (barking, pawing at the water, etc.).
After the canine completes the test, the handler will have to show the evaluator the area that the canine indicated. To pass each station the team must be within a 30 foot radius of the source. Some consideration will be given depending on the weather.

Section VI: Test Procedures

The canine and handler will be evaluated by 2 persons.
The team will have to pass Section I, Section II and Section III to be considered Operational with SMSARD.
Each station will be PASS or FAIL on the Evaluation form.
If the handler only wants his canine to be a cadaver dog, the team must pass Section I, Section III, Section IV and Section V.
In the event that the team fails any part of the test, the team can retest on the same day one (1) time. If they fail that part again, then the canine/handler team will have to retrain for at least two (2) weeks before being eligible to test again. If the team fails the 3rd time, then they will have to retrain for one (1) month and take the complete test again.