OPCA PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

ADVANCED DOGMASTER CERTIFICATE

The Advanced Dogmaster Certificate is for those DogMaster's that have attained proficiency in various aspect of training the Police Service Dog and have demonstrated that ability. These exercises will be on a pass/fail basis. The Dog and Handler must have passed the Oregon Police Canine Association Performance Standards for Patrol Service Dogs (PSD1) prior to this test. The Advanced DogMaster Certification test will consist of the following five exercises, not necessarily completed in this order:

PATROL SERVICE DOG 2 ( PSD2)


1.TRACKING/TRAILING

The track will have two (2) turns, three (3) legs, and a total of 300 yards long with at least one change in surfaces. The track will have at least a 10-minute delay. The canine must locate the decoy at the end of the track. On this track there will be four articles consisting of a firearm, a leather item, a flashlight and an article of clothing. The canine must indicate on at least two items while tracking, backtracking or conducting an evidence search.

2. BUILDING SEARCH

This test is designed to simulate a working situation. There are three basic types of buildings to select from as described for use in this test. The Judge will accompany the team to observe the entire test, as could happen when a back-up officer or supervisor would accompany the working Dog Team during an actual search. This is a timed test.

a. Building Types

  • Frame house with a minimum of four (4) rooms and 800 square feet.
  • Warehouse, armory, barn -- open areas within the building.
  • School, hotel, office building -- multi-roomed interior.
    b. Time
    The amount of time allowed by the Judge will announce prior to the test start. In the Judge's experience and knowledge, and after surveying the building and its contents and internal structure, will use their best judgment to afford the Dog and Handler sufficient time to search the building thoroughly and completely. The Judge may, if it is practicable, run a practice test with non-testing Dogs to aid in the decision.

    c. Suspects

  • 1) Will be hidden 10 minutes prior to the test start.
  • 2) Will be hidden in a place of concealment, which is not visible to the working Dog and Handler.
  • 3) Will wear a protective sleeve if necessary for protection.
  • 4) Whenever possible, will be a person unknown to the Dog, and not normally used in training with the Dog.
  • 5) In cases of multiple exercises, the suspect will remain hidden in the same location.
  • 6) Should be brought into the building by way of a different route than that to be used by the Dog and Handler.
  • 7) Will be placed in concealment at any height.

    d. Judges

  • 1) Will designate the area of the building to be used for the test.
  • 2) Will designate the area in which the team is to begin their search.
  • 3) Will accompany the team into the building and must be able to observe the test. The Judge should make every effort not to interfere with the test, and should confer with the Handler to reach an agreement so as not to disturb the Dog's work - follow behind, observe from doorways, ladders, etc.
  • 4) When it is obvious to the Judge that the Dog is not searching for the suspect, or when the time has elapsed, the Judge will inform the Handler of the failure for this Test.
  • 5) Must indicate to the Handler the amount of time which is allotted for this test prior to the test start.

    e. Handler

  • 1) This test may be done off leash. Equipment normally used (collars, harness, etc.) may be used for this test.
  • 2) Confer with the Judge prior to the test and agree on how the Judge will observe the test (see Judges rule 3).
  • 3) The Handler will accompany the Dog throughout the test, and may encourage their Dog with commands and praise as needed.
  • 4) In NO case will the Handler open any doors that are closed within the search area. Rooms with open doors should be searched thoroughly.
  • 5) The Dog's indication of the find of the suspect must be obvious to the Judge. If the Dog indicates that the suspect is behind a closed door, the Handler will inform the Judge of their observation.
  • 6) The working dog will NOT bite the suspect during this test.
  • 7) Time stops when the Handler informs the Judge of the suspect's location.

    3. AGILITY TEST

    This test is to determine the ability of the police working Dog to surmount obstacles. This test will be done off lead. The Judge will decide the order of obstacles for each Dog. There will be no set routine. The working Dog must surmount all obstacles successfully. The working Dog will be allowed two (2) attempts to complete each obstacle. Handlers will be allowed to verbally encourage their Dog, but will not physically help the Dog unless physical harm to the Dog is imminent.

    a. Hurdles

  • 1) 36"- 48" high and a minimum of 36" wide.
  • 2) Consisting of four (4)jumps. The Dog must go over all four of the jumps:
  • a) Chain link fence;
  • b) Window jump - opening of 30" by 30";
  • c) Solid wall - brick, cinderblock or wood;
  • d) Car door window - standard car door.

    b. Trestle Walk

  • 1) It shall be three (3) feet off the ground; 12-18 feet long, with 2x4's placed 4" apart.
    The width will be at least 36".
  • 2) The Dog will surmount the trestle by jumping onto it, and walking from one end to the other.
  • 3) The Handler may walk alongside the Dog, but will not touch the Dog except to prevent injury.

    c. Tunnel

  • 1) It shall be 18"- 32" in diameter, and 8-12 feet in length.
  • 2) The tunnel can be made of metal, wood or concrete.
  • 3) The Dog will crawl through the tunnel on the command of the Handler.
  • 4) If the Dog backs out, it is a miss. The Dog will be given two (2) attempts at completion.
    Diagrams:See addendum

    4. ARTICLE SEARCH

    a. Area
  • 1) The area to be searched will be approximately 60x60 feet
  • 2) It will be covered by heavy vegetation no less than 6" high.
  • 3) One or more subjects crossing through the area, at least once with a Dog, will contaminate the search area prior to the test.

    b. Articles

  • 1) Three (3) articles of different composition will be thrown at random into the search area. The team to be tested will not view this being done.
  • 2) One article will be of metal composition.
  • 3) The articles to be used will be selected from the following list:
  • a) Plastic credit card
  • b) Paper match book
  • c) Shotgun shell
  • d) Leather wallet
  • e) 4-6' screwdriver
  • f) Crumpled cigarette package
  • g) Metal handgun
  • h) Empty pop can
  • 4) Articles are to be selected by the Judge according to availability.

    c. Search
    There will be a 5-minute time limit for this test. A warning will be given when 30 seconds remain. Time will start when the Handler sends the Dog out to search from any point around the perimeter of the search area. The Dog, on clearly indicating or finding a search article, may be encouraged to retrieve it. Preferably, Handlers will elect to recover it themselves. The Handler may enter the search area and direct the search as would be in an actual situation. After each indication and recovery, the Handler will command the Dog to continue the search. The Dog will be judged on the alert and indication to the search article. This must be obvious to the Judge. The Dog must find two out of three articles to pass this test.

    5. APPREHENSION AND CONTROL

    This test is to determine if the police working Dog is capable of performing attack exercises encountered by the police Handler and Dog under simulated situations encountered while working. This test is designed to test the Dog's ability, proficiency and courage, and the Handler's total control of the Dog. There are four (4) parts to this test. Each part is on a pass/fail basis. A hidden, concealed attack sleeve, covered with a shirt or jacket will be used by the suspect for all attack phases. Guns and ammunition will be .38 caliber and will be checked by the Judge prior to testing. No " friending " of the Dog to the suspect will be done when the test includes gunfire. These tests may be done in any order or combination. Suspects will wear the protective sleeve described. Whenever possible, the suspect will be unknown to the Dog. The suspects may be other Handlers being tested, volunteers with the approval of the Judge or, in some eases, the Judges themselves.

    a. Attack on Handler

  • I) The Dog will begin from the heel position without any physical control by the Handler.
  • 2) The suspect will show aggression towards the team while moving toward the team.
  • 3) The Dog will attack and hold, upon command; release and return to the Handler, upon command.

    b. Short Chase with Gunfire

  • 1) The Dog will begin the test from the heel position without any physical control by the Handler.
  • 2) The suspect, at any distance of at least 20 yards from the team, will run away in any direction up to a distance of 50 yards.
  • 3) The Dog will be sent to attack upon the Judge's direction.
  • 4) The suspect will fire six (6) shots from a .38 caliber blank gun in the Dog's direction; the last shot will be fired before the Dog gets within five (5) yards of the suspect.
  • 5) The Dog will apprehend and hold the suspect
  • 6) The Handler will run to the area of the apprehension and, at the Judge's direction, the Dog will be commanded to release and return to the Handler in the heel position. A maximum of two (2) out commands will be permitted.

    c. Chase Suspect from Vehicle with Crowd Conditions

  • 1) The Dog and Handler in a moving patrol vehicle will approach the suspect, simulating a routine patrol stop.
  • 2) The suspect will flee in a direction away from the patrol vehicle.
  • 3) The Dog will on command, chase the suspect through a group of non-aggressive people, apprehend and hold the suspect. (The group is to consist of a minimum of two (2) people who may or may not wish to move away from the path of the fleeing suspect.) The Dog will apprehend the suspect without threatening or harming any of the crowd.
  • 4) At the direction of the Judge, the Handler will command the Dog to release, and return to the heel position. A maximum of two (2) out commands will be permitted. The suspect will be escorted to the patrol vehicle by the team to complete this test.

  • NOTE: There will be no agitation of the Dog by the suspect or the Handler prior to the exiting of the vehicle.

    d. False Start

  • 1) The Dog will be in the heel position without any physical control by the Handler and commanded to "stay" to begin this test.
  • 2) One or more suspects will flee in any direction away from the Team, starting at a distance of about 10 yards, with no aggressive movements.
  • 3) The Dog will remain at the heel position and show no aggression towards the suspect(s).

    Certificates ( PSD2) for Advanced DogMaster's are valid for the existence of the team.


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