NATIONAL SEARCH DOG ALLIANCE

The objective of the Avalanche Test is to simulate a real world K-9 incident with the human contamination one might expect to find when responding to an avalanche. The dog and handler team will be evaluated on their abilities to perform as an effective avalanche K-9 team and on their ability to successfully find avalanche victims.

The canine search and rescue team must be capable of searching a house/building where the case begins, identifying the vehicle that transported the victim, and searching the wooded area where the victim was placed.

The Water Recovery Team Field Qualification Test demonstrates the ability of a water recovery canine team (handler and canine) to locate victims of drowning related incidents such that recovery resources can be employed in the area of indication with a high degree of probability. Recovery of the victim will be successful based upon information provided by the canine team.

The purpose of the Wilderness Trailing Test is to evaluate the Handler/K-9 team’s ability to correctly follow a trail and locate the missing person. The objective is to simulate a real world incident with the typical human contamination found at a search scene.

The Backtrack standard has been developed by NSDA to assist the U.S. Border Patrol. It is helpful for law enforcement, fish and game, evidence searches and any related use where the subject’s trail must be followed back to its source in order to locate additional items or people. We recommend that a handler have their canine well-founded in forward trailing techniques and obedience before pursuing this standard.

NSDA provides mentorship to give teams the opportunity to have someone they can trust to offer assistance in team matters, training issues and search dilemmas.

This test has been promulgated by the NSDA to assess handler/canine team’s ability to locate human remains or live subjects in natural and man-made disasters. It will also assess the canine’s ability to maneuver and search in various types of rubble and debris.

Assistance to law enforcement in locating firearms, cartridges, or miscellaneous items, fired or unfired, with gun powder or oil residue.

Search dog teams are often deployed into the field not knowing if they are looking for a live person or deceased. This certification is to prove that one team can locate both.