1. Canine Search Specialist Training
Unit 1:
Selection and Screening

2. Unit Objective
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to describe the components of canine selection

3. Enabling Objectives
Explain why there is a need for a standardized screening process
Identify the pros and cons of choosing a puppy versus a young adult
Identify successful canine breeds

4. Enabling Objectives (continued)
Explain the screening process and criteria
Describe the characteristics of a qualified disaster canine candidate
Describe the quick screening process

5. Introduction—Selection and Screening

6. Purpose Select a canine candidate
Which will train to CE level in least amount of time
With highest likelihood of success

7. Rationale for Standardized Selection Process
Improves Certification Evaluation success rate
Reduces training time
Is able to be repeated by multiple screeners
Gives objective basis for selecting or rejecting a canine candidate
Aids in maintaining a viable canine element at all times

8. Puppy Versus Young Adult

9. Puppy—Pros More options on breed, sex of dog Control of early training
Early exposure to US&R environment
Socialization
Drive and reward building

10. Puppy—Cons Low prediction of success based on puppy tests
Intensive training delayed until puppy is 6 to 12 months old
Will take longer to train
Physical and temperamental problems may develop when puppy matures

11. Young Adult—Pros What you see, is what you get
High prediction of success
Reduced training time
Can screen for physical problems

12. Young Adult—Cons Dog must be at least 12 months old
Limited selection of qualified dogs
Unknown early socialization and exposure
May not have access to dog’s genetic history (pedigree) if wanting to breed dog

13. Puppy Selection Base on success and quality of both parents
Base on success and quality of previous same parent litters

14. Breed Selection Working breeds statistically more successful
Labrador Retrievers
German Shepherds
Golden Retrievers
Border Collies
Belgian Malinois

15. Standardized screening will select best candidate of any breed or mixed breed dog

16. Screening and Selection Process

17. Screening Process Dog is at least 12 months old
In good physical condition
Performed in an unfamiliar area

18. Selection Process Components
Drive
Nerve strength
Sociability
Physical screening

19. Drive Innate impulse that prompts a canine into action
The more instinctive, the more reliable
Desire for the reward

20. Measuring Drive
Play drive and toy possession
Prey drive
Hunt drive

21. Play Drive and Toy Possession Test
Play with any reward and with any person
Initially plays with handler and familiar toy
Plays with handler with unfamiliar toys
Plays with unfamiliar person with favorite and unknown toys
One minute observation of dog with toy

22. Select canine that Plays vigorously with toys Maintains focus on toys
Presents toy to play or self-plays with toy

23. Prey Drive Test Assesses desire to pursue and capture prey
Repeated ‘retrieve’, toy is thrown 10 times
Dog is released after toy stops moving
Dog must hold toy until return to handler
May be lured back to handler

24. Select canine that Runs to toy
Carries toy or returns with toy to handler
Stays focused on toy, not distracted by environment
Maintains or increases enthusiasm with each throw

25. Hunt Drive Test
Assesses dog’s willingness to search for non-visible toy
Performed on easy to moderate rubble (FSA level)
Dog is allowed 15 minutes to acclimate to rubble prior to test

26. Hunt Drive Test (continued)
Handler holds dog at base of rubble while helper throws toy on rubble
Process is repeated and dog is released after varying delay times, from no delay to 1 minute
Start point is relocated at least one time

27. Select canine that
Runs up on and navigates rubble with little or no hesitation
Hunts out of sight of handler for at least minute on at least one hunt test
Will run directly on rubble from any start point
Maintains focus on search
Holds toy until returns to handler

28. Nerve Strength
Emotional stability in uncomfortable and unfamiliar environment

29. Surface Sensitivity
Unstable
Rough
Slick

30. Height Sensitivity Elevated 12 inch wide platform No center support
Stable

31. Confined Space
Dark
Lighted

32. Sound Sensitivity
Tools
Pounding/banging

33. Nerve Strength Test Helper works dog with handler nearby
Each test is performed twice to measure recovery and reaction

34. Select canines that Demonstrate no anxiety on each element
May show some mild anxiety on first experience but recover and show none on second pass

35. Sociability Comfort around dogs and people
Critical for dog’s ability to cope with the pressures of deployment
“A Friend in Need” by Cassius M. Coolidge circa 1870

36. Sociability Test Around people Around dogs
1 minute tie out with person walking by
Stranger retrieves dog
Around dogs
Person and handler walks by

37. Select canines that
Attempt to greet or ignore stranger and canine

38. Physical Screening Screen for Hips Elbows
Other breed specific issues (such as cataracts in Labradors)

39. Other Screening Considerations
Trainability of dog
Focus on handler
Makes eye contact
Reacts to handler commands

40. Specific Screening Tool
Disaster Canine Qualification Screening
Developed by D. Brownell, M. Marsolais, and P. Kaynaroglu
Successfully used by many federal and state US&R teams
Available on Disasterdog website (

41. Components Measures Defines Drive Nerve strength Sociability
Specific scoring criteria
Pass/fail limits

42. Sample scoring criteria

43. Necessary Modifications to Set-up and Scoring
Hunt test is on rubble
Scores are weighted
Higher criteria for selection as Disaster Canine Candidate. Must meet
90% of Drive
80% of Nerve Strength
80% of Sociability

44. Weighted Score Sheet

45. Other Testing Considerations
Train screeners to common definitions
Screen in same location with same props

46. Quick Field Screening

47. Quick Field Screening Advantages Tests Performed on-site
Determines if canine is worth additional time
Tests
Repeated retrieves
Hunt in grass, debris or under objects (vehicles)
Elevated plank (park bench)

48. Good screening eliminates the mediocre dog
Always re-fixing the same problems
Trainers are working harder than the dog
Does not want to do the job

49. We have NO RIGHT to train a dog unsuitable for the disaster environment!

50. Screening does not guarantee success!
It selects canine candidates most likely to succeed in the least amount of time with a regimented training program and dedicated handler

51. Field Demonstration

52. Unit Summary and Evaluation

53. Unit Summary
Explain why there is a need for a standardized screening process
Identify the pros and cons of choosing a puppy versus a young adult
Identify successful canine breeds

54. Unit Summary (continued)
Explain the screening process and criteria
Describe the characteristics of a qualified disaster canine candidate
Describe the quick screening process

55. Unit Evaluation
Please fill out the evaluation form for this unit