Certification -Bloodhound

The American Working Dog Council (AWDC) acknowledges that Federal and many State Appellate Courts permit K-9 tracking or Bloodhound testimony as evidence.  These courts have established proper foundational requirements needed to qualify and testify as a K-9 handler. Within the guidelines established by case law, certification or evaluations are not required, as long as logs pertaining to the dog’s training are maintained. 
 
AWDC, also, understands that some agencies in the private and public sector feel more confident in deploying K-9s who that have demonstrated ability to a proficiency standard with handlers whose knowledge has been validated.   AWDC strives to provide a performance based standard against which the k-9 and handler’s performance and expertise levels can be validated. As an outside agency those evaluations administered by AWDC are intended to assist the deploying agency some level of confidence in the true ability level of the K-9 and the handler. 

HANDLER EVALUATION

The handler evaluation will consist of an oral examination which will be administered by the AWDC.  The test shall be administered by one senior evaluator and at least one but not more than two experienced handlers. All answers by the examinee shall be recorded and kept on file for a period of…….  Once having passed the test the handler need not re test for a period of……

The K-9 shall be reevaluated each year for the purposes of certification endorsement by AWDC.

AWDC recognizes that the Bloodhound’s ability to scent discriminate in a variety of conditions and solve a variety of scent problems follows a learning curve.  AWDC recognizes that this curve is continuous but for the purposes of certification those tracking/trailing behaviors shall be categorized into levels.  

• LEVEL 3 - Wilderness/ Rural
  • The track must be completed in the time it takes the target to lay the track.
    • 1 - 1 ½ mile unknown track (through varied terrain)
    • 60 minutes old (time starts when target is in place)
    • 2 road crossings (gravel, dirt, logging road, etc..)
    • 4 right angle turns
    • 1 cross track that is more recent then the track
    • 4 target related articles (articles will be within 5' of either side of the track and can be clothes, shoes, pack, or anything a person might carry with them)
    • 1 dead-end with a backtrack (backtrack will be a maximum of 50')

Testing area can include light distractions such as but not limited to; another handler/dog team, animals, deer trails, squirrels, rabbits, etc. Track can go through or across shallow streams, puddles, or around the inside edge of a pond. Obstacles may also be present in the testing area. Such obstacles may include but are not limited to; fences, both field fence or barbed wire, chain link and rock or brick walls, deep drainage's, cliffs, etc. These obstacles are things a handler/dog team might find on an actual search .Handler must be able to recognize when the dog is actually working the correct track and must be able to recognize when the dog loses the track (gives a negative).

• LEVEL 2 - Suburban
  • The track must be completed in the time it takes the target to lay the track.
    • ½ - 1 mile unknown track (through an industrial area on the edge of a town)
    • 30 minutes old (time starts when target is in place)
    • 1 major road crossing (gravel, paved, etc.)
    • 1 cross track that is more recent then the track
    • 1 target related article (articles will be within 5' of either side of the track and can be clothes, shoes, pack, or anything a person might carry with them)

Testing area can include distractions such as but not limited to; another handler/dog team, animals, vehicles, heavy machinery, other loose dogs, cats, bystanders, etc. Track can go through or across shallow streams, puddles, or around the inside edge of a pond. Obstacles may also be present in the testing area. Such obstacles may include but are not limited to; fences, both field fence or barbed, chain link, and rock or brick walls, etc. These obstacles are things a handler/dog team might find on an actual search in a suburban area.

Handler must be able to recognize when the dog is actually working the correct track and must be able to recognize when the dog loses the track (gives a negative).

• LEVEL 1 - Urban
  • The track must be completed in the time it takes the target to lay the track. Testing can be done in either daylight or dark conditions.
    • ½ - 1 mile unknown track (in a residential, high traffic area in town)
    • 30 minutes old (time starts when target is in place)
    • 2 major road crossing (gravel, paved, etc.)
    • 1 cross track that is more recent then the track
    • 3 right angle turns
    • 2 blocks of alleys
    • 1 target related article in the alley (articles will be within 5' of either side of the track and can be clothes, shoes, pack, or anything a person might carry with them)
    • Track will have a minimum of 50' laid on a hard surface such as asphalt, gravel road, sidewalk, etc.

Testing area can include distractions such as but not limited to; another handler/dog team, animals, vehicles, heavy machinery, other loose dogs, cats, bystanders, etc. Track can go through or across shallow streams, puddles. Track will also include some areas of short grass. Obstacles may also be present in the testing area. Such obstacles may include, but are not limited to; fences, both field fence or barbed wire, chain link, and rock or brick walls, etc. These obstacles are things a handler/dog team might find on an actual search in a city.

Handler must be able to recognize when the dog is actually working the correct track and must be able to recognize when the dog loses the track (gives a negative).