AWDTO Certification Testing Rules
American Working Dog Testing Organization
CERTIFICATION RULES
The following rules have been adopted by the AMERICAN
WORKING DOG TESTING ORGANIZATION for testing and
certification purposes. The tests are designed to determine the
proficiency of the working dog and handler team for certification.
Each test is based on a pass/fail and A/B evaluation.
Team:
A Team will consist of a handler (person trained to handle/work a
dog), and a Canine (dog trained for scent detection). Together
the two make up a Team. Only the handler and Canine that
passed AMERICAN WORKING DOG TESTING
ORGANIZATION Certification Standards together may claim
themselves as an AWDTO certified Team. If at any time the
handler and canine separate, they are no longer AWDTO
Certified.
NOTE: AMERICAN WORKING DOG TESTING
ORGANIZATION, ONLY CERTIFIES TEAMS. Handlers may
test and certify on more than one canine and canines may be
certified under more then one handler.
Eligibility to Certify:
1. Scent Detection Canine Teams wishing to be tested and
certified under these rules and by this Organization must be
regular current members of this organization in good
standing.
2. Dogs must have received training to detect the scent for
which the team is certifying. Dual scent trained dogs (example
Narcotics and Explosives) will not be certified under AWDTO
Standards.
3. The Handler, or Team being represented cannot have had
a previous certification and/or membership revoked, for any
reason. They also cannot have had a previous finding of guilty
involving misconduct or violation of AWDTO Bylaws/Certification
Rules
Correction of Canine:
No overly harsh or inappropriate physical corrections by the
handler to the dog will be permitted. At the Evaluators discretion,
any such behavior will be grounds for a failure of certification.
Evaluators:
AWDTO Qualified Evaluators will act as Judges for these tests.
All evaluations require a senior Evaluator. Certification requires
three (3) AWDTO Evaluators present throughout the
test. One of the three (3) Evaluators will be assigned as the
Chief Evaluator. The Chief Evaluator will be assigned in one of
the following two ways, if one of the three (3) Evaluators have
been involved in the training of the Handler or Canine they MAY
NOT be the Chief Evaluator, if the previous circumstances do not
exists the Most Senior Evaluator will conduct the certification as
the Chief Evaluator.
The Certification / Canine Chairperson (from board of directors)
will be contacted immediately for complications or nonclarified
judgments during a certification; they will collect all necessary
information, and make a final about the ruling within fifteen (15)
days of the certification.
Evaluators should make every effort not to interfere with or
distract the team certifying. The Evaluators will observe and
grade the Canine during certification for:
1) Willingness, enjoyment
2) Interest
3) Speed
4) Accuracy
Handlers will be observed and graded for:
1) Ability to work and design a pattern
2) Ability to read the dog
3) Ability to motivate canine
4) Overall control of his/her canine
Certification Validity:
Upon successfully passing the certification the team will be
issued a certificate, and identification card, stating the team is
AWDTO certified to detect the specific scent/s for which they
tested for and passed, the handlers name, and the canine/s they
tested with. The certification will be valid for two (2) years from
the date of issue.
An AWDTO certification of a Regular member Canine team will
ONLY BE VALID when the Canine team is being utilized for the
scent which they certified under.
***NOTE*** Under NO circumstances will a AWDTO canine team
certification be valid when the team is being utilized for ANY and
ALL SCENT DETECTION PURPOSES OR BEING USED IN A
MANNER INCONSISTENT WITH THE RULES, BYLAWS, AND
CODE OF ETHICS OF THE ASSOCIATION.
Prohibited Equipment:
At no time during any of the offered certification tests will sticks,
whips of any type, or pinch collars, be used on the Canines
.
Fees:
Fees and expenses associated with travel will be required. Fees
associated with travel for evaluators will be covered to include,
expenses of travel, lodging, rental car, administrative, etc.
required by evaluators, per evaluator. If travelling by vehicle the
evaluators will be reimbursed at the current Government rate per
mile and per evaluator if required. Per diem will be charged at
$55.00 per evaluator, per day. Mode of travel, and travel
arrangements, no matter the distance, is at the discretion of the
evaluators.
Evaluators are also allotted to receive compensation for their
participation in certification events. Compensation will be based
on the evaluators experience, number of certifications performed
at the event, and time duration required for the event.
Scoring and Appeals:
All of the scent tests are scored on a A/B/fail basis. A work dog
team that fails may reapply for testing at the next and most
convenient date that is after thirty (30) days from their last test
failure. Any work dog team that fails a test and feels that they
have been judged unfairly, will, at the time of the test notify the
Chief Evaluator of his/her intent to appeal. The tested team
handler will then file a complete report of his/her observations
and the reasons they feel they were judged unfairly. The
Evaluators having been notified of the appeal will file a report of
their observations, all testing sheets and basis for failing the
team. All reports will be filed within fifteen (15) days of
the certification test date to the Certification / Canine
Chairperson. The decision of the Certification / Canine
Chairperson will be final. Findings of the Certification / Canine
Chairperson will be forwarded to the Executive Board who will in
turn forward the findings to the tested team's handler and
Evaluators.
If during the time period that a certification is issued, the Canine
team re-tests in the same scent previously certified in AND
FAILS, then the initial certificate in that scent which was issued
will become NULL AND VOID. Further, a letter to this effect will
be sent to the canine team and their employing company if
applicable, including the recommendation that they be re-tested
after (30) days of this notification.
During the time of failure and until the team retests and passes,
the team, it's employer, or any associates there-of will not
present the canine team as certified or endorsed in any manner
by AWDTO.
SCENT TEST STANDARDS
Evaluators will accompany the team to observe the entire test.
ACCEPTABLE STRUCTURE TYPES: (WILL VARY BY SCENT)
1. Residential dwellings.
2. Warehouses and office buildings; including Schools,
hotels, and motels.
3. Man made and natural debris Piles
4. Cars, Busses, and Vans
5. Wooded, overgrown, and other naturally occurring areas
HIDES:
1. Set in place at least thirty (30) minutes prior to the start
of a certification.
2. Hidden in a place of concealment which is not visible to
the dog or handler.
3. Canine must alert at source.
4. Pseudo scents are not allowed for use in any
certification.
5. 2 distractors may or may not be put out at each
certification but will be consistent across the scent class.
The Chief Evaluator will decide what distractors will be
used.
6. Will be provided by AWDTO and are defined specifically
for each test.
7. Must meet all standards set forth by AWDTO and
approval of the evaluators or the evaluation will not be
conducted.
EVALUATORS:
1. Will clearly designate the search area 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 structure and must be
able to observe the test.
4. Will keep track of time restraints making remaining time
balance available to handlers anytime that they request.
HANDLER:
1. Tests may be done off lead. Equipment normally used,
collars, harness, etc., may be used.
2. The handler will accompany the dog throughout the test,
and may encourage his/her dog with commands, praise
and rewards as needed.
3. The dog's indication must be stated to the evaluator
prior to the beginning of the test and must be obvious to the
evaluator.
***The safety of the detection dog will be the sole responsibility
of the handler***
All tests given to the canine team will be on an A/B/Fail basis.
The Chief Evaluator will determine if the team will be certified
upon the completion of the test and what class of certification the
team will receive. The handler and dog will be considered as a
team and it is the team who will be certified. If the dog changes
handlers, a new team exists and the team will need to be
certified. Handlers can certify with multiple dogs and dogs with
multiple handlers.
This certification will be valid for two (2) year from the date of
issue as defined in Certification Validity paragraph.
AMERICAN WORKING DOG TESTING ORGANIZATION
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
It is the Evaluators decision on the quantity each of the hides will
contain, as long as he or she remains within the minimum and
maximum amounts set in the certification standards.
SECTION 1. ALERTS
Each Handler is responsible for notifying the Evaluators of the
type of alert (aggressive or passive), the Evaluators can expect.
There will be only one (1) negative response allowed and
it cannot be on a placed distracter which constitutes an
automatic failure. Although a negative
response is allowed the handler must call the correct live hides
to certify.
SECTION 2. TIME
A time limit of 20 minutes shall be placed on each small scale
certifying search and 45 minutes on large scale certifying
searches. The time limit will be set, The Handler certifying will
be given a go command on the start of the certification test,
he/she will then be given time checks at 15, 10, 5, and 1 minutes
remaining by one of the evaluators. The handler can request a
time remaining answer at anytime during the test if requested.
SECTION 3. SEARCH AREA
The Handler and the Canine will start at a point determined by
the Evaluators. The boundaries of the search area will be
described and clearly marked before the beginning of the
certification. Each certifications class will have its own defined
SEARCH AREA criteria that will be described in the specific
classes testing procedures.
SECTION 4. FAILURE OF CERTIFICATION
There will be a thirty (30) day waiting period before attempting to
certify again, unless circumstances at the time of the certification
has been determined by the Evaluators to warrant another
attempt. Within that thirty (30) day period the team cannot
represent themselves as AWDTO Certified.
SECTION 5. CERTIFYING OFFICIALS
Only AWDTO Certified Evaluators may certify a canine team. A
Certification Team will consist of three evaluators with the Most
Senior Evaluator being the Chief Evaluator, unless the Most
Senior Evaluator has been involved with training of the dog
and/or handler being certified. All decisions made by the Chief
Evaluator at the certification are final.
SECTION 8. QUALIFICATION OF A CANINE TEAM TO
CERTIFY
The handler must be certifying the dog they will be working for
scent detection. The handler must also be a member in good
standing when attempting to certify in scent detection.
SECTION 9. CERTIFICATION ISSUANCE BY AWDTO
UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE
CERTIFICATION, A CERTIFICATE AND IDENTIFICATION
CARD WILL BE ISSUED TO THE PASSING TEAM. THE
CERTIFICATE AND I.D. CARD WILL STATE THE
SCENT/SCENTS THE TEAM IS CERTIFIED TO FIND. Ex.
"Marijuana Scent, Cocaine Scent, Heroin Scent, etc." THE
SEARCH AREAS PASSED. THE LEVEL GRADE OF THE
TEAM Ex. “A or B”. THE NAME OF THE HANDLER/CANINE
TEAM AND A PHOTOGRAPH OF BOTH THE HANDLER AND
CANINE. IN NO CASE SHALL THE CERTIFIED TEAM STATE
IN ANY FORM/FASHION THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO
FIND ANY SCENT, OR SEARCH AN AREA THAT DOES NOT
APPEAR ON THE CERTIFICATE. AN AWDTO
CERTIFICATION IS VALID FOR TWO YEARS FROM THE
DATE OF ISSUE OR TWO YEARS FROM THE LAST
CERTIFYING SCENT. AWDTO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO
REFUSE OR RETRACT A CERTIFICATION AT ANY TIME FOR
ANY JUSTIFIED REASON FROM THE EXECUTIVE BOARD,
CERTIFICATION / CANINE CHAIRPERSON, OR
EVALUATORS.
NARCOTIC SCENT DETECTION CERTIFICATION
MARIJUANA RESIDENTIAL
There will be 2-3 hides for a residential search. All hides will be
completely concealed from the view of the handler and canine.
Evaluators will be aware of the hide locations prior to the start of
the certification.
If there are three hide 1 miss will be allowed
If there are two hides no misses will be permitted
Search Area will consist of a minimum of 3 (three) room with a
minimum total square footage of 400 square feet but not to
exceed 1000 square feet.
Minimum Marijuana Quantity per hide 1g
Maximun Marijuana Quantity per hide 5g
Maximum Marijuana Per Certification 12.5g
Minimum Hide Setup Duration 30 minutes
Maximum Hide Setup Duration 2 hours
MARIJUANA COMMERCIAL
There will be 1 hide for a Commercial search. The hide will be
completely concealed from the view of the handler and canine.
Evaluators will be aware of the hide location prior to the start of
the certification.
No misses will be allowed
Search Area will consist of a minimum total square footage of
50000 square feet but not to exceed 10,000 square feet.
Minimum Marijuana Quantity per hide 25g
Maximun Marijuana Quantity per hide 50g
Minimum Hide Setup Duration 1 hour
Maximum Hide Setup Duration 2 hours
MARIJUANA AUTOMOBILE and PEOPLE
There will be one hide, on one person in a line (non-walking) of
15 people. The dog is the pattern the people anyway the
handler dictates and indicate (Non-Aggressive) to the individual
with the narcotic.
Minimum Marijuana Quantity per hide 1g
Maximu5 Marijuana Quantity per hide 5g
Minimum Hide Setup Duration 10 min
Maximum Hide Setup Duration 1 hour
COCAINE RESIDENTIAL
COCAINE COMMERCIAL
COCAINE AUTOMOBILE and PEOPLE
HEROINE RESIDENTIAL
HEROINE COMMERCIAL
COCAINE AUTOMOBILE and PEOPLE
ECT.....
EXPLOSIVES SCENT DETECTION CERTIFICATION
BLACK POWDER RESIDENTIAL
BLACK POWER COMMERCIAL
BLACK POWDER PEOPLE and AUTOMOBILE
ECT.
SEARCH and RESCUE
Rubble
LARGE AREA
EVALUATOR
AWDTO Evaluators are appointed by the Certification / Canine
Chairperson. To become an Evaluator you must complete the
application form, pass a background check, provide a resume
outlining your experience and be voted on by the AWDTO board.
Please forward all requested documents to the AWDTO
Business Manager. The Business Manager will ensure the
application is completely filled out including the background
check application, and that the resume is attached. Then the
packet is forwarded to the Certification /Canine Chairperson.
You will be required to provide information to the Certification /
Canine Chairperson, at their request, to verify your application.
Upon approval from the Certification / Canine Chairperson you
will be required to apprentice THREE (3) evaluations with SIX (6)
separate AWDTO Evaluators, and have an overall apprentice
judging forms fall within range of the other evaluators, before
becoming a AWDTO Evaluator. AWDTO Evaluators are
expected to hold the highest moral and ethical standards
providing a fair and unbiased evaluation.
NOTE: All incomplete applications will be returned to the sender.
AN AWDTO EVALUATOR STATUS MAY BE REVOKED AT
ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON.
TRAINER
A Trainer for AWDTO must be a Regular Member in good
standing, for a minimum of three (3) years to apply. They must
have a minimum five (5) years experience training in the area of
their training certification (Example Narcotics, Explosives,
Search and Rescue, Ect.). The Trainer cannot have any
founded complaints or convictions under law for cruelty or
inappropriate treatment of animals of any kind. The trainer is
required to fill out an application, a background request form and
provide a resume noting their training experience to the Business
Manager of AWDTO. The Business Manager will ensure the
application is completely filled out and the background check
form and resume are attached then forward the packet to the
Certification / Canine Chairperson. You will be required to
provide information to the Certification / Canine Chairperson at
their request to verify your application. Upon approval from the
Certification / Canine Chairperson you will be notified by the
Executive Board of your Accredited Status.
All incomplete applications will be returned to the sender