SEMINARS
Our name describes what we do....K9 Search & Rescue Specialists, Inc. All of our seminars are designed specifically for the search, rescue and recovery professional and their K9 partners. The following are a list of seminars we provide. We can customize all training to specifically meet your needs. CANINE GOOD CITIZEN As evaluators for the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen, we offer the CGC testing and certification to all K9 teams. For details of the testing requirements, please refer to AKC - CGC Program TEAM ASSESSMENT A team assessment provides the baseline and foundation of assessing a team's capabilities. It also provides an outline on the next steps to advance the team to the next level. These can be conducted on an individual basis, or during a weekend training seminar. Some of the areas evaluated include the following: Equipment, Physical Condition, Interest / Motivation, Aptitude / Skill, Patience / Perseverance, Compatibility, Bond, Respect, Teamwork, etc. TRACKING / TRAILING SEMINAR Length: 2 Days Course: Hands-on field training for 2 days based upon “real world” searches in a positive, flexible and fun training format. The course is limited to 6 DOG TEAMS and 4 OBSERVERS to ensure all participants receive extensive hands-on instruction. This seminar covers the following topics: (1) Tracking for the real world and how to train for it; (2) What incident command expects from a K9 team; (3) Incorporating K9 resources with other resources; (4) How to increase your success rate with your K9 partner; (5) Equipment that is a must for K9 teams; (6) Utilizing a map/compass during a search; (7) Why mantracking skills are important; (8) Physical conditioning of the dog and handler; (9) How to successfully track without a scent article; (10) How to use scent articles when they are available; (11) How to “trust” your dog; (12) Training to build confidence in you and your dog; (13) How to train for 90-degree turns and develop solid turn skills; (14) Understanding scent and how your dog works scent; (15) Using lost person behavior to search for missing persons and (16) Obedience skills that a must for a tracking dog. A demonstration of a fully trained tracking dog will be provided to participants to illustrate all of the components of a trained tracking dog. CADAVER / HUMAN REMAINS DETECTION SEMINAR (LAND ONLY) Length: 2 Days Course: Hands-on field training for 2 days to cover human remains detection work with a K9 partner. The course is limited to 8 DOG TEAMS and 6 OBSERVERS to ensure all participants receive extensive hands-on instruction. This seminar will cover the following topics and be focused on human remains detection on land: (1) How to imprint HR scent with your dog; (2) How to develop a solid, dependable and consistent alert; (3) How to read your dog’s behavior when detecting HR scent; (4) Training an independent, confident K9 partner to work with you; (5) How to handle HR material is a safe manner; (6) What negatives a dog should be trained for; (7) Crime scene preservation; (8) Equipment that is a must for K9 teams; (9) Physical conditioning of the dog and handler; and (10) Obedience skills that a must for a HRD dog. A demonstration of a fully trained HRD dog will be provided to participants to illustrate all of the components of a HRD dog. AGILITY Length: Incorporated with other courses and/or based upon interest and needs Course: Our agility course is comprehensive and has all of the required elements for the following associations: Federal Emergency Management Agency USAR Teams (FEMA-USAR); National Association of Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA), International Association of Police Work Dog Association (IPWDA); United States Police Dog Association (USPDA) MAP AND COMPASS COURSE Length: 8 Hours Course: The map/compass course will encompass the fundamentals of land navigational techniques. This is a hands-on course with extensive field work (4-5 miles hiking). Instruction and techniques are based upon real world experiences and searches. These include (1) how to use and understand a compass, (2) interpreting terrain features on a map and in the real world, (3) how to determine where you are, and how to get from one location to another, (4) how to get back “home” and (5) providing search managers clear, concise and accurate information on areas searched. It will also cover the primary colors and symbols on a map and parts of a compass. It will illustrate how to use a compass without a map or vice versus. The course is ideal for beginners as well as fresher for experienced land navigators. AWARENESS LEVEL WILDERNESS SEARCH AND RESCUE COURSE Length: 2 Days Course: This is an award winning program which received the 2002 Outstanding Innovative Program for Adult Education in the State of Georgia. The Awareness Level course teaches basic search and rescue training, knowledge and skills about wilderness search and rescue. This course outlines what search and rescue is and how each element of SAR works. It will address the general rules of SAR, what equipment is considered a “must” on a search, and the fundamentals of physical fitness. Additional topics discussed will include legal considerations, responding to a search, how to use a map and compass, and what to do if you become lost. Class format will include lecture, hands-on field training for map and compass work, and a live SAR dog demonstration. Approximate total field training distance is 2 miles. Prerequisite: None. Who Should Attend: Individuals interested in learning basic SAR field training, knowledge and skills, including professionals whose work may include SAR. It is also recommended for individuals interested in pursuing SAR dog activities and response. OPERATIONS LEVEL WILDERNESS SEARCH AND RESCUE COURSE Length: 2 Days (includes night operations) Course: This is an award winning program which received the 2002 Outstanding Innovative Program for Adult Education in the State of Georgia. The Operations Level course prepares the individual for “real world” missing person events that occur in a wilderness environment. The participant will utilize the knowledge and skills previously acquired in the Awareness Level SAR course. This course will outline lost person behavior, interviewing techniques, and basic medical care. Additional topics include mantracking and clue orientation, interfacing resources and search tactics, radio communications and helicopter considerations. Class format will involve extensive hands-on training and field work that will encompass map and compass skills, man tracking, and a “real world” lost person search. Approximate total field training distance is 6-8 miles. Perquisite: All participants must have successfully completed the Awareness Level Wilderness Search and Rescue course. Participants must have a “24 hour pack” with all equipment and search gear. Individuals should also be in good physical condition. Who Should Attend: Individuals interested in acquiring operational level knowledge and skills to prepare for a missing person event in a wilderness environment. It is recommended for professionals whose work may include SAR and individuals interested in assisting authorities in a lost person incident. MANAGEMENT LEVEL WILDERNESS SEARCH AND RESCUE COURSE Length: 2 Days Course: This course will focus on the management of a lost person incident and test the participant’s mental and management abilities. Topics discussed will include a SAR vulnerability assessment, SAR statistics, SAR management and resources, briefing and debriefing, tactical actions, investigation, organizing an incident, determining search urgency, establishing the search area, concerns on fatigue and external influences such as media, family members, etc. The first day will involve lecture and hands-on search management scenarios. The second day will consist of a intensive and realistic “mock” search that will encompass everything students have learned in the three wilderness SAR courses. Perquisite: Students must have successfully completed the Awareness and Operations level SAR courses OR have at least two years of search and rescue experience, including excellent map and compass skills. Who Should Attend: Individuals interested in acquiring management level knowledge and skills to organize and manage a missing person event in a wilderness or urban environment. It is recommended for professionals whose work may include SAR and individuals interested in assisting authorities in a lost person incident. |