Search and Rescue Dream Team Certification
After training with Mira (22 months old BS Malinois) for about a year building up separate behaviors, we decided to join in the SaR training camp that took place in Athens and lasted 3 months under the supervision of Mr. Borut Modic.
On 27, 28 and 29 of November 2020 we had the certification exams for the first 3 levels, and we successfully completed all of them.
The certification exams were as following:
Certificate for suitability (DT-S) Area search
Suitability (DT-S)
- The dog handlers has set up a good communication with his dog
- Dog handler has control over his dog
- The dog shows basic obedience, which is the basis for successful search work
- The dog shows no aggression towards other dogs or humans, or the dog handlers can take immediate control in a possible conflict
- The dog shows the will to search, uses his nose and indicates the person found
The verification is carried out with the following exercises:
o Alerting exercise
o Search for one person, area 10.000 m2
o Revir to an "empty" area
Certificate for Operational competence - Basic (DT-OP-1) Area search
2 day searches - Minimum 4 victims
Area searches are performed in the sector (35.000 m2, half an hour time) and on the path (max 1.500 m, half an hour time, victims are placed 3-5m from the path)
Skills to be checked:
- Basic tactics (terrain, weather, capabilities of dog and dog handler), cooperation between dog and dog handler / working as a team, intensity and perseverance of the dog, alerting. Area is visibly marked or has nature boundaries, no GPS use required
- First aid basics human certificate (external test)
- Basic veterinary first aid (agreed with local veterinarians on content, training and verification)
Certificate for Operational competence - Advanced (DT-OP-2) Area search
4 searches (3 day searches, 1 night search)
Minimum 8 victims
- Additionally to DT-OP-1, the area search in sector (55.000 – 70.000 m2 depending on a difficulty of the terrain, one hour time) during the day and night path search (max 3.000 m, one hour time, victims 3-5m from the path) are checked.
- Skills to be checked: tactics (terrain, weather, capabilities of dog and dog handler),
- cooperation between dog and dog handler / working as a team, intensity and perseverance of the dog, alerting, orientation and use of GPS with basic map reading
- Mandatory use of GPS, sector and path are not visibly marked
- First aid basics human certificate (external test)
- Basic veterinary first aid (agreed with local veterinarians on content, training and verification)
- Usage of GPS (optional – can be tested independently or during the search)
More info and links:
Borut Modic (IRO and Slovenian USAR team)
