CanineAndSkillsAssessment

CASATheCASAisthefirstoftwoevaluationsofferedbySDONAtodetermineiftheteam(handler/dog)iscapableofoperatingunderactualfieldconditions.TheCASAwillbegradedonapointsystem.Thepointsystemprovidestothehandler/trainerthoseskillswhichneedfurthertrainingandwhichskillshavebeenlearned.TheCASAmustbesuccessfullycompletedinordertoapplyfortheSDONAOperationalReadinessTest(ORT).ThephilosophyofSDONAis:Onlywelltrained,preparedandtestedK9teams(handler+K9)shouldbedeployed.Theseteamsshouldalsocontinuouslymaintainandgrowtheirskills.Theunderlyingprinciplesofthisphilosophyare:

- Thedogmustsearchintenselyandwithenduranceforthetargetscent.

- NODIFFICULTYwilldistractthedogfromsearchingincludingruggedterrain,distractingscents,otherteams,noise,etc.

- ThedogmustrecognizetheTargetOdor(TO),differentiatingitfromallotherpossibleodorsandmustindicateitslocationtoitshandlerwithaclearTrainedFinalResponse(TFR).

SDONAbelievesthattestingshouldbedoneintwostages.ThefirststageistheCanineandSkillsAssessment(CASA)inwhichallthebasicskills,temperamentandabilitiesofthedogareevaluated.SDONAevaluatestheperformanceofthedogandhandlertoensurethatallskillsandabilitiesaresufficientfortheoperationaltesting-OperationalReadinessTest(ORT)

Summary:

1. CASAtesting–ensuresthattheskillsneededforthetaskaretrained2. Handlerskills,educationandknowledge–allskillsneededbyhandlerssuch

asnavigation,searchstrategy,victimcharacteristics,equipment,etc.3. OperationalReadinessTest(ORT)–36–40hourtestadministeredover2

dayssimulatinganactualmission.

Terminology:SDONAusestheacceptedterminologyoftheScientificWorkingGrouponDogandOrthogonaldetectorGuidelines(SWGDOG),documentSC1www.swgdog.fiu.edu

GroundRules•Notrainingaids(balls,food,toys,etc.),exceptwherespecified.•Atoyrewardisallowedontherubbleandthebarkalert.•Nocollarsorsearchvestonagilityorrubblesearchexercises.•Muzzlesarenotpermittedinanyphaseoftheevaluationprocess.•Noshortlead,trafficlead,trainingtaborotherweightedobjectmaybeattachedtothecollaratanytime.•Noprong,chokeorelectroniccollars.•Nopracticeonanyelementbeforethetest.•Thehandlermustmaintaincontrolofthecanine.•Abuse(e.g.,physical,mental,verbal,etc.)ofthecanineisnotacceptableatanytime.•Thehandlerisresponsibleforthecareandsafetyofthecanineatalltimes.•Safetyprocedureswillbefollowed.Thefollowingsafetygearisrequiredfortherubblesite:helmet,gloves,longpants,longsleeveshirt,eyeprotection,safetytoe,steelshanksafetybootsandkneeprotection.•Aggressionwillnotbetoleratedatanytime.•Alltestingteamsmaycompleteallfiveelementsiftimeallowsunlessexcusedbyconsensusoftheevaluatorsforreasonsofaggression,lackofsafetyorcontrol,injury,athandlerrequestorforfailingtwoormoreofthefirstfourelements.Allexerciseswillbeexplainedtoeachhandlerbythejudges.Eachhandlershallfollowalldirectionsofthejudge.Alldecisionsbythejudgesarefinal.Noexerciseiscompleteduntilthejudgeindicatessuch.

CASATestsfor:

AreaSearch

HRDsearch

DisasterSearch

CadasterSearch

Disaster1stResponderSearch

Thereare6ElementscomprisingtheCASA.TheCASAisdesignedtotestthesuitability(geneticandtemperament)oftheK9,theirtrainingandtheirskills:

1. Temperament–assessedtheentiretest,includingwhenthedogisnotworking.

2. TrainedFinalResponse(TFR)3. Agility4. Directionals5. Obedience6. Search

Elements1through5areidenticalforallsearchtypesexceptthatelement2(TFRtesting)isuniqueforeachsearchdogspecialty.

1. Temperament–iftheK9isdeterminedtobeshy,nervous,oraggressive,thejudgehastheoptiontostopthetestingforthatdogatanytimeduringthetestandexcusefromfurthertesting.

2. TrainedFinalResponse(TFR)–dogsmustbeabletoclearlyandunmistakedlyindicatetothehandlerthattheyhavelocatedasubject.AcceptableTrainedFinalResponses:• AreaSearch–Refindorstayandbark• HRD–Passive(sitordownorstayandbarkwithNOdisturbanceof

targetodor)• DisasterSearch–Stayandbarkatsubject• CadasterSearch–Passive(sitordownorstayandbarkwithno

disturbanceoftargetodor)• DisasterFirstResponder–Refindorstayandbark

AllTrainedFinalResponsesmustbeindependentlyaccomplishedbythedog.Anycueingbythehandlerwillconstituteanon-passingscore.Thiswillincludeanynon-verbalcueing.Secondcommandswillbeallowedwithlossofpoints.

TrainedFinalResponseOverview

SearchType TargetOdor(s)

Distancefromstarttosubject/targetodor

Timetocompleteexercise

Score

AreaSearch

LiveHuman**

30M 3Minutes 0-10

HumanRemains*

30M 3Minutes 0-10

HRD Human

Remains*30M 3Minutes 0-10

Disaster LiveHuman

***30M 3Minutes 0-10

Cadaster HumanRemains*

30M 3Minutes 0-10

Disaster1stResponder

LiveHuman***

30M 3Minutes 0-10

HumanRemains*

30M 3Minutes 0-10

*15gms–200gms**subjectlyingsupineonground***subjectcompletelyhiddenintubeorbarrelwithcoverthathasventilationholes

ScoringfortheTrainedFinalResponseExerciseSearchType

TFR TargetOdor

Nofind/timeout

FindbutnoTFR

Find/weakorassistedTFR

Sufficient(PASS)

Good VeryGood

Excellent

Area Refindorstayandbark

LiveHuman

0-1 2-4 5-6 7 8 9 10

Refindorstayandbark

HumanRemains

0-1 2-4 5-6 7 8 9 10

HRD Passive Human

Remains0-1 2-4 5-6* 7 8 9 10

Disaster Stay

andBark

LiveHuman

0-1 2-4 5-6** 7 8 9 10

Cadaster Passive

and/orbark

HumanRemains

0-1 2-4 5-6 7*** 8 9 10

Disaster1stResponder

RefindorStayandBark

LiveHuman

0-1 2-4 5-6 7 8 9 10

HumanRemains

0-1 2-4 5-6 7*** 8 9 10

*excessivedisturbanceoftargetodor**finds,barks,butleavessubject***smallamountofscratchingacceptableScoring–passing–7ifoneTFRor14iftwoTFR’s

FailureintheTFRexerciseresultsinterminationoftestingforthatteam.

3. Agility–allsearchdogsmustbeabletonegotiatevariedterrainandconditions.EssentialskillforaSearchandRescuedog.

5ofthe7listedobstacleswillbetestedateachtest.#’s2,3,4and5aremandatory.Judgeschoicefortheother.

1. TeeterTotter–dogmustautomaticallystopinmiddle2. 6Footladder3. Moveablesurface–2”x12”x8’boardacrosstwo55gallondrums.Chocked

forlimitedmovement4. 4-6foothighwalkboard–mustdemonstratea“stop”anda“turn”(180

degreeturn)5. Combinedunstablesurface(eg.Oldbedspringswithsheetofroofing,

unstablepallets,etc.)6. Opengratesurfaceraised1-2feet.7. 2footdiameterTunnelwith90degreebend

Eachobstaclewillhaveastartline.Thedogmustprecedethe

Handler.Eachobstaclewillbeindividuallyperformed,nocombinations.Asecondcommandwillbeallowedbutwithapointsdeduction.Judgingwillbebasedonresponsivenesstocommands,confidenceontheobstacleandoverallskill.

Scoring–agility

Eachobstacleisscoredseparately

0-1 –refusesobstacle(get2commands–butautomatic7evenifsuccessful)

2-4-insecure,ortentative,orjumpsoffobstacle

5-6-needshandlerhelp(verbal)orexcessivemovementofmoveableobstacle,jumpsoffandneeds2cdtry/command

7-sufficient

8-good

9-verygood

10-excellent

35totalpointsneededtopassAgility

4. Directionals-Inordertosearchareasthatthehandlermaynotaccessortoavoidhazardousareas,thecaninemustdemonstratetheabilitytobedirectedandcontrolledbythehandler.Thecanineshouldrespondtoaudibleand/orvisualsignals.

RequiredSkillsGoesuponeachrequiredelevationatthedirectionofthehandler.WaitsonelevationuntildirectedbyhandlerHandlerInformationThehandlerwillremovethecanine’sleashbeforetheexercisebegins.Thehandlerisresponsibleforcountingthe5secondsthedogmustremainonthetargetobstacle.Theevaluatormayinterveneto"help"athisdiscretion.Ifthedog

isanticipatingthe"off"command,theevaluatorwillnotintervene.Iftheelementisshowinganoveralllackofcontrol,theevaluatorwillnotintervene.DirectabilityOnthefirstgoout,thecaninemustgoupontoaspecifiedelevationwithoutgettingontoanyotherelevation.Thehandlermaystopthecanineandredirectorrecallthecanineandrestartasmanytimesastimeallows.Ifthecaninegoesupontheincorrectelevationfirst,thecaninemustberecalledandrestarted.Thisappliestothefirstdirectiononly.Afterbeginningthecourse,ifthedogreturnstothehandlerandcrossesthestartline(oristouchedbythehandler),hemuststartover.Ifthecaninegoestothewrongelevationanytimeafterthefirstgo-out,thedogmustgobacktothelastcorrectelevationandproceed.Theteamwillhavethree(3)minutestocompletethecourse.Theevaluatorswilldesignatewhichelevationthecanineshallbesentto(right,leftorcenter).Thehandlerwilldirectthecaninetoaseriesofelevations.Thepatternwillincludeago-out,aright,left,go-backandrecall.Thecaninemustgoupontotheelevationsandstaythereforfiveseconds.Thecaninemaysit,standorliedown.Thehandlermaygivemultiplecommands.NOTE:thehandlermayaskfortheoptionofusingtheDirectionexerciseaswrittenintheFCI/IROrules.

7. Obedience/Control

ElementsoftheExercise

A. Offleadheeling–

AtthedirectionoftheJudge

Atleast2rightturns;atleast2leftturns;atleast2halts;atleast2aboutturns(180degreeturns);fastpaceforatleast20paces;slowpaceforatleast20paces

Thedogwillbejudgedon:

Responsivenesstocommands,responsivenesstohandlerschangeofdirection,andheelingposition.

B. Groupexercise/Practicalcontrrol

Heeloffleadintoa5personmillinggroup.TheJudgewilldirectthehandleranddogtoperformashortseriesofmaneuversaroundandwithinthegroup.

Thedogwillbejudgedon:Responsivenesstocommands,distractionincludingfearoraggression,andheelingposition.

C. Recall

Handlerwillleavethedogatasitordownstayinsideamarkedcircleandwalkawayfromthedogtoamarkedspotapproximately100feetaway.ThehandlerwillcallthedogatthedirectionoftheJudge.Thedogmaycometothefrontofthehandlerortoheel.Thedogmustcomecloseenoughforthehandlertograspthedog’scollarwithoutthehandlermakingastep.

Thedogwillbejudgedon:Responsivenesstocommands,andpositionatreturntohandler

D. Figure8

Thecaninesearchteamcompletesa3-4Figure8’saroundtwotestinghandlerswiththeircanines(postteam)onlead,sittingattheirsideandspacedabouteightfeetapart.Thetestingteamshallcompletethepattern,whichwillincludeareversechangeindirection,onlooselead,passingwithintwofeetofeachofthepostteams.Duringtheexerciseallthreedogswillbeevaluatedforaggression

Thedogwillbejudgedon:Responsivenesstocommands,distractionincludingfearoraggression,andheelingposition.

E. DownStaywithdistractions-thedogwillbeplacedinamarkedcircleforeachdog.Handlerswillescortedoutofsightfor5minutes,Distractionsmaybeotherdogswithhandlersmovingaroundthearea,loudnoises,vehiclesmovingthrougharea,soundeffectsaudio.Thehandlermayleavea

backpacknexttothedog.Thedogwillbeofflead.Thedogmaygetupbutnotleavethemarkedcircle.Thedogwillloosepointsforgettingup.

Scoring:

EachexerciseofObediencewillbescoredona0-10basis.Failureof3elements,resultsinterminationoftestingforthatteam.

0-1 failuretoperformeventhebasicspiritoftheexercise

2-3minimalperformanceofthebasicspiritoftheexercise

4-6Dogneedshelporsecondcommands.Notsufficienttospiritofexercise.

7Sufficient

8good

9verygood

10excellent

SEARCHEXERCISE

SearchTypeSearchareasizeTargetOdors

Search1 Search2 TargetOdor(s)

#TargetOdors

Time

AreaSearch 20Acres 20Acres Livehuman(s)

1-2 45minutesEachsearch

HumanRemains

1-2

HumanRemainsDetection(HRD)

1acre 2acres HumanRemains

1acre–1buried2acre–1surface,1hanging

1acre–20minutes2acre–40minutes

DisasterSearch

≥1500sq.yd.≤2000sq.yd.*

≥1500sq.yd.≤2000sq.yd.*

LiveHuman(s)

1-2ineachsearcharea.Maximumof4**

20minuteseachsearcharea

Cadaster(DisasterCadaver)Search

≥1500sq.yd.≤2000sq.yd.*

≥1500sq.yd.≤2000sq.yd.*

HumanRemains

1-2ineacharea.Maximumof4**

20minuteseachsearcharea

DisasterFirstResponder(DFR)

≥1500sq.yd.≤2000sq.yd.*

≥1500sq.yd.≤2000sq.yd.*

LiveHumanandHumanRemains

1-2targetsineacharea.OneareacanbeLiveonlybutmusthaveatleastoneHumanRemainstarget.Maximum4Targets**

30minuteseachsearcharea

*oneareamustberubble.Oneareamaybeadestroyedorpartiallydestroyedbuilding

**alltargetodorsmustbecarefullyconcealedandnotvisible–notmorethan4feet.

Ø NumbersandtypesofTargetsineachsearchareawillbedeterminedbytherollofadice.

Ø Numbersineachareadeterminedasfollows:• evennumberondice=1target• oddnumberondice=2target

Ø Forareaswitheither/orLive/Humanremainsasecondrollofthedicewilldetermineifthetarget(s)areLiveorHumanremainsby:-• evennumberondice=Live• oddnumberondice=Humanremains

Ø Forareaswitheither/orlive/humanremainstheremustbeatleast1livesubjectand1humanremainstargetodoroverthe2searchareas.

SCORINGOFSEARCHEXERCISE:

EachTFRwillbescoredona0-10scale(pleaseseeTFRexerciseabove)No“misses”willbeallowed.

Freedomofmovement/searchdrive/activehunt

0-1 -wouldnotentersearcharea2-4-verytentativeandunsureinarea5-6-tentative,hesitantsearchbutdidnotcoverarea(s)distracted7-Sufficient-huntOKbutsomewhatdependentonhandlersomedistraction8-Good–goodandactivesearching.Momentsofhesitationornotsure,minordistraction9-VeryGood–searcheswithindependence,rangeswell,confident,nodistraction10-excellent–superiorsearcher,thorough,notdistractedSearchStrategy(includesbriefingquestionsbyhandler)

0-1 -nostrategy2-4-poor,inefficientstrategy5-6-ineffective7-sufficient

8-Good9-VeryGood10-ExcellentCONTROLandDIRECTION

Thedogmustbeundercontrolatalltimes.Thedogshouldbedirectableinanysearchenvironment.

0-1 -nocontrolordirectability2-4-poorcontrolminimaldirectability5-6-notsufficientfortask7-Sufficient8-Good9-VeryGood10-Excellent

FalsePositive–automaticfailure

TheJudgeisrequiredtoexplaintheirjudgingdecisionstotheHandleraftereachexercise.

SDONACASA

SCORESHEETHANDLERNAME____________________

K9–NAME____________________DOB_________________

MICROCHIP/TATOO__________________

JUDGE__________________________

TESTTYPE:AREA___HRD___DISASTERLIVE___DISASTERHRD__DISASTERFIRSTRESPONDER___

LOCATION___________________

DATE_____________

TFRexercise

Score 0-1No“find”/timeout

2-4“find”butnoTFR

5-6“find”/assistedTFR

7Sufficient,weakorslow

8Good,minorissues

9Verygood

10excellent

Targetodor1

Targetodor2

Agility

scoring 0-1Refusesobstacle

2-4Jumpsoffobstacle

5-6Handlerhelp(verbal)

7Hesitationorsomeunsurenessbutcompletes

8NoLittlehesitationbutcompletesobstacle

9Completeswithgoodconfidence

10Fluid,respondsimmediatelytocommands

Obstacle1

Obstacle2

Obstacle3

Obstacle4

Obstacle5

Directionalsscoring 0-1

TimedoutDoesnotunderstandexercise

2-4Timedoutbutwenttosometargetlocations

5-6Timedout-wenttotargetlocations

7Usedmostoftime-sufficient

8TimeokSomeminordifficulties

9TimeokVerygoodperformance

10Fluid,smooth,Wellwithintimeallotted

directionals

OBEDIENCEScoring 0-1

Failuretoperformbasicspiritofexercise

2-4MinimalperformanceMultiplecommandsoraggressive

5-6Dogneedshelpmultiplecommandsdoesnotmeetspiritofexerciseordistracted

7sufficient

8Goodperformanceofexercise

9verygoodperformanceofexercise

10Excellentfluid,responsiveconfident

Heelofflead

Groupexercise

Recall Figure8 Downstaywithdistractions

Search1Score 0-1

Wouldnotentersearcharea

2-4Verytentativeandunsure

5-6tentative,hesitantsearchbutdidnotcoverarea(s)distracted

7Sufficient-huntOKbutsomewhatdependentonhandlersomedistraction

8Good–goodandactivesearching.Momentsofhesitationornotsure,minordistraction

9VeryGood–searcheswithindependence,rangeswell,confident,nodistraction

10excellent–superiorsearcher,thorough,notdistracted

Searchingintensity Score 0-1

nostrategy

2-4poor,inefficientstrategy

5-6ineffective

7sufficient

8Good

9Verygood

10excellent

SearchStrategy score 0-1

Nocontrolordirectability

2-4Minimalcontrolanddirectability

5-6Notsufficientfortask

7Sufficient

8Good

9Verygood

10excellent

Controlanddirection

TFRatsubject–Search1Score 0-1

Nofind2-4Find,lefttarget

5-6Find,noTFR

7Sufficient,butweakorfaults

8Good,somesmallfaults

9Verygood

10Excellent,

Target1 Target2 Target3 Target4

FalseTFR_____

Search2Score 0-1

Wouldnotentersearcharea

2-4Verytentativeandunsure

5-6tentative,hesitantsearchbutdidnotcoverarea(s)distracted

7Sufficient-huntOKbutsomewhatdependentonhandlersomedistraction

8Good–goodandactivesearching.Momentsofhesitationornotsure,minordistraction

9VeryGood–searcheswithindependence,rangeswell,confident,nodistraction

10excellent–superiorsearcher,thorough,notdistracted

Searchingintensity Score 0-1

nostrategy

2-4poor,inefficientstrategy

5-6ineffective

7sufficient

8Good

9Verygood

10excellent

SearchStrategy

score 0-1

Nocontrolordirectability

2-4Minimalcontrolanddirectability

5-6Notsufficientfortask

7Sufficient

8Good

9Verygood

10excellent

control

TFRatsubject–search2Score 0-1

Nofind2-4Find,lefttarget

5-6Find,noTFR

7Sufficient,butweakorfaults

8Good,somesmallfaults

9Verygood

10Excellent,

Target1 Target2 Target3 Target4

FalseTFR_____

FORINFORMATIONONLY:

EXERCISE JUDGESSCORE

MINIMUMSCORE

PASS FAIL JUDGESINITIALS

TFR 7/14*

AGILITY 35

DIRECTIONALS 7

OBEDIENCE 35

SEARCH1

Searchintensity

7

Searchstrategy

7

Control 7

Subjects/TFR **

SEARCH2

Searchintensity

7

Searchstrategy

7

Control 7

Subjects/TFR **

TOTAL***

*DEPENDSON1OR2TARGETS

**DEPENDSONNUMBEROFTARGETS

***MUSTBEAMINIMUMOF70%OFTOTALAVAIABLEPOINTSforapass