K-9 « Amigo Search and Rescue Dogs

K-9

Airscent Dogs

Our current canine capability focuses on air scenting. An air scenting dog works by picking up human scent that is primarily airborne (hence the term). They work off lead, ranging away from their handler, sometimes out of sight looking for scent. This is ideal in an area of wilderness where few humans are present and one must find anyone in the area. The dog must always be under the handler’s control via verbal commands and hand signals and must possess a strong trained alert to notify the handler of a find. Once the dog finds human scent, they follow it to the source. Once the dog finds the subject, they will return to the handler, give a trained alert (bark, jump, etc.) then do a refind. A refind occurs when an air scenting dog leads the handler back to the subject after giving their trained alert.

K9 Air Scent Standards and Certification Process

Our team adheres to the NYS Federation’s K9 standards for all K9 team certifications. This means all of our operational, mission ready K9s have successfully passed 5 certification tests. The first three tests are done by another operational Amigo K9 handler. Theses tests consist of finding someone off the trail, finding someone walking in a 20 acre area and finding someone in a 30 acre heavy brush area. Once the dogs have proven their skills with these three tests, the dogs are tested by a Federation tester on another team for a 40 acre night time and 100 acre daytime problem. As soon as a K9 team becomes operational, they are eligible to complete a Human Remains Detection (HRD) Certification consisting of finding HRD source in a 5 area. This is also tested by an off team Federation Testor. The purpose of this test is to prove that the K9 team can assist in HRD searches. Many K9 teams also complete outside testing with organizations such as Eastern Police K9 and IPWADA to demonstrate more advanced HRD skills.

While the dogs get experience with some different intermediate scenerios prior to certification, testing of the intermediate scenerios can only occur after the dog has passed the 5 operational tests. These additional tests consist of elevated subject, building search, article search, subject hidden in diaster type area and snow burial finds where the subject is located in a snow cave. There is also a specialty certification for water recovery K9s.

Additionally, the K9 teams can pursue the advanced certification which consists of a scent specific air scent problem where the dog only alerts on the person they were told to find in a 100 acre area.