International Police Work Dog Association Certification Rules
Narcotics Detection
The following test rules have been adopted by the International Police Work Dog
Association (IPWDA). Each of the following tests are designed to determine the
proficiency of the work dog team for certification in each phase of police work
for K-9s. Whenever practical, a police work dog team graduating from an
accredited training school should be tested and accredited. The successful
passing of certification standards can be submitted in court. Each test is based
on a pass/fail basis.
A. Judges. Master Trainers will act as judges for these tests
Judges will designate the area, phase and manner of each phase to be tested. The
judge should make every effort not to interfere with or distract the dog. The
judge will observe the work dog during each test for willingness, enjoyment,
interest and accuracy. Handlers will be observed for ability and overall control
of his/her dog. Upon successful completion of each test the credentials of
accreditation will be issued. Accreditation will be valid for two (2) years from the date of issue, (Except
explosive detector teams, whose accreditation will only be valid for one (1)
year.)
B. Prohibited Equipment. At no time during any of the offered certification
tests will whips of any type be used. Pinch collars and electronic collars may
be worn by the canine during testing; however, collars of this style may not be
activated during any certification phase.
C. Abuse of a K-9. During any IPWDA function, any trainer/Master Trainer who
observes what they believe to be cruel and or abusive treatment of a K-9 will
have the right to terminate the existing exercise. The team will not be allowed
to participate in the remainder of the function. The trainer/Master Trainer will
inform the Executive Board of this incident and after a vote of the board,
either the matter will be sent on to be handled by the grievance procedure or
the team will be reinstated to complete whatever part of the function remains,
if any.
D. Appeal. A work dog team that fails any of the following tests may reapply for
testing at the next and most convenient time and date.
Any member that fails a test and feels that they have been judged unfairly will
at the time of the test, notify the judge of his/her appeal. The member will
then file a complete report of their observations and the reasons they feel they
were judged unfairly. The judge having been notified of the appeal will file a
report of his/her observations, all testing sheets, and his basis for failing
the team.
All reports will be filed within thirty (30) days of the test to the President
of the IPWDA. The President will then appoint an appeals committee. Reports or
copies thereof will be forwarded to the appeals committee. Findings of the
committee will be returned to the President and in turn he will forward a copy
of the findings to the member and the Master Trainer. The decision of the
appeals committee must be by a majority vote and it will be final.
E. Membership. Work dog teams wishing to be certified under these rules and by
this Association must be members in good standing.
1. Police work dog teams wishing to be tested and certified under these rules
and by this Association, must be regular members of this Association.
2. Associate members can be tested and certified under these rules in the
following phases:
a. Obedience
b. Tracking
c. Area search
d. Article search
e. Agility
f. Search and rescue
g. Explosives - Phase One
F. Certification Validity. An IPWDA Certification of a regular member canine
team will only be valid when the canine team is being utilized by:
1. The law enforcement agency they are employed by.
2. A law enforcement agency they are on official assignment
to by authority of their own law enforcement agency employer, (i.e., county,
state, federal task force)
3. A law enforcement agency which requested and received official mutual aid
from the canine team's law enforcement agency employer
NOTE: Under no circumstances will an IPWDA canine team's certification be valid
when the team is being utilized for any and all non law enforcement agency uses.
Under no circumstances will any member canine team's certification be valid
either regular or associate member, if their membership status is not in good
standing.
G. Certification Fees. There will be no charge for certifications. Master
Trainers may be reimbursed for out of pocket expenses, or be given a reasonable
stipend to cover travel related expenses.
H. Master Trainers may not perform the first IPWDA certification for dogs that they have sold.
NARCOTIC DETECTOR TEST
This test is designed to determine the proficiency and reliability of dogs in
the detection of narcotics. A team miss is defined as any incorrect response by
the handler or Canine.
The general rules for testing narcotics detector dogs will be as follows:
1. The reward toy or object used during a narcotic detection certification test
(to reward the dog upon finding a narcotic hide); will not contain any narcotics
or narcotic odor/residue.
2. All odors attempting to be certified in will be hidden in all areas tested
in.
3. Only one (1) miss overall, of all odors attempted to be certified in, will be
permitted for successful "pass" of Certification.
4. Narcotic odors successfully certified in will be listed by their "laboratory"
names on the certification certificate.
5. Pseudo narcotics will not be used for certification tests.
6. The Master Trainer will place the aids in locations unknown to the handler
and hides may be high or low.
7. The amount of narcotics to be used for testing will be determined by the
Master Trainer. A minimum of one gram of each odor will be used in testing.
8. Testing will be conducted in at least three (3) areas. Suggested areas of
concealment are:
A. Vehicles
B. Buildings
C. Any other designated area
9. A minimum of one (1) hide of each odor attempted to be certified in, will be
hidden in "building" searches and in "other" searches tested in.
10. The odor may be placed either on the interior or exterior of the vehicles at
the Master Trainers discretion.
11. If only one (1) odor is attempted to be certified in, then there will be a
minimum of six (6) total finds, consisting of a minimum of two (2) hides in
building search, minimum two (2) hides in "other" searches, and a minimum of two
(2) hides, one (1) inside and one (1) outside a vehicle.
12. Building searches will include a minimum of one (1) blank/uncontaminated
room.
13. Time limits on searches will be at the discretion of the Master Trainer and
so long as the Master Trainer determined that the team is still working. Note:
There will be a break between the narcotic building search and the narcotic
vehicle search.
14. The safety of the detection dogs will be solely the responsibility of the
handler, (such as overdose).
15. All tests given to the narcotic detection team will be on a pass/fail basis.
The Master Trainer will determine if the team will be certified upon the
completion of the test.
The handler and K-9 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.
16. The Master Trainer certifying the narcotic detector team will issue the
certification.
17. All testing will be done by a master trainer accredited in narcotics
detection.
NARCOTIC COURIER EXAMINATION
This test is designed to determine the proficiency and reliability of a passive
response dog in the detection of narcotics while being used in the screening of
people, luggage and other areas.
1. The reward toy or object used during a narcotic courier certification test,
(to reward the dog upon finding a narcotics hide), will not contain any
narcotics or narcotic odor/ residue,
2. All odors attempting to be certified in will be hidden in all areas tested
in.
3. Testing will be conducted in at least three (3) areas.
A. People (one "high" hide and one "low" hide, for each odor)
B. Luggage
C. Other designated areas are:
(1) Buildings
(2) Freight
(3) Mail
4. A "team miss" is defined as any incorrect response by the canine team.
5. Only one (1) miss overall, of all odors attempted to be certified in will be
permitted for successful "pass" of certification.
6. Narcotic odors successfully certified in will be listed by their "laboratory"
names on the certification certificate.
7. Pseudo narcotics will not be used for certification tests.
8. The Master Trainer will place the aids in locations unknown to the handler,
and hides may be high or low, except in people searches, where there must be one
high and one low on people, in each odor attempted to be certified.
9. The amount of narcotics to be used for testing will be determined by the
Master Trainer, however, the amount of narcotics substance used for testing will
not be less than one (1) gram.
10. When testing in three (3) or more odors of narcotics, a minimum of one, (1)
hide of each odor attempted to be certified in, will be hidden in luggage
searches and in "other" searches.
11. When testing in three (3) or more odors of narcotics, there will be a
minimum of one (1) hide of each odor attempted to be certified in, hidden "high"
on people, and a minimum of one (1) hide of the same odor, hidden "low” on
people. Thus making a total of two (2) hides of each odor attempted to be
certified in for the people search portion of the test. There will be no contact
between the individuals being screened and the dog.
12. If only one (1) odor is attempting to be certified in, there will be a
minimum of twelve (12) total finds, consisting of a minimum four (4) hides in
luggage searches, a minimum of four (4) hides in "other" searches, and a minimum
of four (4) hides two (2) "high" on people and two (2) “low” on people. For the
people search there will be no contact between the individuals being screened
and the dog.
13. If two (2) odors are attempted to be certified in, there will be a minimum
of twelve (12) finds, consisting of a of two (2) hides of each odor in luggage,
a minimum of two (2) hides of each odor in other searches, and a minimum of two
(2) hides of each odor one (1) each of odor "high" on people and one (1) of each
odor “low” on people. For the people search, there will be no contact between
the individuals being screened and the dog.
14. There will be a minimum of ten (10) blank suitcases to be screened per find,
and there will be a minimum of five (5) people to be screened with each find. If
building searches are used as the "other area”, there will be a minimum of one
(1) blank uncontaminated room used.
15. Time limits on searches will be at the discretion of the Master Trainer and
as long as the Master Trainer determines that the team is still working.
16. Note: there will be a break between each search area.
17. The safety of the detection dog will be solely the responsibility of the
handler, (such as overdose).
18. All tests given to the narcotics detection team will be on a pass/fail
basis. The Master Trainer will determine if the dog responds in a passive
manner. The Master Trainer will determine if the team will be certified upon
completion of the test. The handler and K-9 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.
19. Any Master Trainer in the area of narcotics detection will be permitted to
perform this certification.
This certification will be valid for two (2) years from the date of issue as
defined in certification validity paragraph.
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