Introduction: This course provides instruction to both dog and handler in safe and correct methods of searching for and detecting explosives in buildings, vehicles, open areas, watercraft, parcels and baggage. Explosive detector dogs will also be trained to detect small arms and ammunition.

Aim: Upon completion of this course, the handler and dog will have the skills and ability to pass a nationally recognized Explosive Detector Dog Certification.

Topics:

• K9 psychology and instinctive drives
• Alert or indication - “reading your dog”
• Correct storage and handling of explosive training aids
• Environmental considerations
• Safety in approaching explosive threat situations
• IED safety and identification for explosive detector dog handlers
• Utilizing support personnel while conducting the search
• Documentation of training and the need for it

Gear: Clothing appropriate for climate and conditions and a water bottle or other hydration system.

K-9 Gear Provided with Course: Leather leash, leather collar, correction collar, toy rewards (Kong® and towel).

Method: This course is conducted at a fast pace and assumes a basic familiarity with a police working environment.

Skill Prerequisites: Open only to sworn law enforcement and Military Work Dog Handlers.
Number of Attendees: 5
Duration: 4 weeks

Course Cost: $10,800. Tuition includes purchase price of the dog with a limited one-year health and workability warranty, equipment, educational materials, lunch and training 6 days a week for 4 weeks. $12,500 all inclusive rate includes the addition of on campus lodging and three meals a day. Kennels are available at no charge; however, the student is responsible for all feeding and maintenance of the dog and cleaning of the kennel during the course and prior to departure.

K9 EXPLOSIVES DETECTION CLASS

Introduction: Training for canine explosive teams is a highly specialized endeavor that requires some of the highest standards and handler dedication of any form of canine training. This is not a modified drug detection class taught by drug detection trainers.

This is a specialized class offering comprehensive training and practical skills designed to prepare EDC teams for today’s current threat atmosphere.

Course will include and is not limited to:

• Understanding the terrorist assault structure
• Effective application of the EDC as a counter terrorist tool
• Lessons learned from the Middle East
• Explosives; familiarity and safe handling procedures
• Knowledge of basic IED and booby trap concept and design
• Construction of training aids
• Efficient search procedures, prioritizing, safety considerations
• Maintenance/enhancement procedures
• Scene evaluation and deployment procedures
• Threat assessment; comprehending the totality of the picture, credible versus non-credible, packages, etc.
• Understanding and applying operant conditioning methodology
• Explosives odor recognition, development of generalization capabilities
• Conditioned response to target odors; focused indication, stare at source
• Handler independent alert
• Search patterns; vehicles, buildings, open air, etc.

SPOTTERS CLASS FOR EXPLOSIVE DETECTION CANINE TEAMS          

(Formal training and qualification for officers to assist EDC teams during a search)
Instructor: Mike Herstik
Initial Classroom: film; PowerPoint presentation; discussion

• Show dramatic police footage of a bus bombing in Israel. Extremely detailed and graphic post blast footage showing the realistic impact of an explosive device in a densely populated civil setting.
• Discussion about the footage.
• Explosive material and devices; show and tell. Recognition, understanding and awareness of common hazards.
• The concept of “Suspicious” versus “Unattended” packages.
• The explosive detection canine team; understanding their role, responsibilities and capabilities.
• Basic understanding of how and why the K9 works.
• Working together in a cohesive and effective manner with the EDC teams. Do’s and don’ts.
• The “Spotter”; Working as an effective support. Recognizing productive areas and potential hazards to the team.

Field Work:

• Spotters will first go through a scenario without dog teams, complete with hazards and productive areas, and be asked to recognize and identify them.
• Spotters will then go on searches assisting K9 teams.

Prior to the attack of 9-11 there were a very limited number of bomb detection K9 teams in existence. It is well known that bomb detection K9 teams are one of the most efficient and cost effective forms of terrorist mitigation that public safety entities have at their disposal. Due to the threat atmosphere that has emerged since 9-11, the number of these K9 teams has greatly expanded in order to fill a demand for police and other law enforcement entities. Bomb detection searches and pre-emptive sweeps have currently become commonplace security procedures for various events and settings and the use of EDD teams is steadily growing.

These searches are more safely and effectively performed with the presence of a trained spotter assisting the team. Handlers who are focused on reading their dogs during the search can be made aware of hazards, (broken glass, nails, bare electrical outlets, toxic chemicals  poisons, etc.), that at the very least could put a team out of commission, and which may be discovered too late while by the K9 handler. Just as important is the reality that potentially productive hiding areas may be missed because the handler is necessarily watching the K9 rather than the ambient environment.

There is a need for spotters to be trained and certified in order to qualify to assist in this potentially hazardous task. A basic understanding of how the K9 team works so as not to undermine the search, the types of common hazards to look out for, visual familiarity with various type of explosives and IED’s, and familiarity of related search related safety protocols are necessary for an individual to support in a qualified manner.

The concept of a certified spotter is simply to provide a trained pair of eyes that will greatly enhance personnel and public safety. This training can be effectively accomplished in a basic one day class consisting of classroom and field work, lead by an experienced instructor.

This class will address and set a precedent by setting standards and fulfilling a current widespread need among LE. This may also be considered a first step to educating individuals who aspire to become bomb detection K9 handlers.

It will enable bomb detection K9 teams to do their job with more safety and effectiveness.