Narcotics K-9 Course

Narcotics K-9 Course

(300 HOURS)

THEORY OF SCENT

At the conclusion of these hours the student must show proficiency in:

1. Knowledge of the overall training objectives.

2. Knowledge of work environments.

3. Knowing the performance capabilities of a trained detector dog.

4. Applying the principles of a detector dog in training to detect and identify narcotics.

5. Defining and understanding the olfactory abilities and capabilities of a narcotic detector dog.

6. Recognizing limitations that will effect a dog's ability to detect and identify narcotic odors.

7. Employing a narcotic detection K-9 in an effective manner by taking advantage of the temperature, humidity and available air currents.

RECORD KEEPING AND PROFICIENCY TRAINING

Upon conclusion the student must be familiar with procedures for keeping a dog proficient and for proper record keeping.

REPORT WRITING

The student will be taught to write a complete and concise report covering the elements of the crime and support of the probable cause.

LEGAL ASPECTS

Upon conclusion of these hours the student should be familiar with:

1. The student must know and understand case laws supporting probable cause in the use of a K-9.

2. Questions and terminology which is commonly related to the use of a K-9.

3. Giving testimony for deposition and courtroom.

4. Federal laws governing the use of the narcotic detector dog, such as the 4th amendment, (search and seizure) and the 14th amendment, (applicable Federal Supreme Court Rulings).

FIRST AID AND HEALTH CARE


The student will be taught the importance of health care and first aid procedures.

1. Properly groom and wash his/her assigned animal.

2. Accomplish health inspection.

3. Understand the importance of normal food ration and food quality.

4. Avoid hazards of improper watering and feeding.

5. Define routine veterinary assistance requirements.

6. Knowledge of diseases and parasites that affects a dog, their symptoms and methods of prevention and treatment.

7. Recognize the affects of accidental narcotics consumption and the method of treatment, including the administering of the antidote.

TRAINING PROCEDURES

Upon conclusion the student must know the steps on how to start a new dog out in narcotic detection and develop motivation to advance the dog's scent ability.

AGILITY COURSE TRAINING 

The student will learn the theories and training procedures of the agility course. Upon conclusion of these hours the student will be familiar with:

1. Knowing how the various obstacles builds confidence in a dog.

2. Applying the training techniques to teach the various obstacles.

3. Knowledge of preventing injuries to the dog.

4. Knowledge of construction of an agility course.

NARCOTICS AND SMUGGLING

The purpose of these hours is to familiarize the student with the circumstances encompassing narcotics smuggling and how this activity has dictated the establishment of a detector dog program. At the conclusion of this section, the student be:

1. Familiar with the general appearance of:

Marijuana, Hashish, Heroin, Cocaine, Crack and Drug paraphernalia

2. Knowledgeable of the general trafficking patterns.

3. Able to identify common smuggling containers and compartments.

4. Able to understand the street language and concepts.

OPEN FIELD SEARCH

At the conclusion of this time the student will:

1. Be knowledgeable of all facts related to training a K-9 in open-field detection exercises.

2. Be able to properly deploy his/her dog in searching an open area by using the available air currents to the dog's advantage.

3. Recognize and properly react to all indications of narcotics detection the dog may display.

BUILDING SEARCHES

At the conclusion of this training the student will:

1. Have learned the proper deployment and sequences of searching a building.

2. Be able to read his/her dog's alert and be able to analyze various situations involving air currents inside a building.

3. Have trained his/her assigned dogs to detect, locate and display an obvious alert toward narcotics concealed in various locations.

VEHICLE SEARCH

At the conclusion of this period the student will:

1. Be knowledgeable of the methods, procedures and sequence, to be used in employing a dog to search the exterior and interior of a vehicle.

2. Be knowledgeable on how to train and deploy his/her K-9 to search vehicles.

3. Have trained a K-9 to detect and alert to narcotics odors on the exterior and interior of the vehicles.

FIELD APPLICATION FOR HEROIN AND COCAINE

Training for heroin and cocaine should follow the completion of marijuana and hashish.

At the conclusion of this period the student will be familiar with the methodology and safety considerations that must be maintained in the training for detection of heroin and cocaine. The student will have trained his/her dog to positively alert on the actual scent of heroin and cocaine.

1. Open-field search

2. Interior and exterior building searches.

3. Interior and exterior vehicle searches

SITUATION TRAINING

Upon the conclusion of these hours the student will be familiar with circumstances that a K-9 can be used in and the problems that the k-9 will encounter and the handler. The student will be familiar with:

1. Buried narcotic detection

2. Package screening

3. Freight screening

4. Luggage screening