Canine Search Specialist Course - Course Number 10066 - Course Fee $1,050.00

October 5 – 10, 2009

The Canine Search Specialist Course teaches the basic skills necessary for a Disaster Canine Team (handler and canine) to work safely and reliably in a collapsed structure environment. The course is also appropriate for the Canine Handler who is “between” dogs, and as such, the course also teaches the handler what to look for in selecting a new canine partner and what skills the canine needs to be able to perform. For the Search Manager, the course teaches what to look for when selecting canine teams, what standards the canine team should be trained to, and the level of support that the teams will need to be successful.

Topics:

Mission preparedness; Safety, security and survival; Canine behavior and drive; Role of the helper; Obedience; Bark alert; Directability; Agility; Rubble search; Search strategy and tactics; Canine first aid; Scent theory.

Prerequisites:

All canine participants must have up-to-date vaccinations.

Audience:

This course is for canine handlers, search managers and task force leaders.

Other Information:

Classes will begin at 7:00 a.m. on the first day of this course unless other arrangements have been made. Participants should plan to arrive the night before classes begin. Course delivery is at Connecticut Fire Academy 34 Perimeter Road Windsor Locks CT.

Canine teams that will be training on the rubble pile or inside of structures are required to bring the following items to the course:

Helmet (must be ANSI rated Z89.1 - 1997 Type 1), Steel toe safety boots (must be

ANSI Z41 PT99 M1/75 C/75), Eye protection (must be ANSI Z-87.1), Work gloves, Standard work/duty clothing including long sleeve shirts, Kneepads, Head lamp, Hand held flashlight, Flat collar, Training collar, Leash and long line, Crate for hotel room, Water bowl, 4 toys and Raingear suitable for search and rescue operations class exercises are conducted rain or shine.

Hotel of Choice:   SpringHill Suites

225 Ella Grasso Turnpike

Windsor Locks, Connecticut 06096 USA

Phone:  1-860-758-7000

Fax:  1-860-758-7001

Toll-free:  1-888-287-9400

This course is taught by FEMA Instructors.