ASTM F1847-98(2005)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Demonstrating Minimum Skills of Search and Rescue Dogs and Handlers
Standard Guide for Demonstrating Minimum Skills of Search and Rescue Dogs and Handlers
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This guide may be used by units, handlers, and requesting agencies when evaluating dog resources or as a basis for establishing local minimum performance guidelines or standards. All or a subst of this guide may be utilized.
Agencies and organizations who have responsibility for search and rescue operations may use this guide as a basis for developing standardized testing and certification of search dog resources.
This guide does not provide a theoretical basis for how a search dog crew works, rather it describes the minimum results desired. Definitions that are referenced are provided to develop consistency in interpretation.
Each dog team, unit or organization wishing to use this guide has the responsibility of managing and administering it. Units may wish to use evaluators from other units or organizations, or, request assistance in obtaining qualified evaluators from organizations such as the SAR Dog Section of the National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR). This decision however, rests solely with the individual team or organization. The method of evaluation is also entirely at the discretion of each user of this guide.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers voluntary uniform training guidelines for dogs and handlers who engage in search and rescue (SAR) activities throughout the Unites States.
1.2 This guide provides a minimum set of training goals against which SAR dog teams and organizations may voluntarily evaluate their own training programs.
1.3 This guide provides a means of documenting a minimum standard for those agencies who request SAR dog resources for SAR operations and require such documentation.
1.4 Local SAR dog handlers and parent organizations are responsible for testing and verification that individual resources meet or exceed these guidelines.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Standards Content (Sample)
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Designation:F1847–98 (Reapproved 2005)
Standard Guide for
Demonstrating Minimum Skills of Search and Rescue Dogs
and Handlers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1847; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.3 refind—an action by a free-ranging dog that is initi-
atedafterthedogfindsitstargetandresultsinthedogdirecting
1.1 This guide covers voluntary uniform training guidelines
the handler back to the target.
for dogs and handlers who engage in search and rescue (SAR)
3.1.4 return—an action of a free-ranging dog that brings the
activities throughout the Unites States.
dog back to its handler after finding its target.
1.2 This guide provides a minimum set of training goals
3.1.5 scent article—an object used by search personnel to
against which SAR dog teams and organizations may volun-
familiarize a dog with the scent of a subject.
tarily evaluate their own training programs.
1.3 This guide provides a means of documenting a mini-
4. Summary of Guide
mum standard for those agencies who request SAR dog
4.1 This guide provides dog handlers, units and organiza-
resources for SAR operations and require such documentation.
tions in differing locales with the ability to understand and
1.4 Local SAR dog handlers and parent organizations are
replicate skills and training required to meet these minimum
responsible for testing and verification that individual re-
guidelines.
sources meet or exceed these guidelines.
4.2 This guide identifies a minimum set of skills that will
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
help establish the mission readiness of a search dog crew for
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
search and rescue operations.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
4.3 The dog and handler skills demonstrate the crew’s
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
abilities to estimate probabilities of detection.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5. Significance and Use
2. Referenced Documents
5.1 This guide may be used by units, handlers, and request-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
ing agencies when evaluating dog resources or as a basis for
F1633 Guide for Techniques in Land Search
establishing local minimum performance guidelines or stan-
F1848 Classification for Search and Rescue Dog Crew/
dards. All or a subst of this guide may be utilized.
Teams
5.2 Agencies and organizations who have responsibility for
F1879 Guide for Demonstrating Obedience and Agility in
search and rescue operations may use this guide as a basis for
Search and Rescue Dogs
developing standardized testing and certification of search dog
3. Terminology resources.
5.3 This guide does not provide a theoretical basis for how
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
a search dog crew works, rather it describes the minimum
3.1.1 alert—an indication by a dog that signals the handler
results desired. Definitions that are referenced are provided to
that the targeted scent has been found.
develop consistency in interpretation.
3.1.2 bringsel—an object carried by the dog or handler that
5.4 Each dog team, unit or organization wishing to use this
is retrieved or tugged on by the dog when the dog finds its
guide has the responsibility of managing and administering it.
target.
Units may wish to use evaluators from other units or organi-
zations, or, request assistance in obtaining qualified evaluators
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F32 on Search and
from organizations such as the SAR Dog Section of the
Rescue and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F32.02 on Management and
National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR). This
Operations.
Current edition approved April 1, 2005. Published April 2005. Originally decision however, rests solely with the individual team or
approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as F1847 - 98. DOI:
organization. The method of evaluation is also entirely at the
10.1520/F1847-98R05.
discretion of each user of this guide.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. These Guides are currently under development
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F1847–98 (2005)
6. Dog Skills 7.2.1.2 A handler should have the knowledge and ability to
sustain themselves AND a lost person for at least 24 h with
6.1 Obedience and Agility Skills:
equipment they normally carry.
6.1.1 Dogs used in SAR operations should posses an ac-
7.2.1.3 A handler should the knowledge and ability to
ceptable level of agility and obedience skills such as those
evaluate hazards, select safe routes and follow safe procedures
listed in Guide F1879.
within their assigned working environment. This could include
6.1.2 Obedience skills should ensure that the SAR dog will
knowledge such as an awareness of avalanche potential, the
be under the control of the handler in a manner that allows the
use of flotation devices during water searches, the use of latex
dog to participate in SAR operations without interfering with
gloves in first aid or the preservation of evidence in cadaver
other search resources.
searching, etc.
6.1.3 Agility skills should ensure the dog’s ability to
7.2.2 Land Navigation—The handler should with the aid of
traverse obstacles and terrain that may be present during SAR
map and compass, be able to determine their location both
operations.
during day and night, directing others to their location and find
6.1.4 The sufficiency of a dog’s agility and obedience skills
the best route of travel to a given location and for segmenting
should be at the discretion of the agency having jurisdiction
search areas.
over search and rescue operations.
7.2.3 Communication Skills—The handler sho
...
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