ASTM F1847-98

Standard Guide for Demonstrating Minimum Skills of Search and Rescue Dogs and Handlers

SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers voluntary uniform training guidelines for dogs and handlers who engage in search and rescue (SAR) activities throughout the United 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jan-1998
• ICS: 65.020.30 - Animal husbandry and breeding
• Technical Committee: F32 - Search and Rescue
• Drafting Committee: F32.02 - Management and Operations

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM F1847-98(2005) - Standard Guide for Demonstrating Minimum Skills of Search and Rescue Dogs and Handlers
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2005
• Referred By: ASTM F3222-16 - Standard Terminology Relating to F32 Land Search and Rescue Standards and Guides
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-1998
• Referred By: ASTM F3070-14(2022) - Standard Guide for Evaluating Area Search Dog Crews or Teams
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-1998
• Referred By: ASTM F3144-15(2022) - Standard Guide for Evaluating Trailing Search Dog Crews or Teams
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-1998

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:F1847–98
Standard Guide for
Demonstrating Minimum Skills of Search and Rescue Dogs
and Handlers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1847; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.4 return—an action of a free-ranging dog that brings the
dog back to its handler after finding its target.
1.1 This guide covers voluntary uniform training guidelines
3.1.5 scent article—an object used by search personnel to
for dogs and handlers who engage in search and rescue (SAR)
familiarize a dog with the scent of a subject.
activities throughout the Unites States.
1.2 This guide provides a minimum set of training goals
4. Summary of Guide
against which SAR dog teams and organizations may volun-
4.1 This guide provides dog handlers, units and organiza-
tarily evaluate their own training programs.
tions in differing locales with the ability to understand and
1.3 This guide provides a means of documenting a mini-
replicate skills and training required to meet these minimum
mum standard for those agencies who request SAR dog
guidelines.
resources for SAR operations and require such documentation.
4.2 This guide identifies a minimum set of skills that will
1.4 Local SAR dog handlers and parent organizations are
help establish the mission readiness of a search dog crew for
responsible for testing and verification that individual re-
search and rescue operations.
sources meet or exceed these guidelines.
4.3 The dog and handler skills demonstrate the crew’s
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
abilities to estimate probabilities of detection.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5. Significance and Use
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
5.1 This guide may be used by units, handlers, and request-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
ing agencies when evaluating dog resources or as a basis for
establishing local minimum performance guidelines or stan-
2. Referenced Documents
dards. All or a subst of this guide may be utilized.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2 5.2 Agencies and organizations who have responsibility for
F 1633 Standard Guide for Land Search Techniques
search and rescue operations may use this guide as a basis for
F 1848 Classification for Search and Rescue Dog Crew/
2 developing standardized testing and certification of search dog
Teams
resources.
F 1879 Standard Guide for Demonstrating Obedience and
2 5.3 This guide does not provide a theoretical basis for how
Agility in Search and Rescue Dogs
a search dog crew works, rather it describes the minimum
3. Terminology results desired. Definitions that are referenced are provided to
develop consistency in interpretation.
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
5.4 Each dog team, unit or organization wishing to use this
3.1.1 alert—an indication by a dog that signals the handler
guide has the responsibility of managing and administering it.
that the targeted scent has been found.
Units may wish to use evaluators from other units or organi-
3.1.2 bringsel—an object carried by the dog or handler that
zations, or, request assistance in obtaining qualified evaluators
is retrieved or tugged on by the dog when the dog finds its
from organizations such as the SAR Dog Section of the
target.
National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR). This
3.1.3 refind—an action by a free-ranging dog that is initi-
decision however, rests solely with the individual team or
atedafterthedogfindsitstargetandresultsinthedogdirecting
organization. The method of evaluation is also entirely at the
the handler back to the target.
discretion of each user of this guide.
6. Dog Skills
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F32 on Search and
6.1 Obedience and Agility Skills:
Rescue and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F32.02 on Management and
Operations.
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 1998. Published July 1998.
2 3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 13.02. These Guides are currently under development
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F1847–98
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 F 1879. 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
use of flotation devices during water searches, the use of latex
be under the control of the handler in a manner that allows the
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 should have the
6.2 Communication Skills:
ability to use proper local agency radio protocols in radio
6.2.1 The dog should be able to indicate that it has detected
communications and the ability to use available communica-
the object of its search. This indication may be in the form of
tions equipment pr
...