ASTM F1879-98(2005)

Standard Guide for Demonstrating Obedience and Agility in Search and Rescue Dogs (Withdrawn 2014)

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. It is suggested, however, that units and teams not train to these guidelines, but rather train and work in conditions requiring obedience and agility skills, then use these guidelines as a uniform method of evaluating progress.
This guide does not provide a theoretical basis for how a search dog works, rather it describes the minimum results desired.
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)3 or the American Kennel Club (AKC)4 . This decision, however, rests solely with the individual team or organization. The method of evaluation also is entirely at the discretion of each user of this guide.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is intended to provide voluntary uniform guidelines for obedience and agility training for Search and Rescue (SAR) dogs 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 verifying that individual resources meet or exceed these guidelines.
WITHDRAWN RATIONALE
This guide was intended to provide voluntary uniform guidelines for obedience and agility training for Search and Rescue (SAR) dogs throughout the United States.
Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee F32 on Search and Rescue, this guide was withdrawn in April 2014 in accordance with section 10.6.3 of the Regulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees, which requires that standards shall be updated by the end of the eighth year since the last approval date.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2005
• Withdrawal Date: 08-Apr-2014
• ICS: 13.200 - Accident and disaster control
• ICS: 65.020.30 - Animal husbandry and breeding
• Technical Committee: F32 - Search and Rescue
• Drafting Committee: F32.02 - Management and Operations

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F1879-98 - Standard Guide for Demonstrating Obedience and Agility in Search and Rescue Dogs
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2005
• Replaced By: ASTM F1879-14 - Standard Guide for Demonstrating Obedience and Agility in Search and Rescue Dogs
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2014
• Referred By: ASTM F3070-14(2022) - Standard Guide for Evaluating Area Search Dog Crews or Teams
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2005
• Referred By: ASTM F3144-15(2022) - Standard Guide for Evaluating Trailing Search Dog Crews or Teams
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2005
• Referred By: ASTM F1847-14(2022) - Standard Guide for Minimum Training of Search Dog Crews or Teams
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2005

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: F1879 − 98(Reapproved 2005)
Standard Guide for
Demonstrating Obedience and Agility in Search and Rescue
Dogs
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1879; 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 3.1.4 on-lead, n—a working mode for a dog and handler
attached physically by a leash and the dog may be controlled
1.1 This guide is intended to provide voluntary uniform
by the leash.
guidelines for obedience and agility training for Search and
Rescue (SAR) dogs throughout the United States. 3.2 Definitions of terms not defined in this standard can be
found in Guide F1633 and Classification F1848.
1.2 This guide provides a minimum set of training goals
against which SAR dog teams and organizations may volun-
4. Summary of the Practice
tarily evaluate their own training programs.
4.1 This guide provides dog handlers, units and organiza-
1.3 This guide provides a means of documenting a mini-
tions in differing locales with the ability to understand and
mum standard for those agencies who request SAR dog
replicate skills and training required to meet these minimum
resources for SAR operations and require such documentation.
guidelines.
1.4 Local SAR dog handlers and parent organizations are
4.2 The obedience skills ensure the dog is under the control
responsible for testing and verifying that individual resources
of the handler sufficiently to participate in a search operation
meet or exceed these guidelines.
without interfering with other search resources, individuals,
and dogs.
2. Referenced Documents
4.3 The agility skills demonstrate the team’s abilities to
2.1 ASTM Standards:
traverse the obstacles which may be present in a search
F1633 Guide for Techniques in Land Search
situation.
F1848 Classification for Search and Rescue Dog Crew/
Teams
4.4 Dogs that work incidents involving natural disaster and
collapsed structures require all of these basic skills, as well as
3. Terminology
special techniques, and so are designated as having additional
minimum requirements.
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 agility, n—an aspect of a dog’s physical condition that
5. Significance and Use
characterizes the dog’s dexterity and ease of movement.
5.1 This guide may be used by units, handlers, and request-
3.1.2 obedience, n—an aspect of a dog’s behavior that
ing agencies when evaluating dog resources or as a basis for
characterizes the dog’s ability to follow instructions.
establishing local minimum performance guidelines or stan-
3.1.3 off-lead, n—a working mode for a dog where the dog
dards.Itissuggested,however,thatunitsandteamsnottrainto
and handler are not connected physically and the control of the
these guidelines, but rather train and work in conditions
dog is established through audible commands or visual signals.
requiring obedience and agility skills, then use these guidelines
as a uniform method of evaluating progress.
5.2 This guide does not provide a theoretical basis for how
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F32 on Search and
a search dog works, rather it describes the minimum results
RescueandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeF32.02onManagementand
Operations. desired.
Current edition approved April 1, 2005. Published April 2005. Originally
5.3 Each dog team, unit, or organization wishing to use this
approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as F1879 - 98. DOI:
10.1520/F1879-98R05.
guide has the responsibility of managing and administering it.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Units may wish to use evaluators from other units or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
organizations, or request assistance in obtaining qualified
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. evaluators from organizations, such as the SAR Dog Section of
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F1879 − 98 (2005)
the National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR) or 7. Agility Skills
the American Kennel Club (AKC) . This decision, however,
7.1 Agility skills ensure that a dog will be controlled and
rests solely with the individual team or organization. The
confident in stressful or unusual physical surroundings, such as
method of evaluation also is entirely at the discretion of each
unstable, slippery, or uneven surfaces.
user of this guide.
7.2 For dogs engaged in collapsed structure and disaster
activities, it is recommended that additional skills be demon-
6. Obedience Skills
strated (see 7.5), and that they have the ability to execute their
6.1 Obedience skills are recommended to ensure that the
movement with minimal disturbance to obstacles. These addi-
dog can be worked and transported without interference from
tional skills should demonstrate the dogs’ ability to work in an
other dogs and personnel, is under the control of the handler,
environment where things are unusual and where footings are
can be left safely and, if necessary, be evacuated by someone
loose and often move under the dogs’ weight. Dogs engaged in
other than the handler in an emergency. Both on-lead and
these activities should further demonstrate an ability to inde-
off-lead obedience skills should be demonstrated around a
pendently avoid dangerous objects and avoid causing any
group of strangers and other dogs with accompanying noise
further injury to trapped individuals.
and
...