ASTM F1879-98

Standard Guide for Demonstrating Obedience and Agility in Search and Rescue Dogs

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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Apr-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• Replaced By: ASTM F1879-98(2005) - Standard Guide for Demonstrating Obedience and Agility in Search and Rescue Dogs (Withdrawn 2014)
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2005
• Referred By: ASTM F3070-14(2022) - Standard Guide for Evaluating Area Search Dog Crews or Teams
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1998
• Referred By: ASTM F3144-15(2022) - Standard Guide for Evaluating Trailing Search Dog Crews or Teams
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1998
• Referred By: ASTM F1847-14(2022) - Standard Guide for Minimum Training of Search Dog Crews or Teams
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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:F1879–98
Standard Guide for
Demonstrating Obedience and Agility in Search and Rescue
Dogs
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1879; 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 4. Summary of the Practice
1.1 This guide is intended to provide voluntary uniform 4.1 This guide provides dog handlers, units and organiza-
guidelines for obedience and agility training for Search and tions in differing locales with the ability to understand and
Rescue (SAR) dogs throughout the United States. replicate skills and training required to meet these minimum
1.2 This guide provides a minimum set of training goals guidelines.
against which SAR dog teams and organizations may volun- 4.2 The obedience skills ensure the dog is under the control
tarily evaluate their own training programs. of the handler sufficiently to participate in a search operation
1.3 This guide provides a means of documenting a mini- without interfering with other search resources, individuals,
mum standard for those agencies who request SAR dog and dogs.
resources for SAR operations and require such documentation. 4.3 The agility skills demonstrate the team’s abilities to
1.4 Local SAR dog handlers and parent organizations are traverse the obstacles which may be present in a search
responsible for testing and verifying that individual resources situation.
meet or exceed these guidelines. 4.4 Dogs that work incidents involving natural disaster and
collapsed structures require all of these basic skills, as well as
2. Referenced Documents
special techniques, and so are designated as having additional
2.1 ASTM Standards: minimum requirements.
F 1633 Guide for Techniques in Land Search
5. Significance and Use
F 1848 Classification of Search and Rescue Dog Crew/
Teams 5.1 This guide may be used by units, handlers, and request-
ing agencies when evaluating dog resources or as a basis for
3. Terminology
establishing local minimum performance guidelines or stan-
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: dards.Itissuggested,however,thatunitsandteamsnottrainto
3.1.1 agility, n—an aspect of a dog’s physical condition that
these guidelines, but rather train and work in conditions
characterizes the dog’s dexterity and ease of movement. requiring obedience and agility skills, then use these guidelines
3.1.2 obedience, n—an aspect of a dog’s behavior that
as a uniform method of evaluating progress.
characterizes the dog’s ability to follow instructions. 5.2 This guide does not provide a theoretical basis for how
3.1.3 off-lead, n—a working mode for a dog where the dog
a search dog works, rather it describes the minimum results
and handler are not connected physically and the control of the desired.
dog is established through audible commands or visual signals.
5.3 Each dog team, unit, or organization wishing to use this
3.1.4 on-lead, n—a working mode for a dog and handler guide has the responsibility of managing and administering it.
attached physically by a leash and the dog may be controlled
Units may wish to use evaluators from other units or organi-
by the leash. zations, or request assistance in obtaining qualified evaluators
3.2 Definitions of terms not defined in this standard can be
from organizations, such as the SAR Dog Section of the
found in Guide F 1633 and Classification F 1848. National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR) or the
American Kennel Club (AKC) . This decision, however, rests
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F32 on Search and
Rescue and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F32.02 on Management and National Associatio for Search and Rescue, 4500 Southgate Place, Suite 100,
Operations. Chantilly, VA 20151-1714.
Current edition approved April 10, 1998. Published June 1998. The American Kennel Club, 5580 Centerview Drive, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 13.02. 27606-3390.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F1879–98
solely with the individual team or organization. The method of 7.2 For dogs engaged in collapsed structure and disaster
evaluation also is entirely at the discretion of each user of this activities, it is recommended that additional skills be demon-
guide. strated (see 7.5), and that they have the ability to execute their
movement with minimal disturbance to obstacles. These addi-
6. Obedience Skills
tional skills should demonstrate the dogs’ ability to work in an
6.1 Obedience skills are recommended to ensure that the
environment where things are unusual and where footings are
dog can be worked and transported without interference from
loose and often move under the dogs’ weight. Dogs engaged in
other dogs and personnel, is under the control of the handler,
these activities should further demonstrate an ability to inde-
can be left safely and, if necessary, be evacuated by someone
pendently avoid dangerous objects and avoid causing any
other than the handler in an emergency. Both on-lead and
further injury to trapped individuals.
off-lead obedience skills should be demonstrated around a
7.3 For safety reasons, it is recommended that spotters be
group of strangers and other dogs with accompanying noise
available when dogs are demonstrating a
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