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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Maintain canine obedience
  2. Demonstrate canine agility
  3. Maintain direction and control
  4. Develop canine to indicate live human scent
  5. Manage canine in a search to locate victims

Required Skills

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit

Required Skills

adjust handling strategies in response to changing environments

adjust search strategies in response to changing environments

carry out and interpret verbal instructions

collect analyse and organise information to develop an effective search strategy

control a canine off lead including in public locations

demonstrate appropriate commands when handling a canine

handle a canine to maintain control and prevent accidents or injury to self andor others including members of the public

interpret the actions and indications given by a canine

make sound decisions in rapidly changing and often high risk environments

maintain physical fitness

manage time and priorities in response to changing environments

work with other canine search teams

Required Knowledge

alert behaviours of canines and their causes such as the bark alert spontaneous repetitive barking for twenty seconds barking which may be interspersed with digging and attempts to penetrate

Australian Urban SearchampRescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline

canine olfactory system

capabilities of canines working within USAR operations

canine behaviour

canine physiology

canine psychology

factors used to determine appropriate search strategies

organisational occupational health and safety OHampS legislation as it applies to USAR

organisational task force policies and procedures

principles of canine training including control association repetition commands rewards correction and positive motivational methodologies

principles of training a canine for obedience and agility

risk analysis

safe working systems to reduce canine related incidents

scent theory and its application to the USAR environment such as commitment to live human scent very good penetration drive being committed to the scent not leaving victim location

USAR canine search methods and techniques

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria Required Skills and Knowledge the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessment must confirm the ability to

construct direction and control course as per the requirements of the Australian Urban SearchampRescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline

follow the Australian Urban SearchampRescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline

implement USAR canine search methods and techniques

conduct a search of one search area

handle a canine to maintain control and prevent accidents or injury to self andor others including members of the public

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time under a range of conditions that would be expected in the workplace

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency must be assessed in a controlled simulated workplace environment

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to

Australian Urban SearchampRescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline

facilities as outlined in the Australian Urban SearchampRescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline

canines training to work in a USAR environment

two assessors

Method of assessment

In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision andor mentoring which is typically recorded in a competency workbook

Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment according to the workplace environment

Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an industryapproved simulated work environment Forms of assessment that are typically used include

direct observation

interviewing the candidate

journals and workplace documentation

third party reports from supervisors

written or oral questions

Range Statement

The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Basic obedience must include:

about turn

change of pace (normal pace, fast pace, slow pace)

drop

halt

heel off/on lead

left turn

right turn

sit

Emergency stop must include:

canine responding quickly upon the stop command from the canine search specialist, slowing to a stop position

position in which canine stops after being given the emergency stop command is suggested to be the down position

Recall must include:

canine quickly returning to canine search specialist and sitting in front of canine search specialist until released

Distractions may include:

banging pot lids

clapping hands

noises such as talking

walking past in front or behind canine

Agility course must include:

climbing

elevated plank

tunnel

unpleasant surface

unstable surface

and must be constructed as per the requirements of the Australian Urban Search & Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline (canine search specialist can remain in close proximity to canine but must not go in front of canine)

Required timeframe includes completing:

agility course within five minutes

alert exercise within two minutes from release of canine to the commencement of the bark alert

canine direction and control course within five minutes

simulated search within 20 minutes

Controlled, safe and appropriate manner may include:

canine search team being confident, calm and methodical

canine working off lead

managing canine in unsafe and high risk environments

working in accordance with relevant legislation, policy and guidelines

Elevation is defined in:

Australian Urban Search and Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline

Distance is defined as:

between 20 and 25 metres

Commitment to live human scent includes:

commitment to the scent

not leaving victim location

very good penetration drive

Directions may include:

back

centre/Middle

forward

left

right

Bark alert includes:

spontaneous repetitive barking for twenty seconds, which may be interspersed with digging and attempts to penetrate

Interviews must include questions that determine:

definition of search area

time of the structural collapse

type of occupancy of the structure (school, office, apartment, building, etc.)

number of suspected missing

if structure has been searched before

if structural engineer has checked the building and findings

if structure is safe to enter

if blueprints are available

if HAZMAT has checked the area and findings

if utilities have been isolated, how and by whom

if heavy rescue is available

if medical is available

if a veterinarian is available

Site assessment techniques may include:

identifying any exclusion zones

identifying hazards

incident action plan

prevailing wind and weather conditions

results of initial reconnaissance

Search strategy must include:

delineation of primary and secondary search areas based on:

information gathered from interview/s

site assessment

Canine actions, indications and characteristics must include:

ability to handle any distractions that may occur

ability to work scent cones

canine does not avoid obstacles

canine identifies live human scent with a bark alert

canine searches independently of canine search specialist

canine traverses all surfaces efficiently

canine covers search site as directed

high levels of search drive/eagerness/willingness to work

Canine actions indications and characteristics may include:

false alert

passive alert behaviours

Assistance may include:

assisting canine to traverse difficult obstacles

guiding canine

helping canine onto unstable elevated surfaces

intervening to prevent accident or injury to canine

providing motivation and support where necessary, however during an alert, support and motivation can only be provided after the canine has initiated the bark alert

stopping and restarting the search

taking appropriate breaks, rest and water

Appropriate canine care may include:

checking condition of feet pads

fatigue management

irrigating canine's eyes to remove dust

treatment as required

watering of canine as required

Legislation, policy and guidelines may include:

Australian Standards

Australian Urban Search & Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline

guidance notes

national codes of practice

organisational policies and procedures

state/territory and federal animal welfare legislation

state/territory occupational health, safety and welfare legislation and regulations

Post-search examination must include:

examining:

ears

eyes

legs

mouth

nails and bones of the foot of the canine

pads

toes

webbing between toes