DOGS-East

Search Evaluation Study Guide

Study topics and skills for DOGS-East search evaluations, including 20/20, 160 acre day, and 40 acre night problems.

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20/20 Evaluation Topics

For the 20/20, the handler should be able to answer the following questions or demonstrate the following skills.

I. Search Strategy

  • Explain at least three ways to search an area.
  • Understand why those three methods were chosen.
  • Explain why they may want to use a different strategy after beginning a search.
  • Explain what areas might not be covered when changing search strategy.
  • Use natural boundaries to their advantage, such as streams, ridges, and trails.

II. Navigation

  • Explain at least two ways to check a landmark.
  • Use a compass bearing to go from point A to point B.
  • Locate where they have been while searching the sector.
  • Mark clues, alerts, and victim location on the map.

III. Clues

  • Explain what a clue is.
  • Explain how to mark a clue in the field.
  • Know what to include when marking a clue on a map.
  • Explain how to mark a visual clue or dog alert in the field.
  • Explain what to do if a body is found in the field.

IV. Radio

  • Perform a radio check before getting too far from Base.
  • Change batteries on the radio being used.
  • Ask which channel Base is working on.
  • Know what to do if Base does not have the DOGS-East radio frequency.
  • Know whether DOGS-East has call letters.
  • Communicate to Base where a clue, alert, or victim was found.
  • Know the three status numbers and what they mean.
  • Know the distress code in Virginia.

V. Subject Characteristics

  • Ask for a physical description of the subject.
  • Ask about the type, color, and size of clothing being worn.
  • Determine the mental state of the subject.
  • Ask whether the subject takes medication and how that may affect search strategy.
  • Ask whether the subject was armed when they disappeared.

VI. POD / PLS

  • Explain what POD is.
  • Explain how to determine POD.
  • Explain why POD is important.
  • Explain what PLS is.
  • Explain how the PLS changes.

VII. Dog Skills

  • Dog actively searches for human scent.
  • Dog remains focused.
  • Dog avoids distraction from the handler, animals, or surroundings.
  • Dog is at ease in the woods.
  • Dog gives a recognizable alert.
  • After alerting, dog follows up and goes into the victim.
  • After going into the victim, dog returns directly to the handler.
  • Dog performs a refind.
  • Dog returns to the handler on the first call when called in the field.
  • Dog leaves a distraction when told to “leave it” by the handler.
  • Handler can control the dog off lead in the field.

IX. Team Work

  • Handler and dog get along.
  • Dog can work even if the handler is not at ease or not feeling well.
  • Handler recognizes when the dog needs to rest.
  • Handler can tell if the dog is not working.
  • Handler can determine how much area was covered, depending on how the dog works.
  • Handler understands how ranging ability affects how they work their sector.
  • Handler knows when to say the team has had enough.

160 Acre Day and 40 Acre Night Problems

For the 160 acre and 40 acre night problems, the handler must be able to answer these additional questions and have mastered these additional skills.

X. Search Management, Dispatch, and Field Skills

  • Assess the scenario and understand search management and dispatch procedures.
  • Explain what to do if they are the first team on scene.
  • Decide how many more dog teams or other resources need to be called.
  • Explain what POA is and how it is determined.
  • Dog goes back to work after making a find.
  • Dog avoids distractions.
  • Dog tries to follow up mild and moderate alerts.
  • Handler sees mild alerts.
  • Handler can call or halt the dog in the field.
  • Handler knows when they or their dog need a break.
  • Handler can differentiate between alerts on animal scent and human scent.
  • Handler marks the map with travel, wind, alerts, clues, and finds.
  • Handler can report current coordinates back to Base.
  • Handler responds to changing conditions or clues in the field.
  • Handler gets extra information from Base when appropriate.
  • Handler can accurately debrief area searched, POD, and recommendations for additional resources.
  • Handler understands differences in scent movement at night.
  • Handler can navigate at night.

XI. Critical Items

On the 160 acre day and 40 acre night evaluations, if these items are rated as poor, the team automatically fails.

  • Handler maintained control of the dog.
  • Dog returned directly to the handler after finding the subject or stayed with the victim and barked.
  • Dog took its handler directly back to the subject.
  • Dog team covered the area effectively.
  • Dog and handler made an effective team.
  • Handler recognized the dog’s alerts.
  • Handler maintained orientation at night.
  • Handler marked the map accurately.