DOG ASSESSMENT STANDARDS - Sardog

DOG ASSESSMENT STANDARDS 

Assessment standards shall be those set by the UK Fire Service USAR Dog Team, these standards, 

may where required be upgraded, altered, or added to. 

PREREGUISITES FOR DOG 

Before grading the dog must meet the standards set out below. 

• Be fully vaccinated annually for the UK 

• Rabies vaccination for overseas teams (not a requirement for ND dog teams) 

• Regular treatment for parasites/worms 

• Be Micro-chipped for identification purposes 

• Qualify for the Pet Travel Scheme (overseas) (not a requirement for ND dog teams) 

• Insured via their individual brigade / group scheme 

• Hold membership of the UK Fire Service USAR Dog Team 

DOG GRADING STANDARDS 

LEVEL ONE (Development) 

• A dog / handler who will be under the supervision of a trainer / mentor who will be working 

towards an operational grading. 

LEVEL TWO (Competent) Operational dog team. 

• However, in order to gain experience whilst guaranteeing best practice on the incident ground, 

it is recommended that these teams work in conjunction with an experienced team for the first 

12 months after their grading process. 

LEVEL THREE (Competent) International deployments. 

• The handler has met all the required competencies for overseas deployments. Not a 

requirement for ND dog teams 

The dog’s logbook will illustrate the theoretical and practical aspects that need to be achieved for each 

grading level. These areas must be signed off before practical grading can take place. 

GRADING, CERTIFICATION 

Initial grading for Level 2 and International deployments (Level 3) 

• To be deemed competent the dog and handler have to achieve competency in all modules of 

these standards. 

• The areas used for the assessments will be predetermined and assessors selected via the USAR 

dog team and communicated to dog teams a minimum of one calendar month before the 

assessment day. 

• All course criteria must be completed by the handler and signed off, before any dog team can 

be put forward for the grading. All handlers will need to demonstrate by means of their logbook 

that all relevant course criteria has been completed and signed off, by means of a competent 

person. 

Chris Pritchard UK Fire Service USAR Dog Team © - 1 - Version 8.0b

RE- EVALUATION OF DOG TEAMS 

A UK Fire Service USAR dog team comprising of a handler and dog who have successfully 

demonstrated the practical performance skills for level 2 and international deployments (level 3) 

must: 

• Maintain operational certification, teams must attend a national training event at least once 

in every 3 months to demonstrate continued operational competency. Training 

events will be held at least once every month. 

• Under the role of an USAR dog team (certificated team) all competency levels must be 

demonstrated and evaluated within every 12 month period to maintain operational 

certification. 

• These training sessions are aimed to identify individual teams training needs and to reevaluation 

the operational readiness of each team on a continued basis. A training plan will 

be discussed and agreed for each team attending these sessions. If the training need is of a 

competency issue or is safety critical, teams may be removed from the operational register 

until competency can be demonstrated. 

• These competences will consist of a minimum of the following: 

! 4 searches per year, collapsed structure searches. 

! 2 searches per year, building searches. 

! 2 searches per year, immediate area searches. 

! Obedience, demonstrated twice yearly. 

! Agility, demonstrated twice yearly. 

• These searches must consist of a mixture of day and night searches. 

• This will also include any theoretical work that encompasses USAR SAR Dog work. 

• This will be signed off in each of the handlers training logbooks by a competent person. 

• If these sessions are not attended, teams will be removed from the operational register 

until competency levels have been demonstrated at the next available training session. 

GRADING PANELS 

Level two Operational dog team 

• Each prospective trainee dog team will be assessed by their trainer/mentor when deemed 

ready for grading to level two. 

• A assessment / grading panel will be made up of the following personnel: 

! Two UK Fire Service USAR dog team assessors. 

! One assessor from a professional outside agency (home office accredited, Police 

Dog Handler / Trainer), (NUSARDG) 

Level three International deployments 

• The handler has demonstrated competency in the areas required for overseas deployments. 

Assessment dates 

• These will take place as and when needed, depending on the availability of dog teams requiring 

grading. 


Scoring system 

• The scoring system for the practical assessments will be Competent or Not Yet Competent 

for each exercise of the module. If competency is not demonstrated the assessors will issue 

the handler with a written documented plan to assist the team to improve in these areas. 

IDENTIFICATION OF DOGS 

• All Fire Service USAR dogs must wear the issued colour coded identification dog disc on their 

collar when in a public place. 

• At all other times when working: 

! A high visibility harness must be worn for collapsed structural searches. 

Unless deemed unsafe by a dynamic risk assessment carried out by the 

handler. 

! For immediate area a high visibility harness or Fire Service Search & Rescue 

dog jacket must be worn to identify the dog. 

Colour coding of dog discs 

• Green – Trainee USAR Dog 

• Yellow – Operational USAR Dog 

Front of disc: Fire Service SAR Dog 

Back: Name of dog and 24 hr emergency contact number (Local FRS control 

number) 

• Red – Operational USAR and International Deployment Dog 

Front of disc: UK Fire Service SAR Dog 

Back: Name of dog and 24 hr emergency contact number 0044 + (Local FRS control 

number) 

COURSE CRITERIA 

• All handler qualifications relating to USAR dog work will be set collectively by USAR dog 

team. 

LEVEL TWO OPERATIONAL DOG TEAM 

• Minimum age of dog must be 12 months. 

• Pass 2 x six monthly review processes with a competent handler / trainer. 

• Successfully pass a practical dog assessment to level two. 

• Verbal questioning may be used to support the underpinning knowledge in the following 

areas. 

- Health and Safety 

- Environment and socialisation training 

- Obedience 

- Open area searches for urban/rural areas 

- Collapsed structure search 

- Building search 

- Protocols for working within the inner cordon 

- Operational handling skills and how teams are deployed 

- Working in temperate and hot climates 

- Understanding the stages of training for USAR dog 

- Capabilities and limitations 

- Dog training issues for both handler and dogs 

- Maintaining training logs 


- Training of dogs to basic and advanced obedience 

- Transportation of dogs 

- Basic dog handling safety precautions 

- Safe systems of work for operational deployment 

- Understanding of the scent picture (transportation of scent) 

- Understand the principles and stages of training search dogs 

- Agility training 

- Understand the Kennel Club good citizen system 

- Risk Assessments 

- Rope work (access & egress) 

- Search management 

- Forensic evidence procedure 

- Continuation training 

- Factors affecting searches 

- Environmental training 

- Types of searches 

- Degrees of difficulty in search areas 

- Selection of training areas 

- Variety in training areas 

- Indication training 

- Loss to the dog’s standard of efficiency 

- Understand and use of Fire Service SAR Dog training log books 

- Understanding of the factors affecting a search dog team (capabilities and limitations) 

- Incident Command System 

- Standards for dog personal protective equipment 

Understanding of animal husbandry and in particular: 

- Hygiene 

- Grooming and bathing 

- Feeding 

- Exercise 

- Kennel management (accommodation / kennel hygiene) 

Understanding of and being able to provide advice on canine first aid: 

- Veterinary inspection positions 

- Principles of canine first aid 

- Common ailments and injuries 

- The transmission of infectious diseases 

- Maintenance of health and safety in sub-tropical countries 

- Internal and external parasites 

- Guide to a healthy dog 

- Signs of injury 

- Taking the dogs vital signs 

- Methods of temperature taking 

- Administration of medicines 

- Diarrhoea / loose motions 

- Choking / airway management 

- Sprain’s 

- Strings 

- Coughs 

- Kennel sores 

- Pads 

- Vomiting 

- Infectious / contagious diseases 


• Logbook 

The Logbook will illustrate competence in the following subjects by means of 

completed continuation training sheets. 

! Obedience 

! Night searches 

! Day searches 

! Working at height 

! Agility 

! Confined space training 

! Urban searches 

! Rural searches 

! Collapsed structure searches 

! Area Searches 

! Transportation of dogs 

! Working with distractions 

! Multiple causalities 

! Varying degrees of difficulty in hide locations 

Additional courses 

! USAR, or similar recognised course 

! Risk Assessment (awareness / course 

! Incident Command Structure 

! First aid / trauma course 

! Recognised Rope course, including abseiling / descending with dog 

! Helicopter/ aircraft dog transportation instruction 

! Radio communication procedures 

! Search Management course (desirable) 

INTERNATIONAL DEPLOYMENTS 

• All theoretical and practical aspects level two must be completed. 

• Verbal and logbook evidence may be used to show competence in the following areas. 

! Fluid management / dehydration for the dog 

! Shock 

! Wounds 

! Pressure points 

! Internal bleeding recognition 

! Fractures 

! Poisoning 

! Heatstroke 

! Eye injuries 

! Ear injuries 

! Animal bites 

! Snake bites 

! Constipation 

! Mouth problems 

! Skin problems 

! Abscesses 

! Anal glands irritation 

! Suturing 

! Antibiotics 

! Euthanasia 

! Stress relief 

! Working for extended search periods 

! Working around different distractions as illustrated in logbook 


! Extremes in cold or hot weather, dust and smoke or strong unpleasant odours etc 

! Cadaver training 

! Working competently on recent collapsed structures (excessive disturbance) 

Additional courses 

! Basic Veterinary awareness course 

! Camp management skills (overseas) 

! Awareness training on deployment of SAR dog teams overseas 

DEPLOYMENT PROCEDURES FOR UK FIRE SERVICE USAR DOG TEAMS 

DEPLOYMENT 

• Under no circumstances must a Level one trainee dog be deployed to an 

operational search operation. 

• Only level two and three dog teams can be mobilised for search operations. 

• When an operational dog team/s are called out to a search, it is required that the next 

available dog team/s be notified immediately and put on standby for deployment. This 

procedure is continued until adequate dogs are available at the search site. Best practice will 

dictate that at least two dogs are required for any single incident in order to facilitate 

confirmation of a find. 

• An appointed USAR coordinator will manage the deployment and operational co-ordination 

of these teams. 

INTERNATIONAL DEPLOYMENT 

• Only level three dog teams can be deployed for overseas search work, these teams will be 

on standby on a rotational system, as agreed/approved by UKFSSART. 

LIST OF OPERATIONAL DOGS 

• A list of all UK Fire Service USAR dog teams will be distributed annually to the Fire Services, 

Police forces and government SAR organisations. These lists will be updated regularly by the 

national coordinator. 

SPONSORS / MEDIA 

All handlers and their dogs when ever possible give full support to our sponsors, Masterfoods 

(Pedigree) 

• Sponsors logo, clothing etc. should be displayed at 

every available opportunity when dog and handler 

teams are in public places or being deployed. 

• All media coverage, whether radio, television or 

newspaper, teams should endeavour to promote the 

team’s sponsors, through logos or words. Any major 

or controversial media release must be approved by 

the team external relations co-ordinator or user 

group. 

EQUIPMENT 

• Any equipment issued by the USAR dog team will always remain the property of the UK Fire 

Service USAR dog team if purchased via team sponsorship. Equipment must be cared for 

and kept in a clean state for immediate operational use. All equipment issued to a handler 

will be signed for upon receipt, and an equipment register will be maintained for audit 

purposes. 


APPENDIX A 

OBEDIENCE PRACTICAL MODULE 

These exercises are designed to test the working relationship between dog and handler. The 

commands will focus on situations that the team will use on a daily basis to control, exercise and work 

the dog. 

The actual sequence of the exercises will be communicated on the day of the assessment. 

Timings: 10 minutes for individual obedience on / off lead. (Module A) 

15 minutes for group session on / off lead. (Module A) 

20 minutes for loose working obedience. (Module B) 

Any dog that shows aggression towards another dog or person may be disqualified from the 

assessment at any time. All assessors must agree on this decision before the team can be disqualified. 

BASIC OBEDIENCE (module A) 

• The exercise will contain obedience heel work on and off the lead incorporating: 

! Right and left turns 

! About turns 

! Halts 

! Recalls 

! Stays 

! Sit and down commands 

! Changes in pace (normal, fast and slow) 

! Long stay 5 minutes, handler 50 m away from dog. Handler can command the 

dog to stay at any time with hand and voice commands. Dog must not move 

more than a body length in any direction. 

• This test will be carried out individually and in a group session. 

• The dog must heel with its shoulder at knee level, to the left side of the handler. 

• Any undue lagging or distancing to the side or rear of the handler by the dog will be 

discouraged, as will undue corrections and pressure from the handler. In severe cases the 

assessment panel may fail the team. 

LOOSE WORKING OBEDIENCE (module B) 

In order for the team to carry out effective searches, the dog must demonstrate the ability to be 

directed and controlled by the handler via audible and/or either visual signal. 

• The actual test sequence will be communicated on the day of the assessment. 

• The dog will be off the lead under the direct control of their handler, unless stated by the 

assessors. 

• A predetermined course may be designed or incorporated into the search modules. 

• The assessors may ask for the following during the exercise: - 

! Directional control 

! To leave a desirable item that the dog may come across and return to handler 

! Heel work 

! Halting the dog at distance (drop recall) 

! Control and direct the dog around a situation (E.G. a stray dog) 

! Recalling the dog when asked 

! Drop recall 


! Using additional words of command to get the dog to negotiate specific obstacles 

(E.G. Walls and other similar natural obstacles) 

! Examples: - 

! Up 

! Over 

! Through 

There are no restrictions on hand signals and voice commands that can be given to the dog during the 

exercise. 

SEARCH WORK PRACTICAL MODULES 

The handler will need to demonstrate the practical aspects regarding operational search procedures, 

including a theoretical question and answer session by the assessors. 

• Demonstrate a full understanding of the following: - 

• Safe Systems of Work for a USAR dog team. 

• Familiarisation of the area (search brief from assessor team). 

• Risk assessment of the area and take the appropriate measures needed. 

• Give a search brief to safety person. 

• Preparation of team for search. 

• Free search. 

• Systematic search. 

• Fingertip close search. 

• Perimeter search. 

• Rope access / safety line work. 

• Reporting points of interest or indications to safety person / assessors. 

• Demonstrate a full body check of their dog for any injuries that may have been sustained 

during the search. 

• The different types of search de-brief 

• Carry out personal administration to prepare the team for next search. 

Exercise timings 

• 20 - 30 minutes for COLLAPSED STRUCTURE SEARCH (Module A) 

• 15 minutes for INDOOR BUILDING SEARCH (Module B) 

• 1 hour for IMMEDIATE AREA SEARCH (Module C) 

Casualties 

• Individuals that are acting as trapped casualties or lost individuals will be in place at least 30 

minutes before an assessment commences. 

• Casualty locations and number of casualties will be decided on the day of the assessment by the 

grading panel for each of the modules. These will vary from 0 – 5 casualties per search and 

may include a blank search area with no causalities. 

Hide locations 

• Height / Depth of hides will vary according to conditions available on the day and should include 

a partially hidden casualty. 

• All casualties will be concealed from view in pre-constructed hides, conforming to the Health 

and Safety Work act 1974. 

• The hides should be constructed to prevent the dog from gaining direct access to the casualties. 

Risk Assessments 

• A generic risk assessment will take place before the day of the assessment. 

• A dynamic risk assessment will also be carried out on the day of the assessment. 

• Each team will also continue this risk assessment constantly during the exercise. 


Disturbance / Distractions / Noise of the search area 

• All areas must be totally disturbed 1hr before any assessment takes place, by either a group of 

persons criss-crossing the area causing as much disturbance as possible or using plant 

machinery to cause the same affect. 

• To simulate the noise of a disaster environment the following equipment should be used: - 

! Running machinery (generators) 

! Rescue tools 

! Audio tapes can also be used to simulate the above 

• The collapsed structure searches must contain the following associated scents from a recently 

lived 

in dwelling: 

! Clothing 

! Furniture & other domestic appliances 

! Food items 

! Disturbance 

! Traces of recent human scent in area 

Additional scents / distractions 

! Cadaver scent 

! Live animals 

Working the dog 

• The handler may use a variety of verbal commands and hand signals to direct the dog 

throughout the search. This will include any specialist safety equipment that may be required 

for working at height or near an exposed edge. 

Indication 

Due to the variety of different types of searches carried out by the UK Fire Service USAR Dog Teams 

across the United Kingdom, there are two types of indications that are allowed to be used on the 

assessment. 

! The Bounce Back (refind) 

! The Stand Over 

! 

The assessors must be informed of the type of indication that the dog will give before the 

commencement of the search module assessments. 

• The dog’s indication must be positive by barking and staying in the direct vicinity of the 

casualty/s for a minimum of 30 seconds. The indication can also include as well as barking 

digging and attempts to reach the casualty/s. Once this time limit has expired the assessor will 

then inform the handler to continue with the search. 

• If the dog only shows interest in a specific area without giving the standard indication, the 

handler must inform the assessors immediately so this can be recorded. All assessors must 

agree by using their own experience that the dog has shown sufficient interest and can be 

credited with the find. 

• One false indication is allowed on each of the search modules. This will be down to the 

assessors to determine the source and the reason why the dog has given an indication. 

• Any handler that intentionally makes their dog false indicate with excessive verbal 

encouragement will fail the assessment. 

Dog toys 

• Toys can be used during the search modules, as reward for a positive indication. Approval must 

be sort from the assessment panel on each occasion. 


SEARCH AREAS 

COLLASPED STRUCTURE SEARCH (Module A) 

• The size of the buildings will be approximately, 30 metres by 30 metres with multiple floor 

levels that will need to be accessed safely by the team. It should consist predominantly of 

concrete and bricks or a mixture of materials common to disaster sites. 

• Within a search area consisting of multiple buildings 200m x 200m minimum. 

• A minimum of 4 searches will be required incorporating day and night searches. 

INDOOR BUILDING SEARCH (Module B) 

• The search area will be made up of an area that has a minimum of two storeys containing no 

less than fifteen rooms. The building must also contain an area that has a darkened area / sub 

terrain, where the team can carry out a search under artificial light. 

• A minimum of 2 searches will be required at day and night. 

IMMEDIATE AREA SEARCH (Module C) 

• An open area approximately 1000m by 1000m containing a typical cross section of urban and 

rural areas. 

• A minimum of 2 searches will be required at day and night. 

• All these searches will be carried out over a minimum of a 36hr period. 

• Multiple casualties from 0 -5 will be placed on each search. 

• 1 miss of a casualty will be allowed during the grading process. 

• 2 mistakes are allowed by the handler during this process. See additional 

documentation. 

AGILITY PRACTICAL MODULE 

This will be incorporated into all the practical search scenarios. 

• The exercises will be of a design to simulate actual obstacles that may be encountered on an 

operational task and specific actions that will need to be carried out by the team whilst being 

operational. 

• The handler can use as many different verbal commands and hand signals to direct the dog. 

• The dog will work off the lead (loose) under the direct control of their handler. 

The assessors will be looking for: 

• Handlers and dogs working as a team 

• The dogs negotiating different types of surfaces, materials and other obstacles with confidence. 

! Slippery surfaces 

! Piles of unstable materials 

! Dense vegetation 

! Working at height 

! Confined space entry / egress 

• If the dog shows signs of excessive stress during these exercises, the assessors may stop the 

process at any time if this is the case. 

Pre – grading course work 

These exercises need to be carried out with competent personnel and signed off in their log book 

before the grading process. 

• Appropriate protective safety equipment will be available for these exercises. 

! ladder climb and working at height in conjunction with working at height equipment 

! Being transported via a Mobile Platform

DOG ASSESSMENT STANDARDS - Sardog

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