narcotic Detection Service
Objective
This is a 21 week course, designed to equip the selected handler and dog team with the necessary experience and training to serve as an narcotic detection team. This training course ensures that the dogs are able to function in the public environment displaying calm steady temperament. They will be taught to search buildings, parcels, areas and vehicles for various narcotic substances. Great care is taken when selecting the dog and handler for training and only top candidates are selected.
Training
The course is a 21 week course during which the handler
will be required to undergo a practical and theoretical phase in order
to equip him / herself with the necessary ability to confidently carry
our his / her duties. The theoretical class will include the following
listed below:
• Identification of common narcotics
• Safety around narcotics
• How search dogs operate
• Basic training and imprinting
• Basic searches
• Conducting advanced searches
This theoretical training will run concurrently wit
the practical training as this ensures that what the handler learns in
the class room will be demonstrated on the field.
The practical training is where the new dog is being trained. After a
period of socializing with the handler and exposure to new environments,
the team begins their formal training. This training will include the
following listed below:
• Basic obedience and adaptability
• Primary imprinting and identification
• Parcel searches
• Area searches
• Vehicle searches
• Building searches
On
completion of the above training, the handler will undergo a theoretical
test as well as a practical evaluation with his / her dog. A mark of 80%
for theoretical test and a mark of 95% for the practical test will be
required in order to pass out for active service. Dogs will then undergo
monthly evaluations to ensure that the training standards are maintained.