The current rules of certification cover patrol, tracking, narcotics, explosive, wildlife, accelerant and cadaver dog testing. These rules are good only till December 31st, 2010.
http://www.uspcak9.com/certification/USPCARulebook2010.pdf
Proposed rule changes
Proposed rule changes Rule Change: No national scoring judge shall compete or participate in the National Trials other than in a judging capacity - ie runner, etc. Reason: To change the wording to allow a judge in a National trial to be a decoy if needed. Agreed not to all a participating judge to decoy, but can steward. Page 2, Letter J; changed to read: No national scoring judge shall compete or participate in the national trials other than in a judging or steward capacity- i.e. runner.
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Rule change: Page 2, Letter 5.b - Page 19, #10 - EDD Certification requirements - No spiked or pinch collars, electronic devices, whistles, ultrasonic devices or related aides not specifically stated herein will be allowed. Reason: To allow the use of the prong, pinch or spike collar during PDI testing. Page 2, Letter 5.b and page 19, #10 and EDD Certification requirements: Change to: Remove all references to prong, pinch or spike collars. No electronic devices, whistles, ultrasonic devices or related aides not specifically stated herein will be allowed.*********************************************************
Rule Change: Page 2, letter 5.b, Page 19, #10 and EDD certification requirements - No spiked or pinch collars, electronic devices, whistles, ultrasonic devices or related aides not specifically stated herein will be allowed. Reason: To allow the use of the DUMMY collar during USPCA Certifications to simulate the e-collar. Rule change: page 2, letter 5.b, Page 19, #10 and EDD certification requirements. No whistles, Ultrasonic devices or related aides not specifically stated herein will be allowed. A dummy collar may be used in place of the e-collar but it must be inspected by the line steward or a judge prior to all phases when the dummy collar is used.
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Rule Change: Explosive Detection Canines 1. Judges Line 3. A minimum of three judges will be used for each phase of the certification with the exception of the Odor Recognition phase. (which must use two) Remove (which must use two) and add: “which requires only one judge.” Reason: Make it necessary for only one judge for the ORT phase. There is no real judging as it is yes or no. Discussion: The EOD committee originally said two just for opinion. Rule Change Explosive Detection Canines 1. Judges Line 3. A minimum of three judges will be used for each phase of the certification with the exception of the Odor Recognition Phase which requires only one judge.*********************************************************
Rules change - Explosive Detection Canines III. Part two, Operational Testing: Line 3. Four of the six explosive compounds from the ODOR Recognition test will be used. Change to: Four of the six explosives from the Odor Recognition test will be used in the operational test. Refer to #7 of this section regarding the minimum weight per hide. Reason: To clarify the word “compounds” – removing that – and replacing with “explosives” as well as making it clear that you must use four of the six for the operational phase. The intent was to take the exact same odors from the ORT and use them in the operational (and add two more). Rules change - Explosive Detection Canines III Part two, et al. Remove the word COMPOUND anywhere it is found in the test and replace with the word EXPLOSIVE or EXPLOSIVES. (Found in multiple areas)**********************************************************
Rules Change - Criminal Apprehension with and without Gunfire. Proposed change to eliminate the gunfire from the criminal apprehension phase. Add the handler protection to the end of the apprehension phase and address the points for each phase. Reason: To reinforce the passive to gunfire theory used by some patrol and SWAT dogs in an attempt to avoid conditioning the automatic response to gunfire. Rules Change: Criminal Apprehension Phase 5. CRIMINAL APPREHENSION Guard Position – an intermediate position, sit or down, used during the search of the decoy in the Apprehension phases, this position is the handlers option. A. The dog will start from the finish position at the starting line. The decoy will be at the thirty yard line. When the handler is ready, and at the direction of the steward or judge, the decoy will start running in a straight line away from the dog. The handler will send the dog with one command after the decoy begins running. B. After the dog engages, the decoy will fight the dog for a reasonable time to allow the judges to observe the bite. The handler may call their dog from the bite at any time after the judge calls their number or signals the handler. The following two options will be available to each team: Option 1 and Option 2 - ****** No CHANGE ********** C. The handler will be penalized (once) 25 points for physically removing his dog from the bite. The only exception is the handler protection phase with a physical removal limited to a 10 point deduction. The handler will remove the dog, bring the dog to the finish position continuing the exercise. NOTE: The team can only be penalized 25 points (10 points handler protection). Prior additional deduction points for extra commands, slow release, finish, etc., cannot be added to physical removal points. D. The handler will do a complete search of the decoy. There will be no simulated searches. The search will consist of both arms, both legs and the torso of the decoy. E. The dog will remain in the commanded guard position during the search or until the handler is assaulted. 7. HANDLER PROTECTION TESTA. The handler protection test will be integrated with the criminal apprehension and will begin when the handler leaves the dog in a guard position for the search after the apprehension. B. After the initial bite and the dog is placed in a guard position (as described in one of the two options) the search is conducted. The handler will do a complete search of the decoy. (arms, legs, torso) There will be no simulated searches. C. The assault shall be no less than an aggressive move or motion towards the handler by the decoy, with his arm and no more than one contact of the decoy’s arm to the handlers body. Either must be obvious to the judges. D. Once the handler is assaulted, the dog will respond automatically and sustain the bite until commanded to release by the handler as detailed in the above options one and two. Scoring: Drop the 100 points assigned to the event and thus the total score of PDI would be 600. To earn a PDI, you would need a score of 420. to earn national points, the score would be 480. The total for the apprehension phase would be 240 with the 70% being 168.***********************************************************
Rules change – Under Criminal Apprehension with Gunfire - Change the number of shots fired during the Apprehension with gunfire phase. Reason: 38 blanks are difficult to find (expensive) plus cutting back on the amount of stimulation to the canine. Rules change - 6. Criminal Apprehension with Gunfire: A. All guns used in this phase must be capable of firing 38-caliber blanks. Guns will be loaded with two live blanks and will be checked by a judge or steward before and after this phase. B. Two shots will be fired, at the direction of the steward or judge, but no shots will be fired once the dog is within fifteen feet of the decoy. D. The dog will start from the finish position at the starting line. The decoy will be at the thirty yard line. When the handler is ready and at the direction of the steward or judge, the decoy will start firing and begin running in a straight line away from the dog. ( no penalty if the dog goes after the first shot) If the dog must be commanded, then only one command will be used. Note; The first shot is to be fired before the runner moves and the 2nd shot fired after the decoy is running, but before the apprehension ************************************************************** Rules Change: 3. Judges and Judging: B.1 The Chief Judge at Region Certifications shall have the same responsibilities, but may be a scoring judge if needed, and must be from an outside Region. Remove “and must be from an outside Region.” Reason: To make the PDI Chief Judge requirement match the Detector Chief Judge requirement and to allow regions to use their own members as chief judges. Rules Change: PDI Certification 3. Judges and Judging B.1 The chief judge at Region certifications shall have the same responsibilities, but may be a scoring judge if needed. Chief Judges for a regional trial may be from that Region, but a Chief Judge for a National Trial must be from outside the host region.********************************************************
Rules Change: PDI Certification 5. Test Requirements: J. Any extreme or abusive correction or treatment of a dog – loss of temper or display of poor sportsmanship by the handler – will result in immediate disqualification from the certification. Reason: To clarify who makes this decision at the time of the offense and who is consulted. Rules Change: PDI Certification 5. Test Requirements: J. Any extreme or abusive correction or treatment of a dog - loss of tempter or display of poor sportsmanship by the handler – will result in disqualification from the certification as determined by the Chief Judge. . (remove the word immediate) *********************************************************** Criminal Apprehension – score sheets for gunfire and without gunfire: Change the deductions taken for the call off during these phases. Currently listed under minor deductions as ½ to 10 and ½ to 20. Reason: Because of the importance of the call off, it seems it should be more important or as important as the bite points wise. Criminal Apprehension – Score sheets for Gunfire, without Gunfire On the Criminal Apprehension score sheet - Under Apprehension without gunfire: Major Deductions List Call – off ½ to 20 (no longer listed under minor deductions)List Physical Removal finish, call off and commands as -35 On the Criminal Apprehension with Gunfire under Apprehension with Gunfire: Major Deductions Call off ½ to 20 ( no longer listed under minor deductions) Physical Removal finish, call off and commands as -35. On the Criminal Apprehension with Gunfire under Handler Protection: Call off ½ to 10 ( no longer listed under minor deductions) Physical removal finish, call off and commands as -20.*********************************************************
Explosives Certification - Under judges: #1 The Chief judge for this test must have a background in explosive detection, either as an explosive detection trainer or handler or has successfully completed the ATF evaluators course.