Canine Narcotic Operations

This course is intended for trained drug detector dogs, handlers and supervisors of narcotic detection teams. This one-week training program is designed to facilitate the abilities of canine drug detection teams and will introduce several new areas of deployment. The curriculum is designed to enhance the detection skills of the canine team and will provide information related to drug investigations. The program begins with a classroom lecture, providing information ranging from the selection of handlers and canines to the acquisition and storage of drugs. Also included is a segment concerning legal issues related to deployment, recordkeeping, and courtroom testimony. As the course progresses, a series of simulations at off-site locations will allow canine teams to gain hands-on experience in effective deployment in various environments. Each class member will participate in practical exercises with a focus on problem solving in order to improve the efficiency of the canine detection team.

Course Objectives

• Understand operant and classical conditioning and their relationship to drug detection training
• Apply the principles of conditioning in training drug detection canines
• State the desired traits and testing methods used to evaluate handlers and/or canine candidates
• State different sources of potential police service dogs
• State the procedures for obtaining a DEA registration for training drugs
• Utilize procedures to acquire certified actual and pseudo training drugs from various sources
• Understand the legal responsibilities for the use, storage and disposal of training drugs
• Understand the importance and responsibility of maintaining accurate and complete training and use records to establish reliability
• Understand the concept of "goal-oriented training"

Course topics

• Selection of the Narcotic Detection Canine and Handler
• Obtaining and Storing Training Drugs
• Types of Learning
• Olfactory Acuity and Scent Theory
• Training Requirements and Standards
• Goal-Oriented Training
• Drug Detection Canine Examinations in Various Environments
• Legal Aspects in Canine Deployment Recordkeeping
• Practical Exercises and Problem Solving

To register for a class, call the contact listed with that class below:

	Course Schedule and Contacts
Date Class ID Location Contact Name Contact Phone 9/13/2010 13092 DUNCAN, SC LT. TODD HENDRIX (864)476-8131 2/7/2011 14023 TAVARES, FL RICHARD SYLVESTER (352)343-2101 5/2/2011 13977 BILLINGS, MT MIKE OLSON (406)256-2954

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