CONGRATULATIONS - K9 Search & Rescue Technician Course

[Daryl]

I would just like to pass on my congratulations to all those from Berkshire Search & Rescue Dogs and Lowland Search Dogs - South Wales, that passed the K9 Search & Rescue Technician course today at Sullhamstead Police Training College.

[Darren]

Group photo

[Daz Hagan]

,

[Pete]

This was a Berkshire SAR Dogs course aimed at getting support qualified to the ALSAR search tech syllabus, this was the first course ran of this type and was mentioned at the last LSDogs meeting.

Concentrating on (but not solely):

Foot searching.
Communiations
Navigation.
SOC.
Scent theory.
Search dogs.

This is not the entire syllabus but an idea of what was covered, it was aimed at support for dog teams. Also invited were LSDogs South Wales as Berkshire are their mentoring unit.

Following the course and the feedback gained it is very much hoped that others will run this type of course and that other unit members will attend the next one following this trial.

Pete.

[Daz Hagan]

.

[Mark]

Well done and congratulations to all of you

[Daryl]

The course was run containing the minimum syllabus required by ALSAR, using staff that we approved by ALSAR with grandad rights. The course was actually the same as another ALSAR units course with additional K9 elements added.

The course was run by people that have been running ALSAR SAR Tech courses for 5 years or more. To the best of my knowledge (unless this has changed recently without me and other ALSAR team instructors knowledge) ALSAR only insist that a syllabus is covered. I am not aware of a requirement for ALSAR observers - after all, what do they know about dogs!

[Pete]

Have checked the LSDogs COP and Manual:

COP:

Personnel Qualifications. Dog handler.

Quote. "have attended an ALSAR, or equivalent standard Basic Search Techniques course." End Quote.

Manual:

Personnel Qualifications. Dog Handler.

Quote. "Have attended an ALSAR standard Basic Search Techniques course." End Quote.

Neither state that it must be ran by ALSAR, only that it must attain their 'standard', i.e. Their syllabus.

Pete.

[Mojo]

Congratulations from all in rainny Cheshire

From an ALSAR point of view, they have very little say as LSDogs is a seperate organisation within it's own rights. This decision remains within the Exec Committee/Managment Team of LSDogs and no-body else.

ALSAR have very clear guideline's, but even then, it is constantly being reviewed and up-dated.

All the credit here should go to the organiser's of the course and to the candidate's who qualified. If a course was available up north, we'd sure be booking places. However we are looking to travel to access such courses and credit must go where it's due.

Daz, if you want ALSAR's policy then PM me, or why not join me by saying "Congrat's"???

Mojo x

[Merlin]

Cheers Mojo!