Training levels and search standards
Our assessments follow a strict procedure and the skills of the handler and the dog are tested at many levels.
The handlers are assessed on skills such as:
Recording details of missing person(s)
Ensuring that they are appropriately equipped for a search.
Devising an appropriate search strategy.
The correct way of placing their dog to give it the best chance of picking up scent.
Their awareness of any indications given by the dog and their location at the time.
Communication with the other parties involved.
Keeping track of their location, map reading.
Continuous risk assessment.
Management of the situation when they locate missing person(s).
The dog is also assessed on skills such as its ability to work independently from the handler but respond to commands, and its energy and stamina.
National standards require that handlers and their dogs take the assessment on a regular basis to stay operational.
SARDA Meridian can provide the following type of resources for searches:
Search dogs and handlers:
Level 1 dogs: These are dogs in training that have not reached operational status yet. Each dog and handler has to pass the relevant National standards assessment to reach Level 2 and Level 3. It is the dog together with its handler that is being assessed, therefore a dog can only be dispatched with a handler who successfully took the assessment with this specific dog.
The following are air scenting search dogs trained to National standards:
Level 2 dogs: They have been trained for hasty searches along routes and paths using the air scenting technique.
Level 3 dogs: In addition to hasty searches, they have been trained for searches in large areas using the air scenting technique.
Dog team support members:
Our support members have been trained in the following techniques:
Search techniques.
First aid.
Radio communications.
Navigation.
They also understand how searches involving a search dog operate and are familiar with ALSAR search procedures.
All dog handlers and support members are members of an ALSAR unit in addition to being a member of SARDA Meridian.
Our training dates as a unit are as below :-
January
3rd - Westerham
17th – West Kent
31st – Westerham
February
14th – Edenbridge
28th – Ashford
March
14th – Essex
28th – West Kent
April
11th – Westerham
25th – Edenbridge
May
9th – Ashford
23rd – Essex
June
6th – East Sussex
20th – Westerham
July
4th – Edenbridge
18th – Ashford
August
1st – Essex
15th – East Sussex
29th – Ashford
September
12th – Edenbridge
26th – Ashford
October
10th
24th
November
7th
21st
December
5th
19th