IWDA Detection Instructor

General arguments

 Introduction and Ethology

  • A career as Detection Dogs Trainer
  • Evolution of the Canine
  • Canine Taxonomy
  • Canine Ethology
  • Breeding and breeds
  • Reading and Understanding Canine Language
  • Stress signals
  • Selecting and testing puppies, young dogs and adults

Psychology

  • Applied Dog Behavior
  • Theory of learning
  • Clicker Training
  • Shaping, Luring, Capturing
  • Drives in dogs
  • Consequences of behavior: reinforcement and punishment
  • Behavior Problems
  • Effective Behavior Analysis
  • Dominance, Aggression and fears

Detection Training

  • Drive development
  • How to grow puppies and work with them
  • Understanding and assessing the different drives
  • How to start a training: food drive, play drive, hunt drive, prey drive
  • Record keeping
  • Think, Plan, Do, Analize
  • Detection Training Equipment: lines, collars, harnesses, boxes, remote devices

Protocols

  • Training management and planning
  • How to use protocols
  • How to create protocols
  • Training records
  • Think Plan Do Analyze

Training Detection Dogs

  • Imprinting
  • Searching
  • Alert
  • Emotional alert vs. trained alert

Learn to be a trainer

  • Teaching to Dog Handlers
  • Creating Effective Lesson Plans
  • Classroom management
  • How to built up exercises
  • Dogs assessment
  • Handler assessment

Advanced Detection training

  • Veichles
  • People
  • Buildings
  • Open Area
  • Water
  • High hides/ deep hides

Certificates and assessment

  • Supervision and management of K9 units
  • Certifications “Scenario based”
  • How to evaluate a team

Specializations

  • Training a Narcotic or Mobile Phone Detection Dog
    • Imprinting
    • Searching
    • Alert
    • Handling
    • Search Methods
    • Narcotic and mobile phones

    Training an Explosive Detection Dog

    • Imprinting
    • Searching
    • Alert
    • Handling
    • Search Methods
    • Explosives and explosives device

    Training a Human Remains Detection Dog

    • Imprinting
    • Searching
    • Alert
    • Handling
    • Search Methods
    • Death and decomposition

    Training a Conservation Detection Dog

    • Imprinting
    • Searching
    • Alert
    • Handling
    • Search Methods
    • Use of dogs in conservation

    Training a Detection Dog of other substances  (bed bugs, mould, pyro, accelerants,etc)

    • Imprinting
    • Searching
    • Alert
    • Handling
    • Search Methods
    • Unconventional Odors: mold, bed bug, gluten, lactose, pyro, accelerants, etc.

Structure of the exam

  • The examination committee must be composed of at least two IWDA members
  • The first part will consist of a multiple-choice written test with 100 questions
  • The second part will consist in the preparation of a training plan for a randomly drawn pair (instructors) / for your dog in the chosen discipline (conductors)
  • The third test will consist of the demonstration of n.2 practical exercises drawn up by the commission
  • The fourth test will consist of an interview on ethics – deontology and the profession

Evaluation

    • The written test is passed with a minimum score of 75/100
    • The second test is passed with a minimum score of 18/30
    • The third test is passed with a minimum score of 18/30
    • The fourth exam is passed with a minimum score of 18/30

    Upon passing the exam session, the candidate must submit an application for registration to the IWDA Instructor / Handler Register within and not more than 60 days after the exam. In case of failure to submit within the specified time, the candidate will have to pass a new exam session.