Dog handlers IWDA
Tracking / Mantrailing
Arguments
Ethology What is ethology? Evolution and domestication of dogs. Similarities and differences in the behavior of different dog breeds. Analysis of behavior, theory and practice.
Psychology of Learning Learning types: non-associative learning, associative learning (classical conditioning, operating conditioning), social learning. Reinforcement programs. Impact of stress and arousal on learning.
Olfactory perception The perceptive world of the dog: the physiology of the smell. Odors and odorants. From the nose to the brain. Active and passive transport of odors into the air. Effects of climate and environment. Human Scent. Human scent on track/trail.
Health & Safety Conservation of training aids. Evaluation of risk. Risks related to the handling of substances.
Training methods: search and alert Advantages and disadvantages of the main training methods. Active alert vs. passive alert. Build a training progression plan. Learned vs. emotional alert. Working on leash .Search pace. Working in urban and rural. Match to sample.
Planning and analysis of training Working with protocols. Set goals and training steps. Data collection and analysis. Students must plan their entire training.
Rewards Positive reinforcement techniques. Social and non-social rewards. The consequences of behavior: reinforcements and punishments.
Science at the service of business Search and use scientific publications.
Test Build and use aptitudinal and performance tests.
Conflict management How to prevent and manage conflicts with students and clients.
Tracking dogs vs. Trailing Dogs Motivation How to built up and maintain.
Handling techniques
Use, creation, conservation of scent articles
Pick up
No scent identification
Working in urban setting and rural one
Different starts
Differents ends
Code of ethics
Detection
Arguments
Ethology What is ethology? Evolution and domestication of dogs. Similarities and differences in the behavior of different dog breeds. Analysis of behavior, theory and practice.
Psychology of Learning Learning types: non-associative learning, associative learning (classical conditioning, operating conditioning), social learning. Reinforcement programs. Impact of stress and arousal on learning.
Olfactory perception The perceptive world of the dog: the physiology of the smell. Odors and odorants. From the nose to the brain. Active and passive transport of odors into the air. Effects of climate and environment.
Health & Safety Conservation of training aids. Evaluation of risk. Risks related to the handling of substances.
Training methods: search and alert Advantages and disadvantages of the main training methods. Active alert vs. passive alert. Build a training progression plan. Learned vs. emotional alert. Working on leash vs. working off leash. Search pace. Lineups and search in the environment.
Planning and analysis of training Working with protocols. Set goals and training steps. Data collection and analysis. Students must plan their entire training.
Rewards Positive reinforcement techniques. Social and non-social rewards in detection. The consequences of behavior: reinforcements and punishments.
Science at the service of business Search and use scientific publications.
Test Build and use aptitudinal and performance tests.
Conflict management How to prevent and manage conflicts with students and clients.
Practical work Practical work in buildings, in open areas, on luggage and vehicles. Setting the conduction technique on the leash and without a leash. Work on reporting. Lineup and Search.
Knowledge of target odors Types of Target Smells. Behavior of odors in the environment. Chemical composition. Conservation and management of training aids. Real vs. pseudo.
Odor Imprint – Introduction of Target Smells Memorizing target substances. Comparative Methods: Advantages and Disadvantages.
Handling techniques Practical work on handling for operational use. Work on real scenarios.
Reading the dog Reading the dog during search.
Evaluation of the team
Code of Ethics
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.