Police Service Dog 
 Performance Standards

Patrol Dog Team

I  Obedience

1)  The canine team must display off lead obedience to include at 
	least the following maneuvers and situations:

A)  Right turn in motion
B)  Left turn in motion
C)  About turn in motion
D)  Stand, sit or down in motion with a recall to heel.
E)  Group (*)
F)  Gunfire(**)

(*)  The group shall include three to five individuals 
in civilian clothing walking around passively as the 
canine team performs off lead obedience at the direction 
of the judge.

(**)  The gunfire shall be blank ammunition (at least 
.38 caliber) and fired after the team finishes the 
group exercises.  The canine shall remain stable 
(neither fearful nor aggressive).  

II  Agility

1)  The canine team shall demonstrate agility by 
	surmounting obstacles on command.  The 
	obstacles shall be those routinely encountered 
	in the field to include at least the following:
A)  Four foot high chain link fence
B)  Three foot high structure type window
C)  Vehicle window the size of a passenger car

The obstacles may be done on or off lead but the canine 
team must clear the obstacles without physical assistance 
from the handler.



III  Apprehension

1)  Handler protection from the vehicle.

The canine must protect the handler by coming out of the 
vehicle (door or window) during an assault.  The handler 
will disengage the canine by voice command only at the 
direction of the judge.  

Note:  This exercise will be performed in full protective 
clothing or muzzle.  

2)  Reasonable force apprehension (If applicable)

The canine will demonstrate reasonable force during a 
passive or submissive encounter.  The canine will be 
alerted on a person who is at a distance of at least 
40 yards.  The person will not respond to an order 
to surrender and the canine will be commanded to 
apprehend.  As the canine approaches, the person 
will remain non-threatening and passive.  The canine 
must detain the person without engagement.  The handler 
will recall the canine at the direction of the judge.  

Note:  This exercise will be performed in full protective 
clothing or muzzle.  

3)  Search of open area

The canine will conduct an off lead search of an open area 
for a suspect concealed in a location unknown to the team.  
The canine should use any means possible (tracking or air 
scent) to locate the suspect.  The handler must notify the 
judge when the canine has located the suspect.  The handler 
will recall the canine to a heel position at the direction 
of the judge.  

Note:  At least one back-up officer (in addition to the judge) 
will assist the handler during the search.  A verbal challenge 
shall be issued and the search will be conducted in civil 
clothing with the suspect hidden in a safe location.  The 
search area shall be approximately one acre (such as a tow 
lot, lumber yard, wooded area etc.)  




4)  Search of a structure

The canine will conduct an off lead search of a building for 
a suspect concealed in a location unknown to the team.  The 
canine shall use any means possible (tracking or air scent) 
to locate the suspect.  The handler must notify the judge 
when the canine has located the suspect.  The handler will 
recall the canine to a heel position at the direction of 
the judge.  

Note:  At least one back-up officer (in addition to the 
judge) will assist the handler during the search.  A verbal 
challenge shall be issued and the search will be conducted 
in civil clothing with the suspect hidden in a safe location.  
The search area shall be approximately 5,000 square feet 
(such as a large residence, small business, school etc.).

Scent Work

1)  Tracking

The canine shall follow a track, unknown to the team, of a 
person through an open area.  The track should be approximately 
20 minutes old and 400 yards in length when the search begins.  
The track shall not be a straight line.  The team must locate 
the suspect who may wear protective clothing for safety.  

Note:  The tracking exercise may be performed on or off lead.

2)  Search for evidence

The canine shall locate one item of evidence (knife, wallet, 
flashlight, handgun etc.) that has been discarded in a grassy 
area.  The handler must notify the judge when the canine has 
located the evidence.  

Note:  This exercise may be performed on or off lead.  The 
search area shall be approximately 50 square yards.  

Signature (Judge):______________________________Date:__________

Signature (Handler):____________________________Canine:________
Judge:  Please initial each exercise (8 total) pass or fail and 
include the time of the test.  A team shall have the opportunity 
to retry on of the tests within 24 hours of the start of testing.  
Narcotic Detection Dog Team


The canine team shall be tested at least once on each odor it 
is trained to detect.  The testing environments shall include 
at least a building and vehicle.  There shall be a minimum of 
three vehicles and two rooms in their respective environments.  
Each team shall test on at least three odors to include 
marijuana and cocaine.  All of the test finds shall be concealed 
in a location unknown to the handler and sit there for at least 
30 minutes prior to the start of testing.  The test finds shall 
be at least 5 grams in weight.  The handler shall advise the 
judge when the canine has located a test find.  The canine must 
locate each test find without giving a false indication.  

Marijuana:__________________________________________________

Cocaine:____________________________________________________

Other odor:__________________________________________________

Other odor:__________________________________________________

Other odor:__________________________________________________

Other odor:__________________________________________________


Signature (Judge)______________________________Date:__________


Signature (Handler)____________________________Canine:________







Judge:  Please initial each exercise pass/fail and include the time.  
A team shall have the opportunity to retry one of the tests within 
24 hours of the start of testing.


Explosive Detection Dog Team

The canine team shall be tested on at least 5 of the 10 basic odors.  
The testing environments at least a building and vehicle.  There 
shall be a minimum of three vehicle and two rooms in their respective 
environments.  All of the test finds shall be concealed in a location 
unknown to the handler and sit there for at least 30 minutes prior 
to the start of testing. The test finds shall be at least 50 grams 
in weight. The handler shall advise the judge when the canine has 
located a test find. The canine must locate each test find without 
giving a false or dangerously aggressive indication. 

Plastic explosive:______________________________________________

Water gel:___________________________________________________

Smokeless powder:_____________________________________________

Black powder:________________________________________________

Sodium chlorate:______________________________________________

Potassium chlorate:____________________________________________

Commercial dynamite (amm. and nit. based):________________________

Military dynamite:_____________________________________________

Trinitrotoluene:_______________________________________________

Detonating cord:______________________________________________

Signature (Judge):____________________________Date:____________

Signature (Handler):__________________________Canine:__________


Judge:  Please initial each exercise pass/fail and include the time.  
A team shall have the opportunity to retry one of the tests within 
24 hours of the start of testing.