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SWGDOG SC8– SUBSTANCE DETECTOR DOGS 

Contraband Detection 

Posted for Public Comment 1/7/11 – 3/9/11. Approved by the membership 3/22/11. 

Statement of purpose: To provide recommended guidelines for training, certification 

and documentation pertaining to contraband detector canines.

Contraband is defined as an article or substance that is prohibited by law or regulation 

within a specific area. 

1. INITIAL TRAINING 

1.1. Training shall be conducted by a competent, qualified detector canine trainer 

from an entity which utilizes a structured curriculum with specific training and 

learning objectives. 

 

1.2. The detection training course shall include training the canine to detect 

contraband (refer to Appendix 8.3) as required to meet the mission, regional and 

operational deployment needs. 

1.3. Training shall include exposing the canine to a variety of different types of 

searches and locations. 

1.4. The initial training should continue until the detection canine team is certified or 

deemed not certifiable. 

1.5. Initial training shall represent all conditions that could be encountered during a 

certification process. 

2. CANINE TEAM CERTIFICATION 

2.1. Parameters included in the certification test follow: 

2.1.1. The detector canine shall be tested on the target odors for which it is 

trained. 

2.1.2. All odors for which the canine will be certified must be tested. 

2.1.3. The test shall be designed to resemble normal operational searches. 

2.1.4. Certification testing shall be conducted with sufficient amounts of 

substance to be detected (refer to Appendix 8.3). 

2.1.5. The test shall include a variety of searches designed to evaluate: 

2.1.5.1. The canine’s ability to recognize the odor. 

2.1.5.2. The canine’s response to the odor. 

2.1.5.3. The handler’s ability to recognize the canine’s response. 
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2.1.6. The test shall include scenarios resembling searches within the normal 

operational environment and include at least three different types of 

searches from one or more of the categories below. Not all odors will 

necessarily be in each type of search and some search areas shall contain 

no odors (blanks). Types of searches and suggested maximum search 

times are listed below: 

2.1.6.1. Persons (10 to 20 people per odor). Time limit should be 

adjusted to accomplish the mission. 

2.1.6.2. Parcels/freight searches with 2-6 articles per odor. It should 

take 1 minute to search 2-6 parcels. For freight containers 

search times will depend on size and conditions. 

2.1.6.3. Baggage and personal item searches with 2-6 articles per odor. 

It should take 1 minute to search 2-6 bags. 

2.1.6.4. Prison cells, classrooms, households and dwellings - the rooms 

may contain 0 – 3 aids depending upon the size and 

environmental conditions. Rooms that are 18.6 –111.5 m2 (200-

1200 sq. ft.) with furniture should take 1.5 minutes per 9.3 m2/ 

28 m3 (100 sq.ft./1000 cu. ft.). 

2.1.6.5. Vehicle searches including interiors and exteriors - 3-6 vehicles 

per search using passenger cars and trucks, should take 3 

minutes per vehicle. 

2.1.6.6. Open area searches of 93 – 930 m2 (1,000-10,000 sq. ft.) per 

search, should take 1-3 minutes per 93 m2 (1000 sq. ft.). 

2.1.7. The canine team must demonstrate the ability to detect all trained odors. 

2.1.8. For successful certification, the canine team shall achieve at least a 90% 

confirmed alert rate for certification, and a false alert rate not to exceed 

10%, as defined and calculated in SC 2. 

2.1.9. Excessive handler errors, as defined by the certifying authority, shall 

result in failure of the team. 

2.1.10. Disqualification due to time should be left to the discretion of the 

certifying authority. The test should end if the certifying authority 

determines that the canine team is no longer working. 

2.2. Use of distractors 

2.2.1. Natural distractors are normally present in the testing area. 

2.2.2. Placement of distractors as it relates to a specific contraband (refer to 

Appendix 8.3) in the certification area is required when no natural 

distractors are present. 

2.2.3. Care must be taken not to place artificial distractions in a manner that 

causes contamination of the test substance odor. 

2.3. Proofing/verification of the certification area should be conducted prior to the 

actual certification using a certified canine team who is not participating in the 

certification. This practice is designed to show that the target odor is present in 

the target locations and nowhere else, including the blank areas. 
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2.4. Certification should not be conducted in areas where detection canine teams 

have recently trained or certified. 

2.5. Certification for the canine team should be comprised of a comprehensive 

assessment, which includes elements of odor recognition as outlined in 

SWGDOG General Guidelines. 

 2.5.1. Odor recognition assessment 

2.5.1.1. The handler shall be advised of the parameters of the search. 

2.5.1.2. The handler shall know the number of target objects, but not 

the placement. 

2.5.1.3. The evaluating official shall know the desired outcome of the 

search. 

2.5.2. Comprehensive assessment 

2.5.2.1. The handler shall be advised of the parameters of the search, 

yet shall not know the desired outcome. 

2.5.2.2. The handler shall not know the number or placement of the 

target objects. 

2.5.2.3. The evaluating official shall know the desired outcome of the 

search. 

2.5.2.4. The assessments shall include a blank search. 

2.5.3. Double-blind assessment 

2.5.3.1. No participant or observer present at the assessment location(s) 

shall be aware of the parameters of the search. 

3. MAINTENANCE TRAINING 

3.1. The canine team shall conduct regular objective-oriented training sufficient to 

maintain operational proficiency on all trained odors. 

3.2. Training is meant to sustain and enhance the performance of the handler, canine 

and the canine team. 

3.3. In training, situations are purposely sought where the capabilities of the canine 

team is challenged within the operational environments for which the team may 

be deployed to improve and enhance their abilities. 

3.4. Training shall include: 

3.4.1. A variety of locations. 

3.4.2. Varied amounts of specific contraband training material (as specified 

within appendix 8.3). 

3.4.3. A variety of heights, depths/personal concealment, containers and 

distractor odors. 

3.4.4. Mission specific search areas (e.g., vehicles, buildings, parcels, luggage 

and blank areas). 

3.4.5. A varied duration of set times. 
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3.4.6. Varied duration of search times. 

3.5. The canine team shall spend an average of four hours per week in routine 

training to maintain the proficiency level of the team. 

3.6. Routine training, conducted by the handler to maintain the canine’s proficiency 

and to reinforce odor recognition, is an acceptable form of training but shall be 

combined with supervised training on a regular basis. Supervised training is 

conducted by a qualified trainer other than the handler, in order to improve 

performance and identify and correct training deficiencies. Performing 

proficiency assessments is considered a best practice. 

4. TRAINING MATERIALS 

4.1. The training materials shall be packaged in a manner safe for the canine and 

handler throughout training. 

4.2. The training materials shall be maintained in a manner to avoid loss or 

destruction. 

4.3. Materials shall be stored in a manner that prevents odor contamination or 

physical contamination. 

4.4. Required safeguarding procedures pertaining to the training materials shall be 

followed according to local, state and federal laws. 

4.5. If required, permits shall be current and accurate records maintained. 

4.6. Training materials shall be replaced if obviously contaminated or compromised. 

4.7. Disposal or destruction of training aids shall follow local, state and federal 

guidelines, if applicable. 

 

5. DOCUMENTATION 

5.1. The handler, department and organization shall maintain training records, 

certification records, proficiency assessments and deployment records. 

5.2. Deployment/utilization records may be kept in accordance with agency policy. 

5.3. Records shall contain discipline-related specifics. 

5.4. Records shall be standardized within the department, agency and/or 

organization. 
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5.5. Documents shall be retained in accordance with state and federal and unit 

guidelines. Training records kept by the handler and or department shall contain 

but are not limited to the following data: 

5.5.1. Date training held. 

5.5.2. Name of individual conducting training. 

5.5.3. Type and amount of training aid used. 

5.5.4. Length of training session. 

5.5.5. Location of training. 

5.5.6. Type of training (e.g., vehicle, luggage, building, open area). 

5.5.7. Number of searches and results. 

5.5.8. Name of canine and handler. 

5.5.9. Other information as required by the organization and/or agency. 

5.6. Certification records kept by the certifying authority and handler shall include 

but are not limited to the following information: 

5.6.1. Date team was certified. 

5.6.2. Certification authority, i.e., agency or professional organization. 

5.6.3. Name of certified individual. 

5.6.4. Type of materials. 

5.6.5. Location of certification. 

5.6.6. Name of canine and handler. 

5.7. Deployment/utilization information shall be kept separate from training and 

testing information. 

5.8. Supervisory review of all records is recommended. 

5.9. Digitally formatted records are recommended to facilitate compiling and 

analyzing data. 

6. USE OF RECORDS/DOCUMENTATION 

6.1. Reliability of the canine team shall be based upon the results of certification and 

proficiency assessments. 

6.2. Training records do not necessarily reflect reliability of the team. 

 

6.3. Training records are necessary to illustrate the type and amount of training that 

the team has experienced before and after certification. 

 

6.4. Confirmed operational outcomes may be used to determine capability. 

6.5. Unconfirmed operational outcomes shall not be used to determine capability in 

that they do not correctly evaluate a canine team’s proficiency.