Dog - BPSCA.net

Dog
Trials in
the
United
States
The biggest difference
between police dog
trials in the United
States and dog trials
in the United Kingdom is that the trials in
the US are organised both regionally and
nationally by the United States Police K­
g Association.
With over 2,500 members you can
understand its proud boast that it is the
largest active organisation of its kind in
the world .
Once a year the USPCA sponsors a
National Trial, and, like here , handlers
must first quality at as USPCA regional
trial.
All these events are judged by both
serving and retired nationally certified
judges. Seminars are organised and
certification trials held at which drug ,
explosive and arson detecting dogs are
licensed.
Last October, while on holiday with my
family in Florida, I was able to attend the
2nd Annual National Detector and
Tracking Certification , hosted by Charlotte
County Sheriffs Office, Port Charlotte,
Florida. I was only able to spend two days
at the event, but in that short period of
time I met a great bunch of truly
professional dog handlers.
The trial was based at one of the local
motels, complete with swimming pool,
and handlers were allowed to keep their
dogs in the comfort of the air conditioned
rooms , a suitable warning pinned to the
door of the rooms for the benefit of the
maid service.
I watched dogs of various shapes and
sizes being put through a series of tests,
both inside prem ises and outside on
parked vehicles for drug and explosive
detection.
Seminars were organised throughout
the week, covering subjects such as
narcotic concealment on motor vehicles,
38 Service Dog