Dog training courses

Course overview

A course designed to impart the basic skills required of a general purpose police dog team, which is capable of operational deployment at the conclusion of the course.

Who can attend

Officers from any UK or international police force who require a general police dog capability.

Objectives

To train a handler & dog team up to the required minimum standard laid down by the A.C.P.O. Police Dog Working Group.

Learning areas

Handler and dog skills acquired in the following areas:

Tracking

• Pattern and practical tracking, and introduction to hard surface tracking.

Person Searching

• The location and indication of hidden persons within a building or yard.

Criminal work

• To chase and detain a suspect.
• To chase and stand-off.
• To perform tests of courage (stick and gun).
• Basic crowd control.

Obedience exercises

• Heelwork.
• Distance control.
• Agility.
• Long down.
• Speak.

Key course information

Duration

12 weeks 
Practical based course delivered on location with some classroom input

Certification

NPCC Accreditation for National Police Forces

Contact us

Please contact us to check availability and book.

• Call +44(0)1483 638482 or +44(0)1483 638481
• Or use our online contact form

Course overview

A course designed to impart the basic skills required of a dog and handler to enable them to become an effective licensed team to detect the illegal use of explosives in the operational environment.

Who can attend

Officers from any government agencies in the U.K. and abroad that require dog handler teams for deployment in offensive and defensive search operations.

Objectives

This course is designed primarily for the experienced dog handler with a trained or novice dog to enable them to specialise in explosive search.  However a student with no previous dog handling experience can also attend.

Learning areas

To train the handler to practice:

• The correct method of working their explosives search dog during a search.

• The safe handling of explosives.

• The application of theoretical knowledge in relation to types of explosives, devices, safety on discovery and equipment.

• Stress awareness and management.

To train the dog:

• To be obedient both on and off the lead under all conditions

• To detect and indicate the presence of explosives for which it has been trained.

• To search all types of areas, buildings, vehicles and outside terrain.

• To ignore all reasonable distractions i.e. noise movement or alternative odours from a human, animal or artificial source which is not physically interfering with the dog.

Key course information

Duration

9 weeks 
Practical based course delivered on location with some classroom input

Certification

NPCC Accreditation for National Police Forces

Contact us

Please contact us to check availability and book.

• Call +44(0)1483 638482 or +44(0)1483 638481
• Or use our online contact form

Proactive detection dogs

Course overview

A course designed to impart the basic skills required of a dog and handler to enable them to become an effective licensed team to detect the illegal use of drugs, bulk cash and firearms in the operational environment.

Who can attend

Officers from any government agencies in the U.K. and abroad that require dog handler teams for deployment in offensive and defensive search operations.

Objectives

To meet the growing demands in the field of drug enforcement and other operational demands.  It will include training in the detection of all illegal substances which may currently be in use.

Learning areas

To train the handler in:

• The correct method of working their bulk cash search dog during a search.

• The safe handling of drugs and associated materials.

• An awareness of drugs types, classification and effects.

To train the dog:

• To be obedient both on and off the lead under all conditions.

• To detect and indicate the presence of bulk cash for which it has been trained.

• To search all types of areas, buildings, vehicles and outside terrain.

• To ignore all reasonable distractions i.e. noise movement or alternative odours from a human, animal or artificial source which is not physically interfering with the dog.

Passive detection dogs

Course overview

A course designed to impart the basic skills required of a dog and handler to enable them to become an effective licensed team to detect the presence of illegal substances secreted on the person.

Who can attend

Officers from any government agencies in the U.K. and abroad that require the use of Passive bulk cash Detection in the operational environment.

Objectives

To meet the growing demands in the field of drug enforcement and will include training in the detection of all the known illegal drugs substances in use.

Learning areas

To train the handler in:

• The correct method of working their passive bulk cash search dog during an operation.

• The safe handling of drugs and associated materials.

• An awareness of drugs types, classification and effects

To train the dog:

• To be obedient and placid under all conditions

• To detect and indicate passively the presence of bulk cash for which it has been trained.

• To search at all types of locations that are likely to be encountered in the operational environment.

• To ignore all reasonable distractions i.e. noise movement or alternative odours from a human, animal or artificial source which is not physically interfering with the dog.

Key course information

Duration

6 weeks 
Practical based course delivered on location with some classroom input

Certification

NPCC Accreditation for National Police Forces

Contact us

Please contact us to check availability and book.

• Call +44(0)1483 638482 or +44(0)1483 638481
• Or use our online contact form

Proactive drugs detection & Passive drugs detection

Course overview

A course designed to impart the basic skills required of a dog and handler to enable them to become an effective licensed team to detect the illegal use of drugs in the operational environment.

Who can attend

Officers from any government agencies in the U.K. and abroad that require dog handler teams for deployment in offensive and defensive search operations.

Objectives

To meet the growing demands in the field of drug enforcement.  It will include training in the detection of all illegal substances which may currently be in use.

Learning areas - Proactive drugs detection

To train the handler in:

• The correct method of working their drugs search dog during a search.

• The safe handling of drugs and associated materials.

• An awareness of drugs types, classification and effects.

To train the dog:

• To be obedient both on and off the lead under all conditions.

• To detect and indicate the presence of drugs for which it has been trained.

• To search all types of areas, buildings, vehicles and outside terrain.

• To ignore all reasonable distractions i.e. noise movement or alternative odours from a human, animal or artificial source which is not physically interfering with the dog.

Learning areas - Passive drugs detection

To train the handler in:

• The correct method of working their passive bulk cash search dog during an operation.

• The safe handling of drugs and associated materials.

• An awareness of drugs types, classification and effects

To train the dog:

• To be obedient and placid under all conditions

• To detect and indicate passively the presence of bulk cash for which it has been trained.

• To search at all types of locations that are likely to be encountered in the operational environment.

• To ignore all reasonable distractions i.e. noise movement or alternative odours from a human, animal or artificial source which is not physically interfering with the dog.

Key course information

Duration

6 weeks 

Proactive drugs protection - Practical based course delivered on location

Passive drugs protection - Practical based course delivered on location with some classroom input

Certification

NPCC Accreditation for National Police Forces

Contact us

Please contact us to check availability and book.

• Call +44(0)1483 638482 or +44(0)1483 638481
• Or use our online contact form

Course overview

A course designed to impart the basic skills required of a dog and handler to enable them to become an effective team to detect the presence of disaster victims and human remains.

Who can attend

Officers from any government agencies in the U.K. and abroad that require the use of Victim Recovery and Human Remains detection in the operational environment.

Objectives

To enable an organisation to use dogs as a tool in the discovery of disaster victims and human remains in criminal detection.

Learning areas

To train the handler in:

• The correct method of working their Victim Recovery/CSI dog during an operation.

• Field craft, search techniques and bone identification.

• Reporting on the results of searches in an accurate and precise way suitable for court proceedings.

• An awareness of other forms of search.

To train the dog:

• To respond correctly to the handler’s commands to search a given area.

• To indicate the presence of simulated human remains ignoring other nature distractions.

• To work a series of probe holes.

• To have the ability to work in various practical environments.

Key course information

Duration

6 weeks 
Practical based course delivered on location with some classroom input

Certification

NPCC Accreditation for National Police Forces

Expand this course - Drowned Victim detection (bolt-on)

Victim Recovery and CSI Search Dogs can be trained in Water Search by bolting two week's training onto the end of the course - subject to an additional fee.

Duration

2 weeks 
Practical based course delivered on location with some classroom input

Certification

NPCC Accreditation for National Police Forces

Contact us

Please contact us to check availability and book.

• Call +44(0)1483 638482 or +44(0)1483 638481
• Or use our online contact form

Course overview

Please contact us for more details and course specifics. 

Key course information

Duration

6 weeks 
Practical based course delivered on location with some classroom input

Certification

NPCC Accreditation for National Police Forces

Contact us

Please contact us to check availability and book.

• Call +44(0)1483 638482 or +44(0)1483 638481
• Or use our online contact form

Three modules are available

• For General Purpose dogs instruction
• For Drugs Detection dogs instruction
• For Explosives Detection dogs instruction

General Purposes and Drugs Detections overview

A course designed to impart the skills required of an Instructor to enable them to train general purpose dog teams for use in the operational environment.

Who can attend

Officers from any government agencies in the U.K. and abroad that require qualified Instructors to train and monitor dog handler teams for operational deployment.  It is essential that the candidate possess a sound working knowledge of the training and use of the General Purpose Dog in the operational environment and that he/she has worked such a dog operationally.  They must also provide evidence of Classroom Skills instruction.

Objectives

To provide students with the necessary understanding, knowledge and skills to enable them to undertake the instruction of handlers and dogs to fulfil operational requirements.

Learning areas

• The selection of dog handlers and police dogs.

• The progression of the general purpose police dog and handler on initial training.

• An appreciation of the progression of initial training of drug detection dogs and tactical firearms

• The ethos of refresher training in respect of the foregoing.

• The physical and written assessment of dogs and handlers for the above disciplines, as set out in the N.P.C.C ‘Basic Skills’ assessments and ‘Operational Skills’ assessments.

• Health & Safety issues relating to the training and use of dog teams.

Key course information

Duration

4 weeks (General Purpose dogs) 3 weeks (Drugs Detection dogs)
Mainly practical based course delivered on location with some classroom input

Certification

NPCC Accreditation where applicable

Explosive Detection dogs instructor

Course overview

A course designed to impart the necessary skills to enable the candidate to train explosive dog detection teams for operational deployment for use in counter terrorist activities. 

Who can attend

Officers from any government agencies in the U.K. and abroad that require qualified Instructors to train and monitor dog handler teams for operational deployment in offensive and defensive search operations.  It is essential that the candidate possess a sound working knowledge of the training and use of the Explosive Search Dog in the operational environment and that he/she has worked such a dog operationally.

Objectives

To provide students with the necessary understanding, knowledge and skills to enable them to undertake the instruction of handlers and dogs to fulfil explosive detection role.

Learning areas

• The selection of explosives dog handlers and search dogs.

• The progression of the explosive search dog and handler on initial training.

• The ethos of refresher training in respect of the foregoing.

• The physical and written assessment of dogs and handlers as set out in the A.C.P.O. criteria for assessment of Explosives Search Dog/Handler.

• To give an effective presentation to a group of students.

• A sound knowledge and understanding of the operational demands on an explosive search handler / dog at a bomb scene.

• The current terrorist situation.

• Search awareness in relation to buildings, areas and routes.

• Safe systems of Search.

• Health & Safety issues.

• Explosives types and makeup of devices.

• The accreditation and licensing system, to include the correct documentation.

Key course information

Duration

4 weeks 
Mainly practical based course delivered on location with some classroom input

Certification

NPCC Accreditation where applicable

Contact us

Please contact us to check availability and book.

• Call +44(0)1483 638482 or +44(0)1483 638481
• Or use our online contact form

• 14 rooms are available to stay in
• Communal bathrooms per floor and kitchen with all appliances
• Houses are serviced and towels provided
• Washing facilities
• Guildford Town centre is nearby with plenty of supermarkets, restaurants and pubs