Just curious what certifying agencies folks use to certify their K-9 teams? My intent is not to start a debate or to indentify the shortcomings of any agency. I'm more interested in what you expect from that association or what led you to go with that association. Perhaps more importantly what are the key ingredients that gives that association credibility.

Howard,
We will be utilizing NAPWDA for our certification. We actually are planning to host a cert. in the spring. Plain and simple I prefer a pass/fail test rather than a competition. I'm not knocking USPCA however many K9 handlers tend to have enough ego problems already and I don't want to add to that. I prefer NAPWDA as I also like the way some of the testing is less rigid and more realistic. Of course no certification is ever realistic enough but if standards are to high membership will be low due to the lack of training support many units have access to. ESWDA looks to pretty challenging in the apprehension end.
Throw me a bone next time you do something with NNDDA as we may want to give that a try as well.
Mark Connolly

My certification is through State Gov't rather than a private organization. Whether or not this adds credibility can be argued. Whether gov't or private, I think that it all boils down to the credibility of the man at the top of the organization. He or she is the one that will be (or directly influence) the expert witness at trial.

My certification standard is DPO. It has been my experience that a well trained DPO dog can certify under any other standard. With very little additional work, I titled my DPO dog SchH 3 and PD2 (USPCA)

I think that foundation work is critical and that if we have a grip on it, we shouldn't have any problem certifying under any standard.

Jon Richey wrote My certification standard is DPO. It has been my experience that a well trained DPO dog can certify under any other standard. With very little additional work, I titled my DPO dog SchH 3 and PD2 (USPCA)
Jon you no doubt have a well trained dog. To have accomplised what you have you have definately put in the hours training. Do you feel that it has detracted in any way from the work that you do with the dog on the street?

We have our own certification program. Very well detailed and documented. Some handlers also participate in USPCA at the handler's option. I believe the certification agencies all mean well and do provide some sort of standardization and measurement for many that have very little guidance. I would still like to see a mandatory POST standard developed by each state. It should be applied to all police working dogs within a state, and could also be used as a guide for agencies that are purchasing trained dogs.

DFrost

can anyone lead me to a site with the DPO requirements? Or does anyone have a copy to share?

William,

See Kevin Shedahl's site http://www.k9services.com and look under 'Standards' for WPO. Kevin or Ed can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe here in America, the DPO2 is the same as the WPO. In Germany, each state dictates the specifics of it's own DPO certifications, with the WPO being the National competition.

I too used DPOI as my standard for my current police dog. I also did SchHIII and FH with him as well as WPO and PSP-1 (which is just another German police dog standard). To add credibility to our in house program I also certified in NNDDA and NAPWDA w/ him for a variety of disciplines.
Jon is absolutly correct in stating that foundation are the prime ingredient in being able to do what you need to w/ your PSD. I am adament about placing a DPO style of foundation on all the dogs regardless of future certificates. The minor adjustments necessary are easily accomplished from such a footing.
A question about whether or not the sport work effected Jon's street work arose. I can't answer for him but we have somewhat similiar backgrounds and I will tell you that it did nothing but improve the totality of my dog's work. I have a fine 8 year old PSD that is easy to maintain now. A bit of a machine really that performs at a very high level. I'm a bit spoiled and kinda dread starting over again and at the same time look forward to a repeat of this one.