Georgia K9

GAK9 Worldwide Trailing Certification Portal

$ 10.00

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GAK9 Certification Ordering Process

Certifications may not be ordered unless the certification level has been successfully achieved by the team under observation by a GAK9 Trainer.

If you would like to certify, please find a GAK9 trainer in your area here:

GAK9 Trainers

To Order:

From the drop down menu please select the level you have achieved using either the Digital Certificate Only Option or the Paper Certificate with Patch Option. The digital certificate will be sent to you by email as a PDF. The paper certificate is heavy stock paper with gold filigree on the edges. All certifications are maintained permanently by GAK9 and may be ordered again at any time.

GAK9 Trainers may order their certificate or patch sets at any time.

GAK9 Trainers are only authorized to certify others in their own Trainer Field, i.e. Field, Rural, Suburban, or Urban. They may certify at each level of their respective Trainer Field. GAK9 Police and Military Trainers are authorized to certify all fields at all levels. Police Level is granted on completion of Urban Level 4 and authorization by Jeff or Shayne Schettler. Military Trainer is only granted by special appointment.

All patches are either embroidered, (old style), or PVC, (new style), with velcro backing. Embroidered patches will be used until stock is depleted. At that time the PVC patches will permanently replace embroidered patches. With the new PVC patches, each class level.

Shipping:

Shipping is by USPS, FEDEX, or UPS based on the shipping option chosen. For digital certificates there is no shipping as the item will be emailed to you.

STANDARDS INTRODUCTION

These certification standards are divided into four classes: “Field”, “Rural”, “Suburban” and “Urban”. Each class includes four levels: “Handler”, “Specialist”, “Expert” and “Master”.

Class Definitions

Field: Open grassy areas, brush, desert, or woods. Little to no human contamination. Primarily soft surface.

Rural: All of the above areas mixed with simple surface changes such as dirt roads and small streets. A small amount of human contamination is possible. Mostly soft surface with about 20% surface changes.

Suburban: All of the above plus industrial type areas or business parks where there is more human activity but confined primarily to the structures with off hours or when the businesses are closed as to minimize human contact. Approximately 50/50% hard and soft surface.

Urban: This is primarily a city type setting with business, residential, and high human and vehicle traffic areas. A mixture of hard and soft surface is to be expected.

Who may certify? Any GAK9 Trainer may certify each certification class of the level he or she is certified for training at. For example, a Level 1 GAK9 trainer may only certify Field, Level 2-Rural, Level 3-Suburban and Level 4- Urban. All Military and Police GAK9 Trainers can certify at all levels.

Sequence of certification Regardless of the certification class, the applicant must start with the Level “Handler” and work up consecutively. No Level can be missed within a class. For example, the applicant cannot skip from the “Handler” Level to the “Master” Level in the Field Class. He/she may change certification class but always has to start with the Handler Level and work his/her way up.

Evaluation criteria

a) The trail will be double blind.

b) The distance and age of the trail are approximative and may vary due to the fact that the certification is double blind and the trail-layer might encounter unforeseen conditions.

c) The K-9 team must find the trail-layer within the time limit. However, this time limit can be extended at the evaluator’s discretion (for example if the trail is longer than planned or for whatever unforeseen circumstances).

d) Finds based on a dog working in air scent patterns (area search) are not valid.

e) Both the trail layer and the K-9 handler will carry a GPS tracking device. The tracks will be laid on top of each-other after the certification. The evaluator has the final decision on passing or failing of the K-9 Team.

f) Any disrespectful behavior towards the evaluator or against animal welfare will result in the disqualification of the K-9 Team. g) In case of failure, the K-9 Team can repeat the certification as often as they want.

CERTIFICATION CLASS “FIELD, RURAL, SUBURBAN, URBAN”
The certification classes are divided into four levels:
- Handler
- Specialist
- Expert
- Master
- Scent evidence collection and use
- a) The scent article will be provided by the trail layer in a jar or any other suitable container previously before he/she lays the trail.
- b) The scent article might either be placed directly at the start of the trail or left in the care of the expert witness.
FIELD HANDLER

The track/trail

a) The trail will be 500-600m with minimum one turn.

b) The age of the trail will be 30 minutes old.
c) The trail must be on soft surface only (woods, fields). d) 15 minutes time limit for successful trail completion.

FIELD SPECIALIST

The track/trail

a) The trail will be 700-800m with minimum two turns.

b) The age of the trail will be 1 hour old.
c) The trail must be soft surface only (woods, fields with possible road crossings).

d) 25 minutes time limit for successful trail completion.

FIELD EXPERT

The track/trail

a) The trail will be 800-1’000m with minimum three turns.

b) The age of the trail will be 2 hours old.

c) The trail must be mainly on soft surface (woods, fields). At least one road crossing must occur.

d) 35 minutes time limit for successful trail completion.

FIELD MASTER

The track/trail

a) The trail will be 1’000-1’500m with minimum three turns.

b) The age of the trail will be 4 hours old.

c) The trail must be mainly on soft surface (woods, fields). At least two road crossings must occur. There will be at least one obstacle that the K-9 Team will have to bypass or negotiate (e.g. bridge, wall, fence, water creek, etc.).

d) 45 minutes time limit for successful trail completion.
1. Rural Handler
  
  The track/trail
  
  a) The trail will be 500-600m with minimum one turn.
  
  b) The age of the trail will be 30 minutes old.
  
  c) The trail must be in a rural area (fields, gravel roads, woods) and its start should be on soft surface. At least one surface change (gravel, concrete, black-top etc.) must occur.
  
  d) 15 minutes time limit for successful trail completion.
  
  RURAL SPECIALIST
  
  The track/trail
  
  a) The trail will be 700-800m with minimum two turns.
  
  b) The age of the trail will be 1 hour old.
  
  c) The trail must be in a rural area (fields, gravel roads, woods) and its start should be on soft surface. At least one surface change (gravel, concrete, black-top etc.) must occur.
  
  d) 25 minutes time limit for successful trail completion.
  
  RURAL EXPERT
  
  The track/trail
  
  a) The trail will be 800-1’000m with minimum three turns.
  
  b) The age of the trail will be 2 hours old.
  
  c) The trail must be in a rural area (fields, gravel roads, woods) mainly on soft surface. At least two surface changes (gravel, concrete, black-top etc.) must occur.
  
  d) 35 minutes time limit for successful trail completion.
  
  RURAL MASTER
  
  The track/trail
  
  a) The trail will be 1’000-1’500m with minimum three turns.
  
  b) The age of the trail will be 4 hours old.
  
  c) The trail must be in a rural area (fields, gravel roads, woods) mainly on soft surface. At least two surface changes (gravel, concrete, black-top etc.) must occur.
  
  d) There will be at least one obstacle that the K-9 Team will have to bypass or negotiate (e.g. bridge, wall, fence, water creek, etc.). e) 45 minutes time limit for successful trail completion.
  
  .
  
  SUBURBAN HANDLER
  
  The track/trail
  
  a) The trail will be 400-500m with minimum one turn.
  
  b) The age of the trail will be 30 minutes old.
  
  c) The trail must be in a quiet area (suburban, industrial, etc.) and its start should be on soft surface. At least one surface change (gravel, concrete, black-top etc.) must occur.
  
  d) 15 minutes time limit for successful trail completion.
  
  SUBURBAN SPECIALIST
  
  The track/trail
  
  a) The trail will be 600-700m with minimum two turns
  
  b) The age of the trail will be 1 hour old.
  
  c) The trail must be in a quiet area (suburban, industrial, etc.) and its start should be on soft surface. At least one surface change (gravel, concrete, black-top etc.) must occur.
  
  d) 20 minutes time limit for successful trail completion.
  
  SUBURBAN EXPERT
  
  The track/trail
  
  a) The trail will be 800-1’000m with minimum three turns.
  
  b) The age of the trail will be 2 hours old.
  
  c) The trail must be in an industrial/suburban area and its start should be on soft surface. At least two surface changes (gravel, concrete, black-top etc.) must occur. The area should be chosen so that the K-9 Team will encounter distractions.
  
  d) 30 minutes time limit for successful trail completion.
  
  SUBURBAN MASTER
  
  The track/trail
  
  a) The trail will be 1’000-1’500m with minimum three turns.
  
  b) The age of the trail will be 4 hours old.
  
  c) The trail must be in an industrial/suburban area and its start can either be on soft or hard surface. At least two surface changes (gravel, concrete, black-top etc.) must occur. The area should be chosen so that the K-9 Team will encounter distractions.
  
  d) 45 minutes time limit for successful trail completion.
  
  URBAN HANDLER
  
  The track/trail
  
  a) The trail will be 400-500m with minimum one turn.
  
  b) The age of the trail will be 30 minutes old.
  
  c) The trail must be in an urban area (residential area, school, busy industrial estate, etc.) and its start should be on soft surface. At least one surface change (gravel, concrete, black- top etc.) must occur.
  
  d) 15 minutes time limit for successful trail completion.
  
  URBAN SPECIALIST
  
  The track/trail
  
  a) The trail will be 600-700m with minimum two turns.
  
  b) The age of the trail will be 1 hour old.
  
  c) The trail must be in an urban area (residential area, school, busy industrial estate, etc.) and its start can either be on soft or hard surface. At least one surface change (gravel, concrete, black-top etc.) must occur.
  
  d) 20 minutes time limit for successful trail completion.
  
  URBAN EXPERT
  
  The track/trail
  
  a) The trail will be 800-1’000m with minimum three turns. b) The age of the trail will be 2 hours old.
  
  c) The trail must be in an urban area (residential area, school, busy industrial estate, etc.) and its start can either be on soft or hard surface. At least two surface changes (gravel, concrete, black-top etc.) must occur.
  
  d) 40 minutes time limit for successful trail completion.
  
  URBAN MASTER
  
  The track/trail
  
  a) The trail will be 1’000-1’500m with minimum three turns.
  
  b) The age of the trail will be 4 hours old.
  
  c) The trail must be in an urban area (residential area, school, busy industrial estate, etc.) and its start can either be on soft or hard surface. At least two surface changes (gravel, concrete, black-top etc.) must occur.
  
  d) 50 minutes time limit for successful trail completion.
  
  GAK9 Field Trainer-Red Rocker under patch
  
  GAK9 Rural Trainer-Silver Rocker under Patch
  
  GAK9 Suburban Trainer-Gold Rocker under patch
  
  GAK9 Urban Trainer-Blue on black Rocker under patch
  
  GAK9 Police Trainer-Blue on black Rocker under patch
  
  GAK9 Military Trainer-OD Green Rocker under patch