Dogs completing all NorthWest K9 Foundation Training and Placement Program competency are trained to
established Environmental/Socialization,
Tracking I, Obedience I, and Agility I performance standards and criteria. Dogs given more
advanced training may achieve Level II competency prior to placement. Foundation
competency is demonstrated in the following areas and exercises:
The Basics
All graduates are fully prepared to be welcome members of the
household and are fully housebroken and crate trained. They are also conditioned to quiet time in the outdoor kennel.
Dogs are conditioned to physical handling exercises such as coat brushing, nail clipping, ear exam and
cleaning, and veterinary exam.
Socialization
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Program graduates are exposed to
challenging and stimulating environments that include pedestrians,
crowds, children, other dogs, motor vehicles, and machinery. Before graduating, all dogs
are exposed to a variety of business and residential environments such as retail shops, large malls, airports,
special needs residential facilities, and police and fire facilities.
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such as busy urban
streets, regional and international airports, equipment storage yards,
schoolyards and playing fields, bus and train stations, firing ranges, nursing homes, building construction sites,
forest wilderness, public safety facilities, demolition operations, special needs institutional settings, logging operations with heavy machinery, warehouses, gravel pits and rock quarries, livestock areas,
retail stores, the local swimming hole, hotels and apartment buildings, crowded public events such as street fairs and
festivals.
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Environmental Conditioning
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Program dogs are exposed to challenging and intriguing
environments that introduce the youngster to the endless sights, noises, smells, textures, and weather elements
that a working dog must confidently manage in the real world. Urban and rural environmental experiences may include variable
surfaces and heights, such as slick floors, sliding gravel, variable vegetation length and density, bouncing and unsteady
ramps and catwalks, mud/ice/snow-covered surfaces; gunsureness; traffic sureness; daytime and nighttime stimuli; climactic changes including rain, wind, snow, thunder and lightning;
shallow and deep water swimming; vertical climbing on variable surfaces; incremental heights; smoke and fire;
closed and open stairways; industrial, construction, and mechanical environments.
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Travel
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Program training may include exposure to passenger cars, trucks, buses, large motorized equipment,
aircraft, trains, elevators.
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Drive Building
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Ball or tug imprinting and structured tug play is introduced in
Drive I phase, and incrementally advances to reliable compliance to the watch it, take it, and
out commands in the Drive II phase. Click here to view a demonstration video.
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Obedience
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Foundation obedience is
introduced to all of our program candidates. Obedience I foundation obedience introduces the
motivational heel, sit, recall, down, leave it, crate, wait, break, give. Neutrality to collars,
leash, and working harness is also introduced. Dogs having completed their Obedience I foundation
progress to Obedience II exercises introducing extended duration, distance, and distraction.
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Agility
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Our basic Agility I course includes introducing
variable surfaces and heights such as the incline ramp, suspended net, slide, bouncing catwalk, tunnel, or water
hazard. Click here to view a demonstration video.
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As appropriate to each dog's age and physical
development, more advanced exercises such as directed jumping over hurdle, brush, and other
complex obstacles are introduced in Agility II. Construction,
demolition, heavy industry, and other challenging environments provide additional opportunities for complex surface
conditioning and obstacle problem-solving under distraction. Click here to view a demonstration video.
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Scentwork
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Foundation master footstep tracking on grass
and dirt is introduced in Scentwork I. Scentwork II level foundation training includes additional ground tracking, and
introduction to master and stranger mantrailing in variable wilderness terrain. Advanced exercises including
directed searching for scent targets are conducted at the advanced Scentwork III level of foundation training. |
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