Training in an environment that simulates a variety of real-world disaster scenarios is critical to providing specialized education and training for both handlers and canines.
K9 Emergency Training Center
K9 Emergency Training Center
Training in an environment that simulates a variety of real-world disaster scenarios is critical to providing specialized education and training for both handlers and canines.
Our Campus
The Ground Zero Emergency Training Center is a one-of-a-kind facility, located on a sprawling, 60-acre property in Tuttle, Oklahoma; designed to provide specialized education and training for both handlers and canines.
The scene of a disaster can be extremely dangerous for a search-and-rescue team. Ground Zero is committed to providing an environment where canines and handlers can learn and practice their skills in an environment that simulates real-world disaster conditions while promoting the highest level of skill and safety.
Puppy Training
To quote the philosopher Lao Tzu, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
So, where does that “single step” begin to prepare a search and rescue team to save lives?
Ground Zero training begins almost immediately when the puppies are just 3 days old. Ground Zero Lead Trainer, Todd Frazier calls this approach “Zero to Hero.” Balancing the need to help the young pups acclimate to unstable footing at a young age while preventing risk of injury is of utmost importance.
Ground Zero training is designed to provide a safe environment where puppies receive both mental and physical development that leads to the ability to adapt to ever-changing conditions.
Rubble Pile
The view of a disaster scene can be overwhelming when responders first arrive.
Collapsed and destroyed buildings, twisted metal, and broken concrete with jagged edges promises an extremely hazardous situation to responders that must traverse the area, searching for the wounded that may be trapped or incapacitated.
Rubble piles could range from a single structure to an entire town. Training for these situations starts on rubble piles, specifically designed to prepare the canine for the challenges they may face in the field. Balancing on crumbled walls, unstable footing and toppled cars is critical for their training.
Agility
Agility is an important skill for canines to practice and perfect in an environment that simulates a number of real-world disaster scenarios.
Training may include a variety of activities, for example:
- Ladder climbing
- Crossing elevated planks and/or a teeter-totter
- Crawling through dark tunnels
Preparing the canine to be agile and confident in any environment is key to building life-saving skills.
Obedience
To be successful, a search and rescue team must have effective communication between handler and their partner canine.
In relation to obedience, this communication could equate to keeping a canine partner safe. The canine must be able to accept and understand basic commands given by the handler to prevent injury or harm.
For obedience, the rescue team must learn and master various obedience tasks such as:
Heeling
Canine must stay with the handler while navigating around groups of people or other dogs. These exercises are completed both on and off-lead and may include Right, Left and About turns, as well as fast and slow walking paces.
Emergency Stop
The canine must be able to come to a complete stop at the handler’s command and is done at a distance from the handler. This could be used in an actual search area if the canine is traveling toward an area that may be dangerous.
Long Down
The canine is placed in a sit or down and is required to stay while the handler walks out of sight. The handler can be out of sight for as long as 5 minutes.
Directional
When working as a team on a disaster scene, it is critical that the handler and canine partner are in sync.
The canine will work off-leash, away from the handler which requires crystal clear communication between the two. These exercises relate directly to the handler’s ability to direct the dog toward or away from areas at a disaster site. This also ensures that all areas of a disaster are cleared when the handler cannot be in a disaster area and must send the canine alone to search.
