What You Should Know Before Hiring a Canine Detection Service DOCUMENTATION Does the company have a verifiable physical address and not just a PO Box? Does the company have a verifiable training facility that is registered to them (e.g., not using someone else's ATF and/or DEA licenses)? Does the company have an active corporation registered in the owner's name that is involved in the training? Does the company have certification documentation for each canine team? Does the company maintain canine training records? Does the company document daily searches? Are these records made available to you? CREDIBILITY Does the company have prior experience with trained explosive and narcotic canines? Does the company have an experienced training staff? Does the company have other clients in your industry for which detection services were successful? Are verified references available? Do officers of local and national law enforcement agencies recommend the company? How long has the company been in business? How long has it been at the same location? Are you able to visit the canine training facility to see how the training is conducted? CALIBER OF CANINES How is the canine selection process conducted? Are the canine trained at a nationally recognized training facility? How often are the narcotics and explosives used in training replaced? Does the company have a full-time staff to ensure canine reliability? Does an independent, nationally recognized certification professional certify the canine teams? Are the canine team certifications kept current? QUALITY OF HANDLERS How does the company select its canine handlers? Are the handlers current or retired law enforcement officers, have a military background, and/or certified through a national certification program? Does the company run background checks on the handlers? Are the handlers professionally certified? EFFECTIVE RESULTS Are there an adequate number of trained canines available to provide for scheduled and emergency detection services? Does the company have a strong relationship with local, state, and federal agencies? Does the company have standard operating procedures (SOP's) specifically tailored to their clients’ need? Is the company organized and staffed to quickly respond to your requests for services?
