Your Journey Begins Here

Introduction:

• All new canine handlers must begin at the Trainee I level.

• Training focuses on three main profiles: Wilderness/Urban Live Find or Human Remains Detection and Tracking.

• Additional profiles such as Disaster, or Water Search can be added after achieving Active Accreditation.

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Requirements​:

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Step 1 – Complete the Membership Application

Once your application has been received, it will be reviewed by our Board of Directors.

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Step 2 – Await Notification

If your application is approved, you will receive an email confirming your acceptance into SARDOA along with instructions for the next steps.

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Step 3 – Pay Your Membership Fees

After your acceptance has been confirmed, you'll be asked to submit your annual membership fee through our online store.

• ADMIN FEE: $100 + $150 General Membership

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Step 4 – Website Access

Once your membership payment has been received, we'll activate your member account and grant access to the members-only area of the SARDOA website, where you'll find training resources, documents, announcements, and member information.

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NOTE

• New prospective K9 Handlers must pass an aptitude evaluation of their canine.

• Provide and a criminal background check.

• Possibly participate in an interview with a SARDOA Preceptor.

• Complete the PERSONAL HANDBOOK  in the necessary timeframe. 

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Membership Benefits

• Upon approval, members receive:

  • Confirmation letter with a tax-deductible receipt.

  • Membership card, SARDOA T-shirt, decals, and an in-training canine vest* (after probation). * if required.

  • SARDOA Training Standards manual, SOPs, and Candidate Process Information.

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Training & Evaluation

• New members meet with their preceptor to review probation requirements and are introduced to essential tools like the Personnel Handbook, D4H system, and logbooks.

• Within the first month, members meet their trainers to discuss progress tracking.

• A preceptor is assigned, and a 6-month probationary period begins. Insufficient progress in the first three months may result in membership termination. No refund will be issued.

• Regular training attendance is required, along with participation in SARDOA-organized courses. 

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👉 Current Training for 2026

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**Note: Once a team passes the SARDOA evaluation, they MUST continue on to get certified by a third party evaluator in order to be deployed. 

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Probation and Advancement

• After a minimum of 6 months of training, and once canines are at least one year old, members must undergo a Trainee II Evaluation.

• To progress to Trainee II membership, members must:

  • Pass the 6-month Probationary Review.

  • Pass the Supporting Associate Evaluation.

  • Receive recommendations from the Training Director and co-Trainer.

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Record Keeping

• Members are encouraged to maintain hard-copy training logs, though electronic logs are also accepted if printed.

• Training logs must be submitted monthly for review and kept updated in the D4H database.

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This summary outlines the key steps and expectations for new members starting as Supporting Associates within SARDOA.