Canadian Criminal Evidence/Model Examinations/Dog Tracking Experts

Qualifying Expert Counsel will attempt to make two qualifications: the dogmaster in the field of interpreting the actions of the dog, and the dog in tracking human scents or drug scents. duration the dogmaster has been member of force / duration the dogmaster has been with dog team / duration the dogmaster has been with <dog> Dogmaster training course / duration / coverings tracking of human scents or drugs prior experience qualified giving evidence in court as dogmaster / prior testimony with current dog dog breed of <dog> / relevance of breed to tracking / ability of breed to track method of tracking / method of communicating whether training is needed / history of training of dog / whether with dogmaster or with others performance on simulated and real cases how dogmaster learns particular communication style of <dog> on-going training / frequency duration <dog> has been tracking / number of investigations used for success rate / false positives Subject to cross-examination, counsel will then request the dogmaster and dog be qualified as experts. Methodology how dogmaster communicates to dog (types of signals) how dog communicates with dogmaster (types of signals) dogs ability to follow scents effects of environment (terrain, climate, obstacles, persons etc) / types of distractors possibility of dog losing scent / reasons possibility of dog catching scent of another track that crosses first track Tracking Evidence dogmaster responds to request for services / time of request time and location that the dog was deployed (use map) commands or signals communicated to the dog response from the dog / interpretation of the response route traveled during tracking (draw on map) whether there were other people discovered during track further signals given to dog during tracking further signals given from dog during tracking any item(s) or person(s) found / identification of person opinion of relevance of item or person found / signals from dog relevant to discovery what happened to item or person