frequently asked questions
about my log in
What do I do if I’ve forgotten my password?
If you've been locked out of your account or don't remember your password, use the Forgot Password link on the login page, or click this link: learn.crisisresponsecanines.org/password/new.
What do I do if I’ve forgotten my username?
Your email address is the username to your account. Use your email address that you used during the sign up process as the username when logging into your account.
What do I do if my email address changes?
Log in to change your email address in your Profile. You’ll need access to your original email address until you validate the new email address you want to use.
If you no longer have access to the email address you registered with, Contact Us to request an email change by sending us an email from your new email account. Be sure to include the original email address in your request.
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about working canines
Q. What are the age requirements for our canine partner?
A canine should be 18 months of age minimum before enrolling in the Canis Minor mentorship. There’s no mandatory retirement age. Our senior canine partner may serve for as long as they show their interest in working and to the extent their health permits.
Q. Why is the minimum age 18 months for our canine partner?
While each individual canine matures at their own pace, by 18 months of age working canines typically have the maturity, focus, impulse control, basic training, socialization and life experiences they need to maximize their efforts in the Canis Minor mentorship program.
Q. Is there a minimum length of time that our canine must live with us?
Yes. The dog you select to be your canine partner must have lived with you for at least six months before enrolling in the Canis Minor mentorship.
Q. Are there things we can do until our dog is ready to enroll as a Canis Minor?
Yes. We can provide a solid foundation for our canine by working with a local evidence-based, aversive-free trainer who will guide us in learning how to understand the language of dogs - and specifically, how our own dog communicates with us.
Our local trainer will also guide us through gentle socialization, low-key and varied positive community experiences, basic obedience and public access handling skills. Our local trainer will consider our canine’s developmental stages as we develop a solid foundation.
- We always allow our dog to gently learn at their own pace, comfort and capacity.
- We avoid exposure to places, things, and people our dog regards as ‘big scary things’.
Q. How do we find an aversive-free trainer near us?
To find an aversive-free trainer nearby visit the Pet Professional Guild website. Simply enter a zip code to see a list of trainers in our area.
Visit the Pet Professionals Guild website
Q. How will we know if a trainer is an aversive-free trainer?
For 10 Questions You Should Ask a Professional Dog Trainer -Before You Hire Them! visit the Pet Professional Guild website page:
Visit the Pet Professionals Guild website
Q. What should we look for in our canine partner?
Tolerance. Social affiliation towards unfamiliar people. Empathy. Compassion. Patience. Social confidence. Environmental confidence. Eagerness to learn. Energy and interest in working. Collaboration. Resilience. Good health. Appropriately social or neutral to other dogs.
These are the characteristics of the canines who partner with us to work critical incidents.
A few of these characteristics are present from birth, and observable in puppies as young as 8 weeks old. They are who our dog is as an individual and who he’ll be throughout life.
Many of the characteristics change with time -maturity, health, learning and experience - for better or worse.
Q. Is there a particular breed for crisis response? Are females better than male dogs?
These characteristics can be found in individual dogs of any breed, sex or age. Yet, only rarely do we find the individual dog that possesses a balanced combination of these qualities.
Q. My dog is very large/small. Does that matter?
We ought to consider the adult size and weight of our canine partner and how they might restrict the types of incidents we can respond to. Smaller canines weighing less than 7 pounds may be at greater risk of injury. Larger canines that weigh more than 90 pounds may be too large for to fit under the seat of public transportation or too heavy to load onto disaster area transportation. Very large canines may find limitations on training and response opportunities because of their size and weight.
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about training + certification
Q. How long does it take to train a certified response canine and handler?
The answer to this will vary for each of us.It’s common for crisis response canine teams to complete the training and certification process within 12 months.
Often though, we may need additional time depending on our own unique circumstances, such as previous experience, existing involvement with community organizations, and the time we can commit to regular training. When needed, we may extend our training up to a maximum 18 months.
Q. What recognized certification standards does NATIONAL Crisis Response Canines adhere to?
NATIONAL Crisis Response Canines meets or exceeds each of the requirements of The Animal Assisted Crisis Response National Standards (2010). The Standards specify the safe, effective, ethical and professional requirements for organizations, personnel, and canine teams responding to critical incidents. The Standards incorporate:
- Standards of Conduct
- Health and care of canines
- Training curriculum
- Competency evaluation
- Certification
- Organizational policies and procedures
In addition, NATIONAL Crisis Response Canines complies with FEMA Incident Command requirements for responders. All NATIONAL personnel earn certificates for FEMA ICS 100, ICS 200 and ICS 700.
Q. What are the 3 main steps to certification?
Crisis response canine teams follow a training pathway to certification with three milestones:
- Get Started -3 months approximately
- Canis Minor Mentorship -6 months
- Competency Evaluation -1 to 2 months approximately
Q. Step 1: How long will it take to complete the Get Started course?
The Get Started course is 90 days.
- Get Started is open enrollment and on demand so you can begin whenever you’re ready to.
- Many canine teams will complete Get Started in 90 days or less, while other teams may need more time. Get Started is intentionally self-paced so each handler and canine can learn at the rate that works best for them.
- The online Get Started lessons are short and can be read in 4-7minutes. The real-world training and experiences will make up most of your time in the course.
- The handler and canine may submit their application to the six month Canis Minor mentorship when they have completed all requirements of the Get Started course.
Q. Step 2: How long will it take to complete the Canis Minor mentorship?
The Canis Minor mentorship is six months.
- The Canis Minor training is designed for crisis response canine teams to profoundly explore what’s important to them. During Canis Minor the handler and their canine partner will work to discover whether the work of crisis response is right for them.
- The canine team may submit their application to the Competency Evaluation when all requirements of the Canis Minor mentorship have been completed.
Q. Step 3: How long will it take to complete the Competency Evaluation?
The Competency Evaluation is a 2 day/48 hour event.
- It’s typical for the canine team to also need one-to-two days for travel both before and after the event itself.
- The Competency Evaluation is scheduled approximately 1 to 2 months following the Canis Minor mentorship.
- The canine team may submit their application for Competency Evaluation when all requirements of the Canis Minor mentorship have been completed.
Q. How often will a certified crisis response canine team renew their certification?
Certifications are renewed every 3 years.
Q. Is completion of all the requirements a guarantee of certification?
No. Understandably, not everyone participating in the Competency Evaluation will be able to demonstrate competency, so it’s important to understand that participation at the evaluation is not a guarantee of certification.
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the Get Started curriculum
Q. Is the Get Started course a prerequisite to enrolling in the Canis Minor mentorship?
Yes. Completing the Get Started course provides us with a better understanding of
- The fundamental concepts of crisis response.
- The level of effort we’ll be making a commitment to.
- How we’ll experience and adapt to the hybrid distance-learning experience.
- Whether the work of crisis response is right for us.
Q. Is there a cost to subscribe to the Get Started course?
Yes. It’s less than US$1 a day so it's really affordable. Both the Get Started course and the Canis Minor mentorship are subscription-funded. You'll find our current Get Started subscription offers here.
Q. What is included in my Get Started course subscription?
Your subscription includes access to the course materials for 90 days.
The topic areas of Get Started include: FEMA Incident Command System; psychological first aid; confidentiality and ethics; communication technologies; handling skills for crisis response canine teams; ethical canine partnerships, and more.
As a hybrid distance learning course, Get Started includes:
- 15 on-demand and self-paced lessons.
- Real world practicums for us and our canine partners in our local community.
- Guidance for earning certificates required for on-scene responders from NATIONAL’s learning partners.
Q. Does my Get Started course subscription auto-renew?
No. You’re in complete control of your subscription. Get Started is designed to provide you with the information you need to decide if being a crisis responder is right for you. Renewing your subscription is unconditionally your choice.
Q. Is the Get Started course open enrollment?
Get Started is open enrollment, on demand and self-paced so you can begin whenever you’re ready to.
Q. Are there other costs for training in Get Started?
Yes. The costs of these items will vary, and are paid directly to the provider/vendor you’ve chosen. They are not paid to NATIONAL.
Local Trainer During Get Started, handlers may decide to begin working with a local trainer to develop canine handling and communication skills; public access skills; and a working relationship with our canine partner.
Our local trainer will use aversive-free training methods in a pain-free, fear-free learning environment. The cost of working with our local trainer is not included in the Get Started subscription. The cost is negotiated between the trainer and ourself.
Gear Because some of the gear we might now be using with our pet dog is not appropriate for the work of crisis response, it’s likely we’ll need to purchase gear for our canine that allows us to work safely. In Get Started the gear we’ll use is a 6-8 foot lead attached to a well-fitted harness.
Required Certificates NATIONAL’s learning partners such as the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association offer instructor-led courses on First Aid, CPR and AED. The certificates earned in these courses are prerequisites for applying to the Canis Minor mentorship. The cost for these courses vary.
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the Canis Minor curriculum
Q. What does the Canis Minor curriculum include?
The Canis Minor mentorship includes training in areas specifically focused on the real world challenges handlers and canines face in responding to critical incidents and people in crisis.
Some of the topic areas include FEMA Incident Command System, psychological first aid, suicide prevention, confidentiality and ethics, conflict resolution, public access laws, communication technologies, peer support for responders, and the canine partnership.
The Canis Minor mentorship includes liability insurance coverage for the canine team in-training.
Q. Is the NATIONAL Crisis Response Canines training a distance learning program?
Yes. The Canis Minor mentorship is a hybrid distance learning program. Each topic area includes a blend of:
- Self-paced online course material sequenced to be completed in six months.
- Real world practicums for us and our canine partner in our local community.
- Live virtual classrooms moderated by experienced responders.
Q. Is the Canis Minor mentorship cohort-based enrollment?
The Canis Minor curriculum is open cohort. The handler and canine may submit their application to join the six month Canis Minor mentorship when they have completed all requirements of the Get Started course.
Q. Is there a cost to subscribe to the Canis Minor mentorship?
Yes. The Canis Minor mentorship is subscription-funded. Your subscription includes access to the course materials for 6 months. You'll find our current Canis Minor subscription offers here.
Q. Does my Canis Minor mentorship subscription auto-renew?
No. Because the Canis Minor mentorship is designed to be completed within 6 months, this subscription is non-renewing.
Q. Are there other costs for training in the Canis Minor mentorship?
Yes. Here are some typical costs for the crisis response canine team in-training. The costs of these items will vary, and are paid directly to the provider/vendor you’ve chosen. They are not paid to NATIONAL.
Local Trainer As crisis response canine teams in-training, it’s common to continue working with an experienced local trainer to develop canine handling and communication skills; advanced Critical Incident Access skills; and a deeper working relationship with our canine partner.
Our local trainer will use aversive-free training methods in a pain-free, fear-free learning environment. The cost of working with our local trainer is not included in the Canis Minor subscription. The cost is negotiated between the trainer and ourself.
Gear In Get Started, we use a 6-8 foot lead attached to a harness. During the Canis Minor mentorship we identify and discuss in detail the gear we’ll use as responders. We’ll learn how to use ear protection, eye goggles, flotation harnesses, booties, long lines, go-packs and other safety items. The cost of these items will vary and is not included in the Canis Minor subscription.
Veterinary Care As canine handlers, we’re responsible for the safety, health and ethical treatment of our canine partner. As such, our local veterinarian, who knows our canine, is an important partner of the canine team. A current rabies vaccination (or titers), annual intestinal parasite test (fecal parasite test), and microchip are prerequisites to training and responding. Our veterinarian may recommend other preventatives, supplements or vaccinations for our canine partner. The cost of these items will vary and is not included in the Canis Minor subscription.
Criminal Background Clearance NATIONAL’s promise to our community partners is that the people they serve are safe and protected. Each volunteer initiates their own criminal history background check using NATIONAL’s technology partner for conducting encrypted, secure criminal history searches. As a volunteer, we'll specifically authorize the search results to be shared with NATIONAL.
Our volunteers working in licensed professions that by law require criminal history background clearances, are presumed to be cleared and are not required to initiate an additional background search.
Required Certificates NATIONAL’s learning partners offer instructor-led certificate courses on Canine First Aid and CPR. The certificate earned in the course is a prerequisites for applying to the Competency Evaluation. The cost will vary and is not included in the Canis Minor subscription.
Real World Activities Real world experiences are a core competency of the Canis Minor mentorship. We’ll engage and connect frequently with our community partners in support of their missions, training and outreach activities. We can expect out-of-pocket expenses for meals, gas, bus or train fares, parking, and similar costs.
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ethical treatment of our canines
Q. What kind of collar can we use with our canine partner?
Because our canine partner wears a working harness with the lead attached to the harness, collars aren’t used.
If we prefer our canine to wear a collar with their ID and rabies tags, it’s okay to wear a non-metal flat or round collar. The lead is always clipped to the harness, not the collar.
A harness is required for every canine who accompanies a NATIONAL volunteer. This includes canines in-training, certified canines, and service dogs.
Q. What kinds of collar are never permitted for our canine partner?
Here are just a few examples of gear that inflicts pain and doesn’t foster the ethical treatment of our canine partners. Metal collars; shock collars; e-collars; TENS collars; choke collars; prong/pinch collars; nose halters; ill-fitting gear; leads attached to collars.
Q. Does our canine partner have to have a microchip?
Yes. Microchips are required for every canine who accompanies a NATIONAL volunteer. This includes canines in-training, certified canines, and service dogs.
Q: Is an intestinal parasite exam required?
Yes. The intestinal parasite exam, also referred to as a fecal parasite test, determines if our canine is free of intestinal parasites, such as hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms and others. These intestinal parasites are a significant health risk to our canine, and the humans and other dogs s/he comes in contact with.
The fecal parasite test is required for every canine who accompanies a NATIONAL volunteer. This includes canines in-training, certified canines, and service dogs.
Q: Is a current rabies vaccination required for our canine?
Yes. Rabies vaccinations for dogs are required by the laws of each state, tribal area, territory, or local ordinances.
NATIONAL Crisis Response Canines requires that our canine's vaccinations comply with the rabies vaccination laws of our place of residence. If we have more than one residence, vaccinations must comply with the stricter requirements.
A current rabies vaccination is required for every canine who accompanies a NATIONAL volunteer. This includes canines in-training, certified canines, and service dogs.
Q: Is rabies titers acceptable instead of a current rabies vaccination?
Maybe. If the state, tribal, territorial or local laws permit rabies titers in lieu of the rabies vaccination, NATIONAL may accept our veterinarian’s signed statement that the rabies vaccination would adversely affect the health of our canine.
NATIONAL refers to the AVMA Publication on Government Regulations when making a decision to accept the rabies titers for our canines.
Q: Will the rabies titers restrict where we can respond?
Maybe. Because state, tribal, territorial or local laws vary on acceptance of rabies titers in lieu of the rabies vaccination, it’s possible our canine may not be permitted to accompany us to an area where the laws do not provide any exemption from the rabies vaccination.
Q. Are we required to have a veterinarian for our canine?
Yes. At NATIONAL the ethical treatment of our canines includes providing health, wellness and medical care guided by a veterinarian familiar with our canine.
Q. Which additional vaccines, medications, preventatives, probiotics, nutritional supplements, diet does NATIONAL recommend for our working canines?
NATIONAL believes our canine’s veterinarian is the professional that can best provide us with specific guidance about vaccinations and other health care for our canine.
Seeking health and medical opinions from someone other than our veterinarian puts our canine’s health at risk -with potentially fatal consequences. So we direct all our health questions to our trusted veterinary professional who has the education, clinical experience and first hand knowledge of our canine’s specific medical history.
No one at NATIONAL is authorized to provide medical information, advice, opinion, diet or health-related recommendations.
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