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Introduction to the Arcon Method

Canine Disaster Recovery Method is to use dogs to find people who have been buried for any reason (explosions, earthquakes, structural failures, hurricanes, tornadoes, avalanches, landslides, etc.).

Arcon is a system to train and intervene in catastrophes with canine rescue teams. Created by Jaime Parejo, after twelve years of study and research. The method was considered completed in October 1994, and chose the name in honor of his beloved disciple ARCN and pioneers. Arcon's success-proven methods of rescue operations led him to win numerous official major awards both nationally and internationally, such as the First Prize for Research granted by the Spanish Royal Canine Society and the Certificate of Distinction United Nations Sasakawa.

The first rescue canine unit Jaime Parejo officially was assembled using this system for firefighters in Seville (Spain) in 1996, where he is currently head of this unit. Since then, official guides, instructors and rescue dogs have been trained and certified to extinction squads major fires and police in several countries where there is an increased risk of disasters (Colombia, El Salvador, Ecuador, Chile).

Arcon Method is mainly based on a set of seven innovative behavioral techniques complement each other and have a real impact on three basic parameters related each other in search operations: autonomy, motivation and concentration. Molding processes (reinforcement of successive approximations of the desired response) that characterize the traditional methods of search dog training and is still used today, are too limited to basic learning processes or primary (classical conditioning, operant conditioning, avoidance, extinction, generalization, discrimination, cognitive perspectives, etc.).

However, the same is not true Arcon Method. After twelve years of persistent, intense and complex effort that involves observation, study, measurement and analysis of the variables and responses, the testing of hypotheses and testing of multi-field, short research, scientific, Jaime Parejo, a tireless, rigorous scholar and researcher in animal behavior and learning, was able to develop in detail a number of techniques that are closely interrelated and ultimately to optimize management in a positive way possible levels of autonomy, motivation and concentration of animals to perform operations such as records buried people, either outdoors or in confined spaces with no visibility and a living space reduced to the minimum feasible displacement values.

With the reported increase levels of motivation, working autonomy, and concentration, compliance of the target from the start, namely better speed and efficiency in locating people buried, it was observed several times (with a substantial difference, significant operational). This revolutionary, transcendent scientific method has been enriched and spent the whole field of animal learning. For several years, this has also resulted in parallel to the rescue of people buried in several countries. It has also born ARCN method to be chosen and approved by governments as the official training and intervention, and this method has been officially adopted by the leading rescuers and the forces and security bodies in countries with a high earthquake risk. ARCN The method is considered an important step forward for humanity, and is currently the only system on a rescue official, due to its exceptional efficiency in finding and locating people buried. The following are some examples.

Since 1999, many people living in extreme buried difficult search have been found by the Rescue Dog Unit for firefighters. In 2005, the Intervention and Rescue Group of the National Police of Ecuador Force demonstrated the effectiveness of explosives detection only by winning the first prize at the International K-9 competition in Indiana, United States Corps of Military Police and, after competing for the prize with the main units of the States Canada and Latin America. Since 2006, the number of mines detected by Customs mobile squads Colombias National Police has increased. The number of endangered animals detected by the Unit for Protection of the Environment of Ecuador's National Police has also increased, which has reduced the illegal trafficking of animals in the Galapagos National Park. Finally, the Brigade Police Canine Corps of Caracas has increased its detection narcotics.

The basic tools used in implementing Arcon techniques are:

The body behavioral guidelines. A process methodical analysis and observation of canine behavior and work environments.

Individualized and consistent dose of the technical resources of behavior.

Carefully designed process of interaction between all the techniques of behavior.

The animals trained with this method tends to exploit more intense physical and psychological resources during the search process in a way that is particularly natural, voluntary and fruitful. Below is a very basic Schematic evaluation of the impact of Chest Method on the three main parameters: autonomy, motivation and concentration.

Self test is not repeated when a dog experiences a greater degree of work autonomy, the degree of concentration at work increases in parallel.

This system allows this level of autonomy associated with a strong focus on search behavior to be optimized. The animal is dissociated from the guide without any harmful interruptions in their line of inquiry, such as statements sporadic contacts, or bodily actions in order to reach the view of the guide. We emphasize the fact that overuse of the guide (a very common mistake), either verbal or physical conduct during the working canine generates the expectation of consequent denial of support in the memory storage dogs, which only becomes more pronounced and intrusive in the search as time passes without the animal reached to perceive the aroma stimulus expectation of a potential person buried. There are three main techniques ARCN which together achieve the objectives largely on the work planned autonomy to achieve:

Technical block yo-yo effect of returning control (applied preventively).

Gradual autonomy technique by the mannequin effect action (applied in phases of education, training and opportunities for intervention).

Restoration technique safe insertion of sound (sometimes applied in the initial training).

Motivation The application of this system results in the animal unit motivation is particularly strong for this type of work, fostering dogs and levels of intensity, perseverance and concentration during the search operation and shielding it from possible disruption of stimuli. ARCN There are four techniques to preserve or promote this level of specific grounds: Technical calibrated by triple strengthening control (applied in phases of education and training).

Technically feasible location for the compensation of negative factors (a technique that helps keep the dog motivated in the search by removing some articles in the field that can adversely affect your search, such as animals in transit, food, etc-this technique is applied only in the educational stages, and from time to time during training).

Chained search technique by mimicked dissuasion of the buried person (a technique used to deter the dog from a standstill in the first person buried and encourage them to go get the next person buried. It applies in the stages of education, training and during operations). She did not seek technical support from the restricted approach (a technique based on supporting moderate the dog to help you find the person buried. Support is only given when not requested and applies only at times during the initial stages of education to maintain high motivation).

It is important to note that in education or the learning phase, the experience of animals unable to achieve the objectives, ie the failure, lower the expectations raised by the training activity and the respective configuration, seriously jeopardizing the motivation needed to face the process of learning and the future performance of the work search. This circumstance negative can be avoided by applying the above techniques, while also contributing to the mere fact that the search and the environment of debris themselves generate a powerful reinforcement effect for the animals. The search leads to activity in dogs a positive increase in their level of arousal, which is added to the stimulated by the incentive motivation.

Concentration In this case, animals degree of voluntary attention in the search is mainly associated with two above parameters (autonomy and motivation), and not be dependent on the possible application of specific techniques. The dog trained through this system shows a visible and continuous high degree of concentration in the search, experience strong hotline.

The concentration can be defined the organization of care for the animals to perform a given task. In this case the process involves olfactory smell with the aim of capturing molecules human scent in the air that allow the animal's head toward the source, ie the person buried in the rubble, dirt, snow, mud, etc. A high level of concentration improve the implementation of the dogs and receiving devices olfactory processing, which limits their field of knowledge and, consequently, their capacity building to capture the flavor of the people who may be buried. The 250 hours in the base ARCN officer specialized courses devoted almost entirely to the transmission input theory and practice of the complex dynamics of demand, interaction and performance ARCN techniques, both in training and in the interventions of an accident.

Based on the value significant technical, operational, professional and scientific method Arcon, then such information is an extract from an official technical report written by Patricio Galiano Borja, a leading international expert and instructor in various canine fields, psychology student, Lieutenant and head of the Canine Unit of the National Police of Ecuador intervention forces and Rescue Group.

TECHNICAL REPORT TO CONTROL OPERATIONAL officially INTERVENTION AND RESCUE GROUP (IRG) of the National Police ECUADOR. DATE: May 02, 2007. LOCATION: Fourth IRG, Quito. TIME: 08:30. SUBJECT: Evaluation the application of Arcon Method in explosives and rescue IRGs Canine Unit.

1) Background - Official invitation extended by our unit Jaime Parejo Garcia to teach four courses ARCN Method officials in our country. - Request by the General Commander of the National Police, General Jorge Poveda Ziga, directed the Ministry of Government and Police in 2004 with the purpose of making the official ARCN method in our country to ensure a common language, and maximum efficiency in the performance of real tasks of rescue in the event of a disaster. - Ministerial agreement by which in 2004 became the official method ARCN Ecuador government system team of dogs trained to prepare, implement and participate in the event of a disaster.

2) The collection of knowledge, our country has received a total four courses in the official international ARCN method, in which the students were from Ecuador and abroad, from a total of 13 countries in Latin America and Spain, belonging to a variety of different fire officers, police and army groups.

3) The testing and verification - In recent years, through the participation of canine teams from different countries attending the official courses taught in our country, the effectiveness and efficiency of locating persons buried by animals through certificates this method has been amply demonstrated. - Increasing levels of autonomy dogs, motivation and concentration could be seen clearly, not only in rescue operations, but also in all areas in which our institution uses dogs for police work. - The simulations have been conducted with the assistance of authorities and the general public that the victims have decided where he will be buried, what demonstrating the transparency of the process of finding possible victims living in the event of a real disaster.

4) Application of techniques ARCN method in other areas of work with dogs: As a practical and scientific, the results are easy to measure and verify. Our service is implemented ARCN Method techniques in all areas of detection, specifically the detection of explosives, drugs and even the shark fin trade, cucumber sea and wildlife. We are the only country that has trained dogs for such purposes, and the results are exceptional in actual operations in which victims of trafficking in explosives and endangered species of animals have been confiscated in the eastern part of our country and the Galapagos Islands, respectively.

5) Conclusions - You can call a scientific training method when it relies only on (empirical) experience or field of observation, not in the management of a process by which their hypotheses can be fully verified, and the implementation and subsequent measurement of results is possible. - Based on work made with our dog teams, we can certify their effectiveness and efficiency in real jobs, whose results are publicly known in our country. - As Technical ARCN the complex, which are methodically interrelated, some of which affect the level of autonomy of work (without any decrease in the rate control that may be needed), while others affect the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to perform the search. At the same time, levels of motivation and work autonomy, they are particularly encouraged by these techniques interact in a positive way to increase the level of concentration in the animal, which then explodes their exceptionally effective olfactory sensory receptors, producing a successful search operation. -

In concluding this report, I would noted that in our view, the method is a system ARCN technical and scientific training of canine teams and involvement not only in the event of disasters, but also in all areas of detection that may arise throughout the world, to all of these areas is essential to have maximum effectiveness and efficiency. This method is an extraordinary tool to improve levels of autonomy, motivation and concentration that are so essential in any work with dogs detection.

Approved by Resolution No. legal 1998/41/12727 the May 5, 1998 by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Spain in accordance with Royal Decree (1 / 1996, April 12) that the Arcon Method (including among other matters, the innovative set of behavioral techniques, training phases and the corresponding names), written by Jaime Parejo Garcia, is duly registered and legally protected as copyright scientist at the General Register Intellectual Property No. 23,474.

Jaime Parejo Garcia Researcher in Animal Behaviour and instructor specializing in training for Disaster Search and Rescue Dogs

Web: http://www.rescatecanino.com

E-mail: jaimeparejo@rescatecanino.com

About the Author

Jaime Parejo is Canine Rescue Expert of the Firefighters of Seville, Spain. He is regarded as an internationally renowned expert in the speciality of canine catastropherescues. To date, he has been given numerous official awards, distinctions and congratulations both nationally and internationally from different governments and institutions (the Spanish Committee of the Mankind Programme and UNESCO's Biosphere, the UNESCO Centre in Melilla, the governments of Spain, Colombia, China, etc.). Specific examples include the First Prize for Research granted by the Spanish Royal Canine Society in 1998, and the Sasakawa Certificate of Distinction from the United Nations in 2005, both entailing worldwide recognition of his transcendent international research and teaching efforts as well as the scientific advances of the Arcón Method in reducing the number of disaster victims. In both case, he was the first Spaniard to earn such prominent distinctions.

http://www.rescatecanino.com

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