Sunday, February 3, 2008
Introduction to the Arcón Method
Arcón is a system to train and intervene in catastrophes with canine rescue teams. It was created by Jaime Parejo after twelve years of study and research. The method was deemed finished in October 1994, and he chose the name Arcón in honour of his pet and pioneering student.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
Well, not really a big deal. Check the forum "The truth about the Arcon Method" in this link (in spanish):
http://www.perrosdebusqueda.com/noticias/viewforum.php?f=82
Regards
Hi all
I have readed, some untrues, incompletes and imprecises assertions very serious about Arcón Method and autor in internet, written it by Isabel Herrán Calzado whose persistence during years attack image of Jaime Parejo García in internet by professional jealousy, is of public knowledge, for example it's published in a very important Site web about disasters :
http://www.desastres.org.
You can to visualize, please, besides, the importants officials documents certify prominent
professionalism of Mr. Jaime Parejo García to scale international and the importance international of Arcón Method for rescue in disasters by his prove and prominent effectiveness
Put click on :
Hacer click aquí
And Put click on :
http://www.desastres.org/noticias.php?id=05062008-01)
Rafael Campos, Instructor Arcón Method
Site Web :
http://www.rescatecanino.com
http://www.rescatecanino.org
Thanks
PART - 1 ARCÓN METHOD - AUTHOR
The author of the Arcón rescue method, Jaime Parejo García, was born in Seville, Spain in 1961. From the time he was an adolescent, driven by a powerful, innate motivation, he devoted himself to studying, observing and analysing animal behaviour in their natural habitats. Thus, at the tender age of 14, he travelled (usually hitchhiking due to a lack of money) to many different natural areas within Andalusia with his parents’ authorisation, which was required to travel like that at such a young age. He drafted his first research study, which he then handed in to a secondary school professor at the school where he was studying, José María Pérez Orozco, another tireless Andalusian naturalist, who recognised the exceptional qualities of the study despite its clearly amateur nature.
Jaime Parejo devoted himself to researching animal behaviour in virtually all the free time he was left after fulfilling his school obligations. Despite the fact that he earned excellent grades in both primary and secondary school, for several reasons he chose not to pursue university education and instead continued focusing on his
clearly self-taught yet rigorous, demanding, painstaking, creative and open-minded pathway.
Driven by his strong humanitarian mission and also harnessing his special drive and innate ability to observe, analyse, and generate productive hypotheses, he faced twelve years of intense, arduous research and scientific writing focused on canine behaviour in general and aimed at fostering to the extent possible the performance in mankind’s specific use of dogs’ olfactory perception in multiple situations. All of this ultimately culminated in October 1994 with the creation of the Arcón Method. This came after having had to solve with special determination, disheartened at times, the frequent, arduous difficulties inherent in this type of research and innovation, in which there were numerous, complex variables that both voluntarily and involuntarily affected both the observational and the experimental research on the dogs in multiple working conditions, all aimed at rescuing people buried by any element or situation.
The moulding processes (reinforcement of successive approximations to the desired instrumental response) that characterise each of the traditional canine detection training systems in general which still currently exist were excessively limited to basic or primary learning processes (classical conditioning, operant conditioning, avoidance, extinction, generalisation, discrimination, cognitive perspectives, etc.). However, the same does not hold true
with the Arcón Method. Extensive, persistent, intense and complex endeavours entailing observation, study, measurement and analysis of variables and responses, verification of multiple hypotheses and field experimentation, in short, scientific research, all enabled Jaime Parejo to painstakingly develop a series of techniques that are minutely interrelated and ultimately manage to positively optimise the possible levels of autonomy, motivation and concentration of the animals when performing operations involving searches for buried people, either outdoors or in confined spaces with no visibility and a living space reduced to the minimum feasible displacement values.
With the aforementioned enhancement of the levels of motivation, working autonomy, and the parallel line of concentration, fulfilment of the objective set from the start, namely better speed and efficacy when locating buried persons, was repeatedly verified (with a substantial, visible operative difference).
It was precisely in the Andalusian city of Seville where Jaime Parejo deemed his system complete, thus ushering in the birth of the system in October 1994, when he solidly demonstrated and verified the high level of effectiveness of the Arcón Method (easily exceeding the most cutting-edge technological methods, such as geophonic detectors), even in especially disadvantageous conditions in confined spaces, with his dog Arcón, in an official course on disaster rescue techniques held by the Public Safety School of Andalusia. In this course, the dog, before the eyes of
numerous firefighters from Granada, Almería and Seville, carried out different search operations under pressure from a variety of extremely intense adverse factors (olfactory, spatial, visual, auditory, etc.), yet it managed to maintain the optimal levels of autonomy, motivation and concentration associated with excellent values in localising and signalling patterns.
This revolutionary, transcendent scientific innovation has enriched and expanded especially the field of animal learning. For several years now, this has also in parallel led to the rescue of buried people in several countries. For example, since 1999, the canine units of firefighters in Spain, El Salvador and other countries have detected living people buried under conditions that were extremely difficult to perceive, thus proving the higher efficacy of the Arcón Method compared to other systems using either living beings or electronic means. This has led the Arcón Method to be chosen and approved by governments as the official training and intervention system, and this method has also been officially adopted by the leading emergency squads and security forces and corps in countries with a high risk of earthquakes.
It should be pointed out that this system is difficult and complex to apply, as it requires a lengthy, intense period of theoretical-practical specialisation to become minimally familiar with it and to use it properly.
The method was called Arcón in honour of his pet and pioneering student. It has repeatedly been recognised internationally as a major step forward in the field of rescue operations.
Thus was born Arcón, as a new and exceptionally effective method of training and intervening in catastrophes with canine rescue teams, mainly aimed at detecting and saving buried survivors in cave-ins triggered by any cause (earthquakes, explosions, landslides, hurricanes, avalanches, etc.). The method manages to be extremely effective in both outdoor adverse search operations and in confined spaces (with no visibility and minimum room for displacements). Ten years later, it has also been adapted by many different police corps (Ecuador, Colombia, Caracas, etc.) to detect explosives, narcotics and trafficking endangered animal species, as its greater effectiveness compared to all the traditional systems has been demonstrated.
Currently, Jaime Parejo is Canine Rescue Expert and Head of the Canine Rescue Unit of the Firefighters of Seville. 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. He is a member of both the Spanish Ethology Society and the Animal Behaviour Society.
He has written technical and scientific articles that have been chosen and published by important journals and organisations such as Desastres.org, REDVET (official scientific and technical publication of the Veterinary Organisation, whose articles are included in the Documentation and Scientific Information Centre of the Higher Council of Scientific Research, part of Spain’s Ministry of Education and Science) and CRID, the regional information centre on disasters in Latin American and the Caribbean, an important platform for inter-sectorial coordination and collaboration for the
region on information on disasters, which includes OPS/OMS, EIRD/ISDR, CNE, IFRC, CEPREDENAC and MSF.
In 1998 he published a book entitled The Book on Rescue Dogs: Arcón Method Training (El Nuevo Libro del Perro de Salvamento, Formación Método Arcón), published by Susaeta Ediciones. He has also delivered lectures in multiple countries and institutions, such as at the 2nd Congress of Medical Departments, Firefighters of Chile in Santiago (Chile) 2001; the School of Psychology at the Universidad del Mar in Iquique (Chile), 2003; the 1st International Congress on Search and Rescue in Mérida (Venezuela), 2004; the 2nd International Seminar on Search Dogs in Bogotá (Colombia), 2004; and the Faculty of Veterinary medicine in Cáceres at the Universidad de Extremadura (Spain), 2005.
In his capacity as Technical Director and General Instructor, since 1996 he has taught a total of 23 specialisation courses in canine catastrophe rescue, the Arcón Method (one month, 250 teaching hours), always officially certified or offered by governments. In these courses, he has trained, evaluated and operatively certified guides, instructors and rescue dogs of numerous firefighter squads, police corps and armies, which were officially chosen under operative criteria from a total of 17 countries with a high risk of earthquakes.
As Technical Director, he has also technically drafted a number of official projects, rules, regulations and programmes in canine
catastrophe rescue (Arcón Method) both nationally and internationally, such as the official training programme manual of the course on canine catastrophe rescue, Arcón Method (levels 1 and 2) in 1996; the UCRA (abbreviation for the Canine Rescue Unit of Andalusia) Project in 1997; and the PEAL (abbreviation for the Arcón Strategic Plan for Latin America) in 2001.
PART 2 ARCÓN METHOD - AUTHOR
Chronological data
1961 - The author of the Arcón rescue method, Jaime Parejo García, was born in Seville, Spain in 1961. From the time he was an adolescent, fueled by a powerful, innate motivation, he devoted himself to studying, observing and analysing animal behaviour in their natural habitats. Thus, at the tender age of 14, he travelled (usually hitchhiking due to a lack of money) to many different natural areas within Andalusia with his parents’ authorisation, which was required to travel like that at such a young age. He drafted his first research study, which he then handed in to a secondary school professor at the school where he was studying, José María Pérez Orozco, another tireless Andalusian naturalist, who recognised the exceptional qualities of the study despite its clearly amateur nature.
Jaime Parejo devoted himself to researching animal behaviour in virtually all the free time he was left after fulfilling his school obligations. Despite the fact that he earned excellent grades in both primary and secondary school, for several reasons he chose not to pursue university education and instead continued focusing on his clearly self-taught yet rigorous, demanding, painstaking, creative and open-minded pathway.
1990 - He was hired as a firefighter in the Fire Extinguishing and Rescue Service sof the Seville Town Hall after passing the respective tests, driving as well by his orientation towards rescue. He is currently Canine Rescue Expert Head of the Canine Rescue Unit of the Seville Town Hall, and member of the Spanish Ethology Society and the Animal Behavior Society.
1994 - Driven by his strong humanitarian mission and also harnessing his special drive and innate ability to observe, analyse, and generate productive hypotheses on animal behaviour, he faced twelve years of intense, arduous research and scientific writing focused on canine behaviour in general and aimed at fostering to the extent possible the performance in mankind’s specific use of dogs’ olfactory perception in multiple situations.
In October 1994, all of this work by Jaime Parejo finally culminated in the creation of the Arcón Method. This came after having had to solve with special determination, disheartened at times, the frequent, arduous difficulties inherent in this type of research and innovation, in which there were numerous, complex variables that both voluntarily and involuntarily affected both the observational and the experimental research on the dogs in multiple working conditions, all aimed at rescuing people buried by any element or situation.
Thus was born Arcón, as a new and exceptionally effective method of training and intervening in catastrophes with canine rescue teams, mainly aimed at detecting and saving buried survivors in cave-ins triggered by any cause (earthquakes, explosions, landslides, hurricanes, avalanches, etc.). The method manages to be extremely effective in both outdoor adverse search operations and in confined spaces (with no visibility and minimum room for displacements). Ten years later, it has also been adapted by many different police corps to detect explosives, narcotics and trafficking endangered animal
species, as its greater effectiveness compared to all the traditional systems has been demonstrated.
With the aforementioned enhancement of the levels of motivation, working autonomy, and the parallel line of concentration, fulfilment of the objective set from the start, namely better speed and efficacy when locating buried persons, was repeatedly verified (with a substantial, visible operative difference).
This revolutionary, transcendent scientific innovation has enriched and expanded especially the field of animal learning. For several years now, this has also in parallel led to the rescue of buried people in several countries. The Arcón Method has also been chosen and approved by governments as the official training and intervention system, and it has also been officially adopted by the leading emergency squads and security forces and corps in countries with a high risk of earthquakes.
However, it should be pointed out that this system is difficult and complex to apply, as it requires a lengthy, intense period of theoretical-practical specialisation to become minimally familiar with it and to use it properly. The method was called Arcón in honour of his pet and pioneering student. It has repeatedly been recognised internationally as a major step forward in the field of rescue operations.
It was precisely in the Andalusian city of Seville where Jaime Parejo deemed his system complete, thus ushering in the birth of the system in October 1994, when he solidly demonstrated and verified the high level of effectiveness of the Arcón Method (easily exceeding the most cutting-edge technological methods, such as geophonic detectors), even in especially disadvantageous conditions in confined spaces, with his dog Arcón, in an official course on disaster rescue techniques held by the Public Safety School of Andalusia. In this course, the dog, before the eyes of numerous firefighters from Granada, Almería and Seville, carried out different search operations under pressure from a variety of extremely intense adverse factors (olfactory, spatial, visual, auditory, etc.), yet it managed to maintain the optimal levels of autonomy, motivation and concentration associated with excellent values in localising and signalling patterns.
1995 - He official drafted the pioneering UCRE (Canine Rescue Unit in Rubble) project of the SEIS Seville Town Hall.
1996 - In his capacity as Technical Director and Instructor, ha has taught the 1st Arcón Method Training Course on Canine Catastrophe Rescue, in which he trains, evaluates and officially certifies guides through the Seville Town Hall, as well as operative canine rescue teams, a total of eight guides (firefighters) and eight rescue dogs, which make up the first Canine Rescue Unit in a firefighter square in Spain and a pioneer in the Arcón Method.
1997 - He drafts the UCRA project (Canine Rescue Unit of Andalusia) for the REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF ANDALUSIA, assembling the first canine rescue units in the autonomous community of Andalusia (the region with the highest risk of earthquakes in Spain), for the firefighter squads in the cities of Seville, Huelva, Málaga, Cádiz, Córdoba and Granada.
1998 - He is awarded First Prize for Research granted by the Spanish Royal Canine Society by a unanimous decision of the jury due to the novel nature and scientific value of the Arcón Method. He publishes a book internationally with a summary of the Arcón method.
1999 - In 1998 and 1999 he acts as Chief Firefighter in the Sierra de Huelva and head of the Canine Rescue Unit of the Provincial Fire and Rescue Consortium of the provincial council of Huelva.
He is the head of this canine unit (pioneering in Spain, which intervenes in catastrophes abroad as well) in a variety of countries affected by earthquakes, such as Colombia, Turkey and Taiwan, leading numerous search operations both outdoors and in confined spaces. All of these operations make the effectiveness of the Arcón Method perfectly clear, as living people buried in extremely difficult-to-reach places are localised. He as granted the Service Medal of Merit by the Provincial Council of Huelva.
2000 - He returns to the firefighters squad of the Seville Town Hall. Via official agreement of the Board of Directors of the Royal Canine Society of Spain (RSCE), Jaime Parejo is appointed national delegate for canine catastrophe rescue based on his outstanding international career as an expert in this field.
He develops the ARCÓN RSCE project, and for two years works in the RSCE as technical director and instructor, training and certifying rescue dogs, experts and standardising judges of canine catastrophe rescue. He is officially accredited by the RSCE as expert and standardising judge in this speciality. He earns official recognition by the president of the government of Spain in Moncloa Palace in Madrid.
2001 - At the Seville Town Hall he officially starts as canine rescue expert (a newly-created government position) and head of the canine rescue unit of its firefighters squad. He is awarded SISAC First Prize by the by the Environmental Council of the Community of Madrid and the SISAC International Salon.
He drafts the Arcón Strategic Plan for Latin America (PEAL) and begins to voluntarily and altruistically convey and spread the Arcón Methodology to firefighter squads, police corps and armies in Latin America. Many governments official ask the Seville Town Hall for international technical cooperation at the hands of the founder of the Arcón Method, so that he can provide technical direction of the specialisation courses, perfection conferences, lectures and specific projection, primarily based on the frequent incidence of natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, hurricanes, etc.) that effect many nations, and because of the proven efficacy of the Arcón rescue method. He begins by teaching an international course in the Arcón Method in Chile in 2001, followed by Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico and Colombia, all official by the respective governments, mainly targeted at members of the firefighters squads, police corps and armies of countries with special risk of earthquakes, always as an official representative of the Town Hall of Seville, Spain.
2002 - By decree issued by the mayor of Seville, Alfredo Sánchez Monteseirín, the canine rescue unit of the firefighters square of the Seville Town Hall officially joins the SEIS, thus becoming the first official canine rescue unit in a firefighters squad in Spain. The Arcón Method and its author are officially recognised by the scientific committee and international community of the Veterinary Organisation.
2003 - The Arcón Method, its respective official course and the outstanding efforts of Jaime Parejo are recognised by the Spanish Committee of UNESCO’s Mankind and Biosphere Programme and its president and member of the Higher Council of Scientific Research, Dr. Javier Castroviejo Bolívar, are officially certified on 10th September 2003.
2004 - He is named Honorary Canine Instructor in the Technical Investigation Corps of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Colombia. The Arcón Method, due to its proven level of efficacy, is chosen and approved as the official training and intervention system for canine catastrophe rescue teams by the governments of a series of countries affected by a special risk of disasters, including Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras and Paraguay. At the request of these governments, in Quito (Ecuador) the government delegate of the Seville Town Hall signs a historic, unprecedented cooperation agreement for the specialised training and intervention of teams using the Arcón Method, aimed at fostering an effective response in catastrophic situations. This agreement was signed by the Seville Town Hall, with approval of the governing board of the city of Seville, capital of Andalusia, and representatives of the aforementioned governments: the Minister of Government of Ecuador, the General Commandant of the Firefighting Squad of the Central American isthmus, the General Director of the National Firefighting Squad of El Salvador, Major Abner Hurtado, and the President of the National Firefighting Squad Board of Paraguay.
2005 - The Arcón Method is recognised on 23rd September 2005 by the United Nations Secretariat of International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, with the certificate of distinction of the Sasakawa Prize for mitigation in disasters. This is the first time that such a world-renowned prize has been awarded to a Spaniard, Jaime Parejo. The decision adopted by the international jury, made up of experts from five continents, was made based on his outstanding professional career helping victims after catastrophes, and most importantly to his founding of the Arcón Method, a recognised and major scientific-technical step forward in fostering rescue operations after disasters. His multiple congratulations from many different countries including one from the government of Spain itself.
The president of the Republic of Paraguay, Nicanor Duarte, decreed that the PEAL (Strategic Arcón Plan for Latin America) would be declared of National Interest. This plan was drafted by Jaime Parejo in 2001, and he was awarded the medal of merit by the 16th Firefighting Company of Santiago de Chile.
He was named Professional of the Year by the staff of the prestigious Incident Commander Magazine Desastres.org.
The UAD (Disaster Support Unit), part of the Directorate General of Emergencies and Civilian Protection of the Madrid Town Hall, officially chooses the Arcón Method for its canine rescue department.
The Arcón Method and its respective official course are recognised as being of Public Humanitarian Utility by the UNESCO centre in the autonomous city of Melilla, as officially certified by the president and deputy vice president of the European Federation of UNESCO Centres, Dr Juan Antonio Vera Casares on 17th January 2005.
2006 - The Arcón Method is chosen and approved as the official training and intervention system for canine catastrophe rescue teams by the governments of Huamantla (Mexico) and Seville (Spain).
The Parliament of Andalusia decides to support the UCRA (Canine Rescue Unit of Andalusia) and PEAL (Strategic Arcón Plan for Latin America) projects, drafted by Jaime Parejo in 1997
PART - 3 ARCÓN METHOD - AUTHOR
Motivation
What drives Jaime Parejo‘s efforts
Two fundamental factors have motivated Jaime Parejo’s efforts from the start in his arduous task of expanding and gaining official international consolidation for the Arcón Method after having created it:
a) The crucial need for every country, region or city to have in situ at least one canine rescue unit that has been proven effective, considering that buried survivors die gradually for a variety of clinical reasons if they are not localised and rescued in time after being buried. There is constantly new proof that canine rescue units for international support in the event of disasters do not arrive on time, even in cases with extremely quick activations and departures. Indeed, after just a few hours have elapsed, the number of buried survivors drops sharply with just a few exceptions (such as people that have been rescued alive after several days of being buried) or, as happens in the majority of international aid interventions, no buried people are found alive.
b) A second preventative measure, which is also pending urgent resolution, is the necessary official government control and approval to guarantee a high enough level of effectiveness in this type of intervention by giving official status to a training and intervention method for canine catastrophe rescue teams - a method whose level of efficacy has been rigorously proven by true canine specialists from the leading official corps intervening in accidents, firefighters and police squads.
With regard to the speciality of canine catastrophe rescue (rubble) the Arcón Method (rules on training, evaluation, official certification of human/canine operativeness, lines of intervention, etc.) has been approved by the government as the official method to be followed by official corps intervening in emergencies (firefighters, police squads) in the different regions and countries affected by high risk of earthquakes, landslides and other potential causes of cave-ins. It is the only system of training/intervention for canine catastrophe rescue that has been chosen by many different governments based on its proven degree of efficacy (in simulations or real interventions) and with recognised scientific value for localising and saving buried survivors in cave-ins triggered by any cause (explosions, earthquakes, hurricanes, landslides, structural flaws, etc.) and in any situation (both outdoors and in confined spaces).
The Arcón Method is legally registered and protected in the General Register of Intellectual Property in Spain with number 23,474.
Official Recognition
Recognition of the Arcón Method and its creator by organisations, institutions and governments
To date Jaime Parejo García has been awarded numerous prestigious official recognitions, congratulations, prizes, distinctions and awards internationally based on three main circumstances, outlined below, which are currently considered the most acclaimed and productive canine rescue technique in the world:
- For the creation of the Arcón Method, a complex rescue system that is the outcome of twelve years of intense personal research, which today is regarded as an advance and scientific innovation for humanity in a variety of fields, such as canine detection of living people who are buried, narcotics, explosives and endangered animal species, which have been shown to be significantly enhanced internationally.
- For the special results of the intervention operations of canine rescue units trained by him or in certain cases who acted under his technical-operative supervision.
- For the transcendent, constant and arduous teaching efforts for the Arcón Method that he created, officially training guides, instructors and rescue dogs in numerous institutions (fire-fighters, police, armies, etc.) from a variety of countries affected by particular risks of earthquakes.
SPAIN
- Officially awarded the First National Research Prize by the Royal Canine Society of Spain (official institute in Spain on dog matters), member of the Federation Cynologique Internationale. It recognised the Arcón Method and its scientific-technical author, Jaime Parejo, with the First Prize for Research, the highest award in Spain on the subject of canine research, after the select team of prestigious doctors in the qualifying jury unanimously endorsed the high quality and scientific advancement as well as the high level of innovation of the Arcón method in the field of Animal Learning and Behaviour Psychology (1998).
- The Provincial Council of Huelva officially awards Jaime Parejo the Service Medal (1999).
- Jaime Parejo publicly recognised and rendered homage in the Senderos de Gloria Programme of Canal Sur Television (1999).
- Jaime Parejo is officially appointed National Canine Catastrophe Rescue Delegate by the Royal Canine Society of Spain (2000).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Spanish ambassador in Colombia, Yago Pico de Coaña (2000).
- Jaime Parejo and his canine rescue unit under the mandate of the Firefighters of the Provincial Council of Huelva are officially recognised by the government of Spain, President of the government José María Aznar, at Moncloa Palace (2000).
- Congratulations from the government of Spain, by the International and Defence Department director, Ramón Gil-Casares (2000).
- Official recognition from the General Consul of Spain in Turkey, José María Castroviejo y Bolívar (2000).
- Jaime Parejo is officially granted First Prize at the International sisac Salon, delivered by the Council of the Environment of the Autonomous Community of Madrid, Spain (2001).
- Jaime Parejo and the Arcón Method are officially and publicly recognised by the Scientific Committee and members of the International Community Veterinary Organisation (2002).
- Jaime Parejo and his Arcón Method are officially recognised by the Spanish Committee of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere programme, by the president of the MAB committee, Javier Castroviejo (2003).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Ambassador of Spain in Tanzania, José María Castroviejo (2005).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the UNESCO Centre in the autonomous city of Melilla, and the Arcón Method is declared of Public Humanitarian Utility by the president of the UNESCO Centre, Juan Antonio Vera (2005).
- Jaime Parejo is congratulated by the government of Spain (for being granted the United Nations’ Sasakawa Certificate of Distinction) by the director of the Cabinet of the President of the government, José Enrique Serrano (2005).
- Jaime Parejo is recognised by the Canine Rescue Unit of the Firefighters’ Squad of the Huelva Town Hall for the creation of the Arcón Method. The recognition is delivered by Carmen Sacristán, safety delegate of the town hall of Huelva, Spain.
CHILE
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Police Force of Chile (2001).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Directorate General of Civilian Aeronautics of Chile ((2003).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Firefighting Squad of Iquique for his extraordinary efforts on behalf of humanity, delivered by superintendent David Briones (2003).
- Jaime Parejo is awarded the medal of merit by the 16th Firefighting Company of Santiago de Chile for his extraordinary efforts on behalf of humanity, delivered by
General Commandant of the Santiago Firefighting Squad, Marshall Argandoña Galetti, Chile (2005).
- Official recognition by the Army of chile, General of the Brigade, Commandant in Chief, 3rd Division of the Army, Ricardo Toro Tassara (2006).
VENEZUELA
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Canine Group of the Central Bank of Venezuela (2004).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the General Command of the Armed Police Force of the state of Falcón, delivered by General Commandant Oswaldo Rodríguez (2004).
COLOMBIA
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Ambasador of Colombia in Spain, Carlos Ardila for the intervention canine rescue unit under his command of the Firefighters of the Provincial Council of Huelva in Armenia after the earthquake there (1999).
- Official recognition of the Consul of Colombia in Spain, Victoria Eugenia Garrido (2000).
- Official Recognition from the Red Cross of Colombia and the Secretary of the Government of the Mayor’s Office of Bogotá, Colombia (2004).
- Jaime Parejo is named Honorary Canine Instructor in the Technical Investigation Corps of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Colombia (2004).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Colombian Civilian Defence (2004).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Directorate of Emergency Prevention and Attention, Secretariat of the Government, in Bogotá (2004).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Directorate of Protection and Special Services of the National Police of Colombia (2005).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Training School of Guides and Dog Training of the National Police of Colombia (2007).
PERU
- Jaime Parejo is named Professional of the Year by the staff of the prestigious Incident Commander Magazine Desastres.org (2005).
BRAZIL
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Military Firefighting Squad of Minas Gerais (2005).
GUATEMALA
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Disaster Commission of the Universidad de San Carlos in Guatemala, delivered by coordinator Omar Flores (2005).
- Official recognition from the Centre of Disaster Studies in Guatemala, delivered by Eduardo Joachín (2005).
NICARAGUA
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the National System for the Prevention, Mitigation and Attention to Disasters of Nicaragua, delivered by the Executive Secretary, Gerónimo Giusto-Robelo (2006).
MEXICO
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Directorate General of the Red Cross of Mexico, by General Director José A. Fernández (2005).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the State Institute of Civilian Protection of the state of Tlaxcala by General Director Roberto Núñez (2005).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Huamantla Town Hall by city president Eduardo Bretón (2006).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Directorate General of Public Safety of Huamantla by General Director Octavio López (2006).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the State Emergencies Centre of the state of Campeche, by General Director Jorge Alberto Ancona (2006).
ECUADOR
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Intervention and Rescue Group of the National Police of Ecuador, by commandant of the IRG Juan Ruales (2004).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Ministry of Government of the Republic of Ecuador, by the Minister of Government, Raúl Baca (2004).
PARAGUAY
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the National Board of Firefighting Squads of Paraguay (2004).
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Dominican Association of Disaster Mitigation, by Director Bernardo Rodríguez (2005).
EL SALVADOR
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Ambassador of El Salvador in Spain, Miguel Ángel Salaverría (2001).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Ministry of Foreign Relations of El Salvador, Minister of Foreign Relations María Eugenia Brizuela (2001).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Ministry of Governance of the Republic of El Salvador, by the Minister of Governance, René Mario Figueroa (2004).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the National Firefighters’ Squad of El Salvador (2006).
HONDURAS
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Secretary of State of Governance and Justice of the Republic of Honduras, General Secretary of State José Noe Cortés (2004).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Firefighters’ Squad of Tegucigalpa, by the head of firefighters, Luis Alberto Sevilla (2006).
ARGENTINA
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Ministry of Governance, Justice and Education of San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina (2005).
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the Presidency of the Firefighters of Ushuaia, northern zone, for his selfless efforts, solidarity and mission to serve humanity, delivered by president Oscar Zampella (2007).
CHINA
- Jaime Parejo is officially recognised by the representative of the Republic of China in Spain, by Director Bruce Lin (2000).
- Congratulations from the Republic of China by the President of the Republic of China, Lee Teng-hui (1999).
UNITED NATIONS
On 12th October 2005, the Inter-Agency Secretariat of the United Nations ISDR-UN (International Strategy for Disaster Reduction), officially recognises a Spaniard for the first time with the Sasakawa Certificate of Distinction (official international recognition granted to the most important advances in the world in disaster victim mitigation) to the scientific-technical author of the Arcón Method, Jaime Parejo, for his proven operative advance internationally which involves the detection of buried survivors, for the creation of this effective canine disaster rescue system (2005).
Lectures
A partial list of the lectures delivered by the author of the Arcón Method:
- 9th Municipal Conference on Catastrophes, SAMUR, Madrid, Spain (2000) - 1st National Symposium on Catastrophe Rescue Dogs, RSCE, Madrid, Spain (2001) - 3rd Conference on Canine Units as Police Service, Canary Safety Academy (government of the Canary Islands), Gáldar, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain (2001) - 18th National Firefigh
PART - 4 ARCÓN METHOD - AUTHOR
UNITED NATIONS
On 12th October 2005, the Inter-Agency Secretariat of the United Nations ISDR-UN (International Strategy for Disaster Reduction), officially recognises a Spaniard for the first time with the Sasakawa Certificate of Distinction (official international recognition granted to the most important advances in the world in disaster victim mitigation) to the scientific-technical author of the Arcón Method, Jaime Parejo, for his proven operative advance internationally which involves the detection of buried survivors, for the creation of this effective canine disaster rescue system (2005).
Lectures
A partial list of the lectures delivered by the author of the Arcón Method:
- 9th Municipal Conference on Catastrophes, SAMUR, Madrid, Spain (2000) - 1st National Symposium on Catastrophe Rescue Dogs, RSCE, Madrid, Spain (2001) - 3rd Conference on Canine Units as Police Service, Canary Safety Academy (government of the Canary Islands), Gáldar, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain (2001) - 18th National Firefighters Conference, ASELF (Spanish Association of Fire Fighters), Madrid, Spain (2001)
- 2nd National Gathering of Medical Departments, JNCB (National Board of Firefighter Squads of Chile), Santiago, Chile (2001) - 2nd International Veterinary Congress (Veterinaria.org)(2003) - 6th Congress on Emergency Services, APTB (Professional Association of Firefighting Technicians), Málaga, Spain (2003) - Universidad del Mar, Psychology, Iquique, Chile(2003) - 1st Conference on Canine Catastrophe Rescue (addressed to state firefighters and safety corps), Firefighter Squad of the Town Hall of Zaragoza, Spain (2004) - 1st International Search and Rescue Congress, Firefighter Squad of Mérida, Governance, Venezuela (2004) - 2ndEmergency Attention System, La Salle University, Bogotá, Colombia (2004 - 1st International Congress on Evolution in Natural Disasters and Terrorism in the World, World Firefighters Conference, Dominican Republic (2005). - Disaster Commission of the Universidad de San Carlos, Guatemala (2005) - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Cáceres, Spain (2005) -...
Courses
Courses taught by Jaime Parejo
As Technical Director and Instructor from 1996 until now, Jaime Parejo has taught 23 official specialisation courses in canine catastrophe rescue, the Arcón Method (one month, 250 teaching hours) for governments, training evaluating and officially certifying guides, instructors or rescue dogs of numerous firefighting squads, police forces and armies, officially chosen under operative criteria from a total of 17 countries:
- Andorra Canine Rescue Unit of the Firefighting Squad of the Principality of Andorra. - Argentina Police of Buenos Aires. Police of Córdoba. Police of Tierra del Fuego. Penitentiary Service of San Salvador de Jujuy-Jujuy. Firefighting Squad of Ushuaia. Firefighting Squad of Ushuaia, northern zone. Police-Firefighting Squad of Santa Cruz province. - Brazil Military Firefighting Squad of Minas Gerais. Military Firefighting Squad of Pernambuco. - Bolivia Search and Rescue Group SAR-ILLIMANI of the Bolivian Air Force. Search and Rescue Group SAR-SANTA CRUZ of the Bolivian Air Force. - Colombia Risaralda Regional Emergency and Disaster Committee. Firefighting Squad of Pereira. Red Cross of Colombia. Canine Section of the National Police of Colombia. - Costa Rica Firefighting Squad of Costa Rica.
Canine Section of the Police Force of Chile (Santiago). Canine Section of the Gendarmes of Chile (Santiago, Arica and Iquique). Fire Extinguishing and Rescue Service of the Directorate General of Civilian Aeronautics of Chile (Iquique). Canine Rescue Unit of the 16 Firefighting Squad of Santiago. Canine Rescue Unit of the 2 Firefighting Squad of Santiago. Canine Rescue Unit of the 1 Firefighting Squad of Maipú. Firefighting Squad of Talagante. - Ecuador Canine Training Centre of the National Police of Ecuador. Red Cross of Ecuador. Firefighting Squad of Cuenca. Firefighting Squad of Quito. Firefighting Squad of Rumiñahui canton. Air Force of Ecuador. Special Forces of the Army of Ecuador. Intervention and Rescue Group of the National Police of Ecuador. Special Operations Group of the National Police of Ecuador. Canine Anti-Narcotics Unit of the National Police of Ecuador. Environmental Protection Unit of the National Police of Ecuador. Anti-kidnapping and Extortion Unit of the National Police of Ecuador. - Chile Firefighting Squad of Antofagasta. Firefighting Squad of Arica. Firefighting Squad of Calama. Firefighting Squad of Iquique. Firefighting Squad of Algarrobo. Firefighting Squad of Conchalì. thndst- El Salvador Canine Rescue Unit of the Firefighting Squad of El Salvador. - Spain Canine Rescue Unit of the Firefighting Squad of the Seville Town Hall. Canine Rescue Unit of the Provincial Firefighting and Rescue Consortium of Cádiz. Canine Rescue Unit of the Provincial Firefighting and Rescue Consortium of Córdoba. Canine Rescue Unit of the Firefighting Squad of the Córdoba Town Hall.
Firefighting Squad of the Almería Town Hall. Firefighting Squad of the Valladolid Town Hall. Firefighting Squad of the Zamora Town Hall. Firefighting Squad of the Valladolid Provincial Council. Firefighting Squad of the Palencia Town Hall. Firefighting Squad of the Alicante Town Hall. Firefighting Squad of the Béjar, Salamanca, Town Hall. Fire Prevention, Extinguishing and Rescue Service of the Alcalá de Guadaíra, Seville, Town Hall. - Guatemala Canine Rescue Unit of the Firefighting Squad of Guatemala. - Honduras Firefighting Squad of Honduras. Canine Squad of the Public Ministry of Honduras. - Mexico Red Cross of Mexico. Firefighting Squad of Guadalajara. Canine Section of the Police of Huamantla. Civilian Protection of the state of Campeche. Civilian Protection of the state of Tlaxcala. Brigada de Topos of Tlaltelolco, Cancún delegation. Heroic Firefighting Squad of Mexico City. Canine Section of the Police of Sub-Secretariat of Public Safety of the state of Tlaxcala. State Civilian Protection System of Puebla. - Nicaragua Canine Rescue Unit of the Provincial Firefighting and Rescue Consortium of Huelva. Canine Rescue Unit of the Firefighting Squad of the Huelva Town Hall. Canine Rescue Unit of the Firefighting Squad of the Málaga Town Hall. Canine Rescue Unit of the Firefighting Squad of the Granada Town Hall. Canine Rescue Unit of the Provincial Firefighting and Rescue Consortium of Guadalajara. Canine Rescue Unit of the Disaster Unit of the Firefighting Squad of the Madrid Town Hall. Firefighting Squad of the Town Hall of the autonomous city of Ceuta. Firefighting Squad of Managua.
- Venezuela Firefighting Squad of Mérida. Canine Brigade of the Police of Caracas. - Paraguay Firefighting Squad of Paraguay. Army of Paraguay. Air Force of Paraguay. - Peru Canine Section of the National Police of Peru (Lima).
Projects and Regulations
Drafting of projects and regulations
As Technical Director, Jaime Parejo has drafted a number of projections, rules, regulations and official programmes on canine catastrophe rescue (Arcón method) both nationally and internationally:
1995 –UCRE project (Canine Rubble Rescue Unit) for the SEIS, Firefighting and Rescue Service of the town hall of Seville, Spain.
1996 – Official regulations of the Arcón Training and Intervention Methodology (both national and international).
–Official manual of the Arcón Method canine catastrophe rescue course (levels 1 and 2).
1997 – UCRA project (Canine Rescue Unit of Andalusia) for the Ministry of Government of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Spain.
2000 - Arcón/RSCE project (National Training and Standardisation Programme, Canine Catastrophe Rescue) for the Royal Canine Society of Spain.
2001 – PEAL project (Strategic Arcón Plan for Latin America), an international cooperation project for the governments of several Latin American countries at a high risk of disaster.
2007 - ARCÓN-UCRA programme for the Ministry of Governance of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Spain and the Andalusian Fire Council.
Jaime Parejo García
Researcher in Animal Behaviour and Instructor specialized in Training Disaster Search and Rescue Dogs
Web:
http://www.rescatecanino.com
E-mail: jaimeparejo@rescatecanino.com
Introduction to the Arcón© Method
Canine Catastrophe Rescue consists of using dogs to find people that have been accidentally buried for whatever reason (explosions, earthquakes, structural flaws, hurricanes, tornadoes, avalanches, landslides, etc.).
Arcón is a system to train and intervene in catastrophes with canine rescue teams. It was created by Jaime Parejo after twelve years of study and research. The method was deemed finished in October 1994, and he chose the name Arcón in honour of his pet and pioneering student.
The Arcón Method’s proven success in rescue operations has led it to win numerous major official awards both nationally and internationally, such as the First Prize for Research granted by the Spanish Royal Canine Society and the Sasakawa Certificate of Distinction from the United Nations.
The first canine rescue unit that Jaime Parejo officially assembled using this system was for the firefighters of Seville (Spain) back in 1996, where he is currently chief of this unit. Since then, official guides, instructors and rescue dogs have been trained and certified for important firefighting squads and police corps in a number of countries where there is a heightened risk of disasters (Colombia, El Salvador, Ecuador, Chile…).
The Arcón Method is primarily based on a set of seven innovative behavioural techniques which complement each other and have an effective impact on three fundamental, interrelated parameters in search operations: autonomy, motivation and concentration.
The moulding processes (reinforcement of successive approximations to the desired response) that characterise traditional canine search training methods and which are still currently used, are excessively limited to basic or primary learning processes (classical conditioning, operant conditioning, avoidance, extinction, generalisation, discrimination, cognitive perspectives, etc.). However, the same does not hold true with the Arcón Method. After twelve years of persistent, intense and complex endeavours entailing observation, study, measurement and analysis of variables and responses, verification of multiple hypotheses and field experimentation, in short, scientific research, Jaime Parejo, a tireless, rigorous scholar and researcher into animal behaviour and learning, was able to painstakingly develop a series of techniques that are minutely interrelated and ultimately manage to positively optimise the possible levels of autonomy, motivation and concentration of the animals when performing operations involving searches for buried people, either outdoors or in confined spaces with no visibility and a living space reduced to the minimum feasible displacement values.
With the aforementioned enhancement of the levels of motivation, working autonomy, and concentration, fulfilment of the objective set from the start, namely better speed and efficacy when locating buried persons, was repeatedly verified (with a substantial, noticeable operative difference).
This revolutionary, transcendent scientific method has enriched and expended especially the field of animal learning. For several years now, this has also in parallel led to the rescue of buried people in several countries. It has also led the Arcón Method to be chosen and approved by governments as the official training and intervention system, and this method has also been officially adopted by the leading emergency squads and security forces and corps in countries with a high risk of earthquakes.
The Arcón Method is regarded as a major step forward for humanity, and it is currently the sole rescue system with official status, due to its exceptional efficacy in searching for and localising buried people. Following are several examples.
Since 1999, many living people buried in extreme difficult search conditions have been localised by the Canine Rescue Unit of firefighters.
In 2005, the Intervention and Rescue Group of Ecuador’s National Police Force demonstrated the unique effectiveness of the system for detecting explosives by winning first prize in the International K-9 Competition in Indiana, United States for Police and Military Corps, after vying for the prize with leading units from the United States, Canada and Latin America.
Since 2006, the number of anti-personnel mines detected by the Mobile Customs Squads of Colombia’s National Police Force has increased. The number of endangered animals detected by the Environmental Protection Unit of Ecuador’s National Police Force has also risen, thus stanching the illegal trafficking of these animals in the Galapagos National Park. Finally, the Canine Brigade of the Caracas Police Corps has stepped up its detection of narcotics.
The basic instruments used when applying the Arcón techniques include:
• The guide’s bodily comportment.
• A methodical process of analysing and observing canine behaviours and work environments.
• Individualised and constant technical dosage of the behavioural resources.
• Painstakingly-designed procedure of interaction amongst all the behavioural techniques.
• …
The animal trained using this method tends to more intensely exploit its physical and psychological resources during the search process in a way that is particularly natural, voluntary and fruitful.
Below is a very basic, schematic assessment of the incidence of the Arcón Method on the three main parameters: autonomy, motivation and concentration.
Autonomy
There is repeated proof that when a dog experiences a higher degree of work autonomy, its degree of concentration on the job increases in a parallel fashion. This system allows this level of autonomy associated with a solid focus on the search behaviour to be optimised.
The animal dissociates from the guide without any harmful interruptions in its line of search, such as sporadic returns to the guide or bodily actions with the goal of catching sight of the guide. We stress the fact that excessive participation by the guide (a very common mistake), either verbal or physical, during the canine work behaviour generates the consequent negative expectation of support in the dog’s memory storage, which only becomes more pronounced and meddlesome during the search as time goes by without the animal having managed to perceive the desired scent stimulus of a potential buried person.
There are three main Arcón techniques that taken together largely enable the goals on the expected working autonomy to be achieved:
• Technique to block the yo-yo effect by return control (applied preventatively).
• Gradual autonomy technique by the action of the mannequin effect (applied in the phases of education, training and occasionally in intervention).
• Technique of innocuous re-establishment by sound insertion (applied occasionally in the initial education phase).
Motivation
Applying this system generates in the animal a motivational drive that is especially strong for this type of work, thus fostering the dog’s levels of intensity, perseverance and concentration during the search operation, as well as shielding it from possible deviating stimuli.
There are four Arcón techniques aimed at preserving or nurturing this level of specific motivation:
• Calibrated reinforcement technique by triple control (applied in education and training phases).
• Feasible localisation technique by compensation of negative factors (a technique that “helps” to keep the dog motivated in the search by eliminating some items in the field that may adversely affect its search, such as passing animals, food, etc- this technique is applied only in educational phases, and occasionally during training).
• Chained search technique by mimicked dissuasion of the buried person (a technique used to dissuade the dog from stagnating at the first buried person and to encourage it to go and find the next buried person. It is applied in the phases of education, training and during interventions).
• Non-requested support technique by restrained approximation (a technique based on providing moderate support to the dog to help it find the buried person. –the support is only given when not requested and is applied occasionally only during the initial stages of education to keep motivation high).
It is important to bear in mind that in the education or learning phase, the animal’s experience of not successfully achieving the goals, that is, of failure, will lower the expectation evoked by the training activity and the respective setting, thus seriously jeopardising the degree of motivation required to face the learning process and for the future performance of the search work.
This negative circumstance can be avoided by applying the aforementioned techniques, while they also contribute to the fact that the mere search and the environment of rubble in themselves generate a powerful reinforcement effect for the animals. The search activity provokes in dogs a positive rise in their excitation level, which is added to the motivation spurred by the incentive.
Concentration
In this case, the animal’s degree of voluntary attention in the search will be primarily associated with the two previous parameters (autonomy and motivation), and will not be dependent on a possible application of specific techniques.
The dog trained using this system shows a visible and continuous high degree of concentration in the search, experiencing a solid line of attention.
Concentration could be defined as the organisation of the animal’s attention in order to perform a given task. In the case at hand this entails the olfactory process of sniffing with the goal of capturing human scent molecules in the air that allow the animal to head towards the source, namely, the person buried among rubble, earth, snow, clay, etc.
A higher level of concentration will enhance the application of the dog’s olfactory reception and elaboration devices, thus limiting its field of awareness and in consequence fostering its ability to capture the scent of persons who may be buried.
The 250 hours in the official basic Arcón courses specialisation are devoted virtually in their entirety to the introductory theoretical-practical transmission of the complex dynamics of application, interaction and performance of the Arcón techniques, in both training and in accident interventions.
Based on the significant technical, operative, professional and scientific value of the Arcón method, below, as supplementary information, is an excerpt from an official technical report written by Patricio Galiano Borja, a prominent international expert and instructor in different canine fields, psychology scholar, lieutenant and head of the Canine Unit in Ecuador’s National Police Force’s Intervention and Rescue Group.
OPERATIVE TECHNICAL REPORT OFFICIALLY SUBMITTED TO THE COMMAND OF THE INTERVENTION AND RESCUE GROUP (IRG) OF THE NATIONAL POLICE FORCE OF ECUADOR.
DATE: 02 May 2007.
LOCATION: IRG Quarters, Quito.
TIME: 08:30.
MATTER: Evaluation of the application of the Arcón Method in the IRG’s Anti-explosive and Rescue Canine Unit.
1) Background
- Official invitation extended by our unit for Jaime Parejo García to teach four official courses of the Arcón Method in our country.
- Request made by the General Commandant of the National Police Force, General Jorge Poveda Zúñiga, addressed to the Ministry of Government and Police in 2004, with the purpose of making the Arcón Method official in our country in order to ensure a common language and maximum efficacy when performing real rescue tasks in the event of a catastrophe.
- Ministerial Agreement whereby in 2004 the Arcón Method became Ecuador’s official governmental canine team system to prepare, implement and intervene in the event of a catastrophe.
2) Gathering Knowledge
Our country has received a total of four official international courses in the Arcón Method, in which students were from both Ecuador and abroad, coming from a total of 13 countries in Latin America and Spain, belonging to a variety of different official firefighting, police and army groups.
3) Proof and Verification
- In recent years, through the participation of canine teams from the different countries attending the official courses taught in our country, the efficacy and efficiency of localising buried persons by the animals certified via this method has been amply proven.
- The increase in the dogs’ levels of autonomy, motivation and concentration could clearly be seen, not only in rescue operations but also in all the areas in which our institution uses dogs for police work.
- Simulations have been conducted with the assistance of authorities and the public at large in which the “victims” have decided where to be buried, thus demonstrating the transparency of the process of localising possible living victims in the event of a real catastrophe.
4) Application of Arcón Method techniques in other working areas with dogs:
As a practical, scientific method, the results are easy to measure and verify. Our unit has applied the techniques of the Arcón Method in all areas of detection, specifically the detection of explosives, drugs and even the trafficking of shark fin, sea cucumber and wild animals. We are the only country in the world that has dogs trained for these purposes, and the results are outstanding in real operations in which trafficked explosives and endangered animal species have been confiscated in the eastern part of our country and the Galapagos Islands, respectively.
5) Conclusions
- One can call a training method scientific when it is not sustained merely on (empirical) experience or field observation, rather in the handling of a process through which its hypotheses may be fully verified, and the application and consequent measurement of the results is possible.
- Based on the work performed with our canine teams, we can certify their efficacy and efficiency in real jobs whose results are known publicly in our country.
- With regard to the complex Arcón Techniques, which are methodically interrelated, some of them affect the level of working autonomy (without any decline in the type of control that may be needed), while others affect the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation when carrying out the search. At the same time, the levels of motivation and working autonomy, which are especially fostered by these techniques, interact in an extremely positive way to increase the level of concentration in the animal, which then exploits its respective olfactory sense receptors exceptionally effectively, yielding a fruitful search operation.
- To conclude this report, I would like to state that in our judgement, the Arcón Method is a technical and scientific system for the training and intervention of canine teams not just in the event of catastrophes but also in all the areas of detection that might arise all over the world, as for all of these areas it is crucial to have the utmost efficacy and efficiency possible. This method is thus an extraordinary tool for improving the levels of autonomy, motivation and concentration which are so indispensable in any type of work with detection dogs.
Approved by Legal Resolution No. 1998/41/12727 on 5 May 1998 by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Spain, in compliance with Royal Decree (1/1996, 12 April), that the Arcon Method, (including among other content, the set of innovative behavioural techniques, training phases and corresponding denominations), whose author is Jaime Parejo García, is duly registered and legally protected as scientific copyright in the General Registry of Intellectual Property under No. 23474.
Jaime Parejo García
Researcher in Animal Behaviour and Instructor specialized in Training Disaster Search and Rescue Dogs
Web: http://www.rescatecanino.com
Email:jaimeparejo@rescatecanino.com
Always the same... words, lots of words. But they never show their training unless it's absolutely prepared -and extremely easy-. Ask people who works with SAR dogs in Spain, volunteer, police, civil guard or the army. It's easy to check up. Or ask them why they don't train with other groups. Or even easier: just train with them - but be careful, they don't like being unmasked.
This could ring a bell to Sandra Anderson and Doug Copp frauds, always with a lot of words but nothing inside, saying they are the best in the world and the only with the real truth... but they were just liars and time showed the truth.
And now, if you don`t read spanish and don`t wish to translate the forum thread, here you can read a summary in english:
Arcon method tries to get into the search and rescue dogs world in USA
Post a Comment