Search and Rescue Dogs

Training of Search and Rescue Dogs

From their training and experience, search and rescue dogs can be classified as air-scenting dogs or trailing dogs, or tracking dogs. The difference with them is the air-scenting dogs usually use airborne human scent in /on subjects. Although other breeds can be trained for air-scenting, the typical air-scenting dog is a herding or sporting breed that is famous for working closely and in coordination with a human being. Bloodhounds are considered the best trailing dogs. Newfoundlands are good avalanche rescue dogs, and Labrador Retrievers are excellent cadaver dogs. In the end, the breed is less critical than the attitude of the dog.

There are some differences between Trailing dogs and Tracking dogs. Trailing dogs can discriminate scent and require a scent article from the subject .Tracking dogs follow ground disturbance using non-human scent (eg, crushed vegetation, disturbed earth etc.) in following the subject's movements .The bloodhound is the typical and famous trailing dog. In addition to these types of dogs there are some dogs that get trained by their trainer in both the parameter and even successfully use them. Trailing dog work on-lead. Air-scenting dogs work off lead. Dogs working in disaster areas work both on and off leads, depending.

Specific applications for Search and Rescue dogs include helping those lost in wilderness, face a grave disaster, cadaver, lost in an avalanche, and are drowning .Thus the specially trained dogs search and rescue or help in recovery. Training is a time-consuming and comprehensive process for both the dog and the trainer. For the dog, training for search and rescue work is best begun early in life and for deployment of the dog the best time is 12–18 months. Retirement is a large range, 5–10 years of age, depending on the breed and individual dog. Obedience training is very important for the dog's safety, for giving orders and to maintain law & order in the public sphere.

Puppies are first generally tested by professionals who understand the kinds of characteristics best suited for this future work for a puppy. Most of the pups chosen have a strong sense of play and love games. Just because a breed might be commonly used for search and rescue dog work, does not in any way mean any pup of that breed is suitable for the demanding work. Puppies who enter this field are shown diligence and much time by their trainers and homes, learning, obedience, socialization, and agility. Often the pups need to at a certain age train daily 2-5 times for 10 to 60 minutes a week. Scent training is done 3-7 times per week for 5–30 minutes. As the dog's abilities improve they are moved past basic commands. Scent training lessons frequency decrease but the duration increases. The dogs which are ready for search, need once-weekly training sessions (4–8 hours) along with frequent focus sessions. To train the dogs at outside, the primary focus should be done with care and only when the dog reliably performs in his primary training area. All of this needs to be done with people who have experience and reputation for success in this work. If the owner wishes to do this kind of work with his own dog, then of course, both owner and dog go through the training work with the trainers. All pups taught any work, need a lot of love and care as well from their home owners, as this bonds the dog in spirit to work wholeheartedly for his human companions, and make him eager to help.

Usually training starts as a game played with puppies starting with simple reward-based training and then expanding outward to "games" which are more specific job skills. It is keeping the work as a game for the dogs that keeps them working on and on until they drop if the work is long. The "games" technique is particularly effective not only with dogs breed for hunting and sporting but to also been successful with working and herding dog breeds. Air-scenting dogs are trained to find the things. Dogs now are commonly also trained in recall/refined and indicate. There are two views on recognizing when the dog has made a finding, the "natural" or untrained indication versus the trained indication. During training, the trainer must learn to recognize this behavior without letting the dog know. Search and rescue handlers are volunteers. Many raise money for equipment, travel, seminars, but most spend their own money to maintain readiness and to maintain their dogs.

The trained signal involves an additional step in the search-find process; the dog is taught to perform a clearly recognizable behavior only upon finding the subject. There are many different techniques for training a dog for this type of work. I think anyone interested in training a search dog, should contact a reputable search dog organization and discuss the training methods used.

Some of the breeds most frequently used for search and rescue work are:

Smooth CoatedCollies