Techniques Used In K9 Search And Rescue Training

By Donna Schmidt


When it comes to dogs, there are a number of different breeds. Some breeds connect better to K9 search and rescue training than others. Breeds which often excel in this area include Golden Retrievers, Giant Schnauzers, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinchers, Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds. At the same time, while this training is often used by first responders, pet owners of all breeds can often benefit from this training.

Even when it comes to family pets, dogs can often be life savers. For, if a dog owner and dog attends a SAR training program, the dog can learn how to locate family members and to alert when imminent dangers are present. For breeds that can learn to sniff, the dog could also be useful in locating a family member should one go missing.

While there are many courses, some are better than others. As such, when looking for a course in the local area, it is often suggested than individuals read a variety of reviews before selecting a trainer or program. In most cases, these course are going to run over a couple weeks and cost four to five hundred dollars on average in the United States.

For those working with first responders, these life saving K9s often work in a variety of different areas. For example, there are many who work to locate individuals in trouble in fires, floods, mountainous terrain and man-made attacks. In many cases, the animal can locate anyone trapped in these circumstances which often results in many lives being saved.

For a dog to become a SAR dog, the animal and handler must go through a number of rigorous training exercises. These exercises work to put their determination, stamina, agility and intelligence to a test to see if the animal has the potential to work in such capacity. After which, once the dog reaches adulthood, and passes an associated test, the animal can become licensed to provide SAR services.

Search and rescue missions work to locate and provide aid to people on an immediate basis. In addition, these animals are often taught how to alert individuals when imminent dangers are present. The missions can occur on land, in water, over rugged terrain, and in suburban and urban areas. As such, the dog and handler must be able to work in a number of different landscapes, waterways and often mountainous terrain.

As a dog has a strong sense of smell, there are three types of scenting dogs working in search and rescue operations. These are, ground disturbance, air-scenting and ground disturbance. While some dogs are trained in all areas, there are also some whom are only trained in one specific area as related to scent. For example, while a dog may be trained to sniff out bombs or drugs, others may only be trained in scenting for a specific smell based on clothing or other items.

Using these well developed scenting styles, the dogs are taught to use their noses to locate individuals in a variety of situations ranging from crime scenes and floods to earthquakes and airline crashes. As such, dogs need to be fully grown before obtaining certification. After which, most can excel in these and other search and rescue missions.




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