| Recently received this question:"AM LOOKING | | | | site lists a great many "traits" that would be of |
| FOR A LABADOR RETREIVER PUPPY AT THIS | | | | use to a SAR dog, like agility and obedience.If |
| MOMENT - I AM WANTING TO GET THE PUPPY | | | | you're in a hurry to get into the training, you |
| TAUGHT TO AIR AND GROUND SCENT HUNT | | | | might want to talk to your local Lab Rescue |
| FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE WORK AS WELL AS | | | | group for an older dog to begin with. Labs don't |
| MYSELF TAUGHTWHERE DO I GO?"Here is what | | | | generally physically mature until they are 18-24 |
| I answered:From my research on the net (using | | | | months old and emotionally later than that, so |
| search-and-rescue-dog-training), I've found the | | | | you're looking at a minimum of about two years |
| following resources:Search Dog Network, Inc. | | | | before the dog will be stable enough to really do |
| Selecting a Potential SAR Dog | | | | the SAR work. Socializing the young dog is |
| | | | extremely important to move this stability |
| (most of the links at the bottom don't | | | | along.The training for you will take a good while, |
| work)SARBC | | | | too. Not only do you have to train the dog, but |
| Search and Rescue Society of British Columbia | | | | there are aspects you need training in, such as, |
| Association for Search and Rescue | | | | handling the dog in different terrains, first aid for |
| | | | your SAR dog (and yourself and others), physical |
| Particularly view the Education linksNorth | | | | conditioning for you and the dog. Then, if you |
| American Search Dog Network | | | | choose to specialize, there is more training that will |
| Rescue Dog Association, Inc. | | | | have to be done.It is not going to be a six- or |
| you don't indicate where you're located, I added | | | | eight-week course and you're ready. It is going to |
| in the BC info. It appears to be an excellent | | | | be an ongoing committment for a long time. It |
| information resource.You might also check with | | | | can get pretty expensive, too, because if your |
| your local Fire Department and Police Department | | | | SAR team is called to other areas to help, you'll |
| for information on local SAR dog teams and | | | | have to get there, take care of your housing |
| contact them to find out where they trained.It | | | | needs and meals, and any other expenses that |
| appears from the information available, that some | | | | occur. Too, if you can't be gone from your job |
| of the training available may be iffy. Find out from | | | | for long periods, what will you do in a longer-term |
| any potential trainers how much time they've | | | | situation |
| spent in the field and what certifications they hold, | | | | where you and your dog are needed for weeks |
| not only in SAR, but in other work, too, such as | | | | at a time?I'm certainly not trying to discourage |
| Agility Titles, Obedience Titles, Field Trial or | | | | you, I think it is wonderful that you want to get |
| Tracking Titles. I would definately check the | | | | into the work--there are many more teams |
| NASAR link and look at the courses they offer | | | | needed for it. But, it is important to know that |
| under their Education link.As for finding your | | | | this is not going to be something you can |
| puppy, I'd suggest locating a few Lab breeders in | | | | generally do over a weekend like an obedience |
| your area and ask them about the people they | | | | trial or show.Best of luck on finding your SAR dog |
| have placed puppies with. Do any of them use | | | | and training and let me know how it goes.C. |
| the dogs for SAR? Ask, too, about dogs from | | | | Rogers Upson has been training dogs and studying |
| their lines that have been used in hunting, agility, | | | | them for nearly 40 years. Her website is Dog |
| obedience training and such. You're looking for lines | | | | Potentials and she has two dog-related stores at |
| that are "working" dogs. Those are the lines that | | | | Keeping to the Borders and Dog Potentials-The |
| would probably work best for this.The SARBC | | | | Store. |