Discover the best ways to public safety


Dog Training - Search and Rescue Information

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



1 A B C D 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 91 92 93 94 95 96 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109