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