Understanding 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.

In the cases of using the training with family pets, the animal is taught how to locate an owner or family members. In addition, the pet can be taught how to alert others if an emergency is in progress. As such, many pets having gone through this training have saved a number of lives over time.

In most cases, these training courses are provided by volunteers and can either be taught by an individual or through a certified course. When it comes to getting a dog involved with working with first responders, it is often advised the animal complete all courses in an official program. Whereas, when training a pet, most any type of training is adequate as long as it teaches the basic commands along with scenting techniques.

For those looking to get a pet involved in actual search and rescue, it should be noted that the dog will be involved in rescuing people during natural disasters, man-made attacks, and are often used in missing person cases. In many cases, the animal can provide irreplaceable, life saving service of all kinds whether working with law enforcement or other first responders.

In addition, in some cases pets training in SAR do not need an owner or handler to accompany them. Whereas, for those going through training to become involved in search and rescue missions and work with first responders, the owner or handler is also required to go through such training. For, there are often times when a handler, owner or trainer might need to follow the dog into a waterway, climb a mountain or search through areas of a natural disaster.

K9s involved in this area often work to find people and provide aid in a number of dangerous situations. While the animals are often taught to alert people to imminent danger, the notifications do not always precede an incident. In these situations, the individual and animal must be able to start working immediately to locate and provide aid to those in need.

In most cases, dogs are taught how to locate and alert based on specific scents. However, there are three types of these dogs. The three types of K9s used in search and rescue are air-scenting, ground disturbance and trailing as in following the scent of an individual based on articles of clothing or other items. Some dogs may work as bomb-sniffing and drug dogs as well as search and rescue. While this is the case, most first responders prefer to work with animals which are trained in a specific area when and where possible.

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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