Search and Rescue Training
Search and Rescue (SAR) is a multi-faceted activity, which often involved the use of dogs to find people who are lost or buried in debris or snow. Dogs are trained using a high play drive, which motivates them to search for human scent. In training, dogs are rewarded for finding people, by playing a game of tug with the “victim” or helper. Training requires a great deal of dedication, money, time, and volunteers. To find out what you can do to volunteer your time, we suggest looking around DisasterDog.org (link opens in new window), where you can learn more about training SAR dogs and how you can help. There are many types of SAR dogs, but many dogs are trained in many different areas. Some of the common fields are:
Wilderness Search and Rescue
Wilderness SAR dogs are trained to work on all terrains. They must be agile enough to climb over large obstacles, but also must be able to get into tight spaces. These dogs work offleash and they are taught to search in a zigzag pattern, so that all of the area is covered. They may have to rappel down cliffs, and must have lots of stamina. Wilderness dogs are often looking for a single lost person, or a lost group of hikers. The alert for finding a person is to bark, until their handler comes and finds the person. Dogs are often taught a “refind” where the handler calls the dog back, and asks the dog to show them where the person is. This is to help a handler keep track of a dog who is much faster.
Urban Search and Rescue
Urban SAR (USAR) dogs have gone through highly specialized training. They are taught that if they are on something that is unstable, that they should lower their center of gravity, instead of shaking. They are also taught to walk on any surface, and must demonstrate excellent agility skills. The dogs are discouraged from coming back to the handler, and are taught victim loyalty, meaning they should stay with the victim no matter what. Many USAR dogs are also wilderness certified. Most USAR dogs are certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (link opens in new window) . There are two levels of certification, the first being Type II, in which they must demonstrate obedience, agility, a bark alert, directibility, and a search on a rubble pile. The Type I test is comprised of the same elements, but they are raised to a higher level. Before taking a Type II test, dog and handler must take a pre-test, which contains the same elements. This demonstrates that the dog is capable of these things. USAR dogs generally search collapsed buildings, bomb sites, and other urban areas. They are not looking for a specific person, or group of people, they are looking for any survivors.
Trailing
A different aspect of SAR , is trailing dogs trained to follow a specific scent. This is the most commonly seen in movies and on the news. Many think of breeds such as Bloodhounds or German Shepherd Dogs as trailing dogs, but Border Collies excel at this work. A trailing dog is called in when a person is missing in the wilderness, or when trying to find a criminal. SAR trainers focus on missing people, wheras police dogs are trained in trailing for the latter. Trailing may encompass some aspects of a similar AKC sport, tracking. The difference is that in trailing, the dog is trained to find a person at the end of a trail, and in tracking, the dog is trained to find a glove or “article”. Trailing dogs are often taught to alert to articles, in case they may give a link to the missing person. Trailing is not an aspect of FEMA’s SAR K9 division.
Cadaver Work
Cadaver dogs are often trained in either wilderness search, or USAR. They are taught a separate alert for the discovery of a dead body. This is often a scratch on the ground, instead of a bark. This type of work can be rather hard on the human part of the SAR team, but to the dog, it is just another game. Cadaver dogs who are trained in wilderness search are often looking for a specific body, often of a hiker that has been lost for a long period of time. They also may be sent out if some remains of a body have been found, but not all. In that case they are looking for the remaining body parts, potentially to identify the body. Cadaver dogs trained in USAR are generally looking for the bodies of people who have died in the destruction of a building. Like in USAR, they generally do not have a specific person to find. In either field, the dogs must find the bodies of deceased people in order to provide closure to the families involved.
Water Scenting
Water scenting dogs are used to find bodies, usually cadavers, in lakes, oceans, ponds, or rivers. Scent rises to the surface of water, so the dog can ride in a boat and will alert the handler when they smell the correct scent. Once the dog has alerted the handler, a dive team is normally called in to retrieve the body. Water scenting dogs are often called in after a boating or jet skiing accident.