A Search and Rescue Overview

If you are visiting this site chances are you fall in one of 4 categories.

1. No SAR experience and looking for a dog.

2. No SAR experience and have a dog.

3. Have SAR experience and looking for a dog.

4.  Have SAR experience and have a dog.

If you are actively involved in SAR then you probably have some idea of the amount of time, effort, money and commitment it takes to train a certified search and rescue dog.

If you Are New to Search and Rescue

If you are new to search and rescue, it is important that you make contact with your local search and rescue organization as soon as possible where you can attend meetings, trainings and learn about state statutes that pertain to search and rescue.  You will also attend any open canine trainings without your dog and talk to as many handlers to get a better understanding of the work that is ahead of you.

If You Are Looking for A Dog

You have a challenging task ahead of you.  You will want to look carefully at the traits and temperaments of the different dog breeds.  Choosing the right dog may be the single most important decision that you make. Breeding and imprinting with SAR training at the earliest age possible is highly recommended.  I recommend starting with a purebred puppy from one of the working, herding, or sporting breeds and that the puppy be obtained from a reputable breeder.

If You Already Have A Dog

If you already have a dog then hopefully it has the temperament and characteristics to make a good search dog.  Some factors that may make a dog not suitable for SAR work is the age of the dog (too old), the dog may be too aggressive or submissive, or simply not interested in the work.

Types of Search and Rescue Dogs

Air Scent - As scent originates from a person or object, it forms a cone, called a scent cone.  In order to search the largest space possible a handler usually moves the dog in a search grid pattern across the search area and into the wind.  Air scenting dogs work with their heads up high and their noses in the air in order to detect scent.  When scent is detected, the air scent dog will often lift its head up higher and raise its tail.  This is referred to as an alert.  The alert is a signal to the handler that the dog has located the scent's source.

Tracking/Trailing - Tracking/Trailing is the scenting technique used by search dogs that work their nose close to the ground and which is often seen on television.  They follow residual scent that settles as a person travels through an area.  Trailing dogs follow scent on the ground and may not be in the exact footprints of the person.  Tracking dogs follow the exact footprints that a person took.  Both types of dogs need to know which scent it is expected to follow and therefore works with a scent article.  This dog needs both the drive and determination necessary to enable it to enjoy the challenge of intricate scent problems encountered during the search.