Search & Rescue
A great Search and Rescue (SAR) dog has a combination of strong working drives which result in a bold and confident dog that has an excellent reward relationship with its handler, tenacious hunting drives, persistent task endurance, willingness to work without handler support and the independence to range out along both sides of its handler as they work their search sector yet still be biddable. Given the adverse weather and environmental conditions in which SAR dogs often work, great SAR dogs also are extremely athletic and exhibit a “resilent hardness” that allows them to plow through deep underbrush and to shake off missteps, or even bad falls, when working on uneven, shaky footing. Equally importantly, the courageous SAR dog can work through the noises, the chaos and the emotional upheavals that surround emergency events, and they can work tirelessly despite the long hours and the enormous stresses felt by handlers and which inevitably are transmitted straight down the leash to the dog. In short, great SAR dogs have “drives appropriate for the work” and because of their zest for life, their intelligence, their tremendous curiosity, their great work ethic, and their loyalty, trained SAR dogs have proven their worth time and time again in the rapid location and return of lost or injured citizens . . . and, in the bringing of closure to families when all other hope is gone.
VWDC - Training Protocol on Teaching the Refind or Bark-Alert to Air Scenting SAR Dogs
To learn how to train such a reliable and resilient search dog, VWDC has prepared a multi-step "Training Protocal on Teaching the Refind or Bark-Alert to Air Scenting SAR Dogs" which takes the dog handler from the start of their training up through independently hunting for subjects hidden in the woods. Please contact Gail McCarthy at gail@virutalworkingdogcenter.com to discuss pricing and how to obtain a copy of the “Training Protocol on Teaching the Refind or Bark-Alert to Air Scenting SAR Dogs.”
Gail McCarthyFormer Founder, Training Director and Canine Handler with MACRT & MARK9Former Canine Handler and Lead Evaluator with FEMA MA TF 1
