Human Scent Golden Retrievers - Search & Rescue, Trailing, and Tracking Dogs

Search & Rescue, Tracking and Trailing Dogs
A man with Alzheimer's wanders from his home, a hiker goes missing, a trapped family desperately tries to escape flood waters. The National Association for Search & Rescue indicates that the ability to save a life is often dependent upon how quickly the person can be found and accessed. But, providing enough well-equipped and well-trained search and rescue professionals is a daunting task.

People often say they want to teach their dog to find lost kids and things. They notice their dogs love to use their noses, and naturally think this would be a good thing to do. It's a great thought, but not really practical. Search & Rescue is very rewarding, but it requires quite a serious commitment on your part.
Knoxville Emergency Rescue member John Randle and Golden Cinnamon searching for missing people after a Tornado in Mossy Grove

Knoxville Emergency Rescue member John Randle and Golden Cinnamon searching for missing people after a Tornado in Mossy Grove

You will need to train at least 15 hours a week. This includes being a victim and also learning how to find one, which could mean spending hours hiding in tick-infested brush in the dark. You will also need to learn all the skills required to actually head out and find someone, such as, map reading, compass skills, first responder aid (extremely advanced "first aid"), and radio skills. And, you will need to go out in all kinds of weather and conditions during your training.

Finally, you'll need to commit much time and money to this project. It takes about two years to fully train a dog, costs reaching into the thousands of dollars depending on how much camping, outdoor, and dog gear you've already got.

Now, to see if your dog has what it takes, administer Jona Decker's PAWS Working Dog Evaluation© which tests for Possessiveness, Attention, Willingness, and Strength.

Important to Know
Harry Oakes, a founder of Oregon & Southwest Washington State's group, International K-9 Search & Rescue Services for Missing People and Pets, specializes in locating, rescuing, and recovering people and animals anywhere in the world. He details very specifically how Search & Rescue (SAR) Dogs are used to find pets, and how to ID your Golden before it is lost. Harry also has some wonderful guidelines for finding missing pets. Also, click here to learn about making up a lost dog poster.

Golden SAR Dog Shane Coloring Book picture of Shane Hug-a-Tree and Survive is a program for children on how to keep from getting lost, how to stay comfortable if they do get lost, and how they can help the searchers to locate them. The main features of the program involve impressing upon kids that they can help by looking after themselves and assisting the searchers. Parents, please check out A Kid's Wilderness Survival Primer, go through the Hunter Search & Rescue Dog pages, and print out the Hug-A-Tree and Survive Coloring Book as these lessons can make a search short and successful.
Hey Kids!

Meet Shane, a Canadian Search Dog Association SAR Dog. Their motto is "Fide Canem" which is Latin for "Trust the Dog". A fundamental rule in canine search and rescue, it 's typically the first thing a new handler learns. Now, on the right is a coloring book page created in Shane's honor. Click here kids to print this picture so that you can color him in yourself.