SAR - Page 3

Thanks DesertRangers and Alexis. That is what I suspected about which Schutzhund sport dogs can be suitable for SAR, as I know very well the problems when one has a dog with high civil drive that is trying to attain a Schutzhund title without breaking his spirit. Bob-O

I agree Bob.. Like with any activity certain type dogs do better in some areas. A high civil drive would not be prefferable in SAR. I would think in SAR it's best to start as a pup and heavily socialize to like and trust people. One SAR requirement is that your dog must be left with another handler to work. I believe that's still a requirement anyway..

Mose, I trained only one Sar dog and have several in SchH training, we started one in SAR and have laid off for a time we'll see if she comes back to tracking again with some drive. Anyway, The biggest difference in the two traiings is that SAR is Scent training, SchH is track training. There is a big difference in the two. Dogs naturally follow "scent", but must be taught methotically to "track", Tracking is not natural. Scenting allows them to be off the track itself and on the scent, which is stronger in smell and typically has drifted some few to several feet from the actual track. Scenting dogs are fast, Tracking dogs are slow and meticulous. SAR when your out there looking for someone who's lost, cold, injured, whatever the case may be, You want a fast dog that can still do the job accurately. Yes the sch. dog can get you there but print to print is much slower than scenting, in Sar you teach the dog to air scent as well. You would never teach this in SAR. Hope that clears up some of the differences for you. But, I too agree that SchH is a super base for starting a SAR dog. I would complete the sch first though, cause after they learn to scent, instead of track, they'll want to deffer to scenting, which again like I said is the normal and more natural way of "finding"

DR, I worked, trained, and handled my own dogs. I never had to leave them with anyone to work. There were a few occasions where a very close friend who knew my dogs very well were able to take them out for quick searches, but I never would have allowed anyone that did not know how to read my particular dog to take it out on a search. I was always a civilian handler, so on searches, we had to have an authority figure with us at all times, but I never had to leave my dog with anyone else to work.

Thanks Alexis,, I remember reading something about this in getting your dog SAR certified. But it's been awhile so I'm sure your right since you are active now. Echo We call our dogs "trailing dogs" as they track using both ground scent(soil orgasisms and vegtation scent) plus human raft plus air scent. You must be in condition as they go very fast and do zig zag depending on the air currents. Not unusal for them to vary 10 to 20 feet from the ground scent to the outer boundries of rafts. You must have a dog with high drive and motivation as the trail could be several miles in length and over difficut terrain. You would be amazed at the number of dogs who will not go over rough ground with stickers and thorns. I knew one lady who had to carry her dog anytime it got into stickers etc...

Alexis In the American resue dog Association book they require the following: Response to another Handler: The dog must heel, on lead, with another unit memeber. Had to go back and read up...they do not require another handler to work you dog.. This is so if you are hurt etc.. someone else can cancare of your dog... thanks for your input..

I have started looking into SAR work. I am not sure if the cross over (sch) is a good one. From what I have discovered, you could be locating a person having seizures, acting odd, they could be behind a tree and the dog think it was the blind. I am thinking of a couple breeders I know and going thru in my mind if there are any of their dogs that might be capable to do both, from 3 kennels I can only think of 1, she is a Funkenspeil import, to old now. I still do not think it's a good idea from what I am learning. We sure love our dogs, and think they can do anything, and they can, but is it a good idea?

Okay so I guess I wont be doing SAR with this pup then. Maybe Ill try with another pup later on in life. What other types of work do SAR dogs usually do? Herding?

Most people who are committed to SAR do not have time to compete in dog sports. In SAR there is urban, wilderness, mantrailing, cadaver and then avalanche work. You can also train your dogs for article finds. Some agility is almost required with SAR dogs depending on what you train for. DR, thanks for looking that up. I was only with one ARDA group and there were obedience requirements, but I never handed my dog off to anyone else. Guess it just depends on the group. That was so long ago now though, I could just be completely forgetting it. I do understand the need for it if the handler is injured. I also know they require that you are able to carry your dog a certain distance in case the dog is injured while on a search. That alone can be enough motivation to make sure they are not over fed, especially if you are working a large male. :) In the German RH (rescue dog) test, not only must you be able to carry your dog a certain distance, but you must also be able to hand him/her off to another person who must also carry it a certain distance and they must be able to do some quick obedience with your dog. I know I've only had one dog that was relaxed enough while I carried him, but to hand him off to someone else might have made for a whole different picture.

I have a female that would tell you to flake off. She tells my husband that all the time. I swear I can see her laughing with a twinkle in her eye. If I am not around to put her in her place my male does it for him.