SAR Dogs
ERT SAR
SAR Dog handler Jonathan Cox with Casper who was responsible for finding the missing person in this search for the Police
Tracking | Trailing | Air Scenting | USAR | Water | Cadaver | Dogs
There are many types of SAR Dog. (Our international dogs would have to follow the IRO Standards.)
For a moment we will focus on land / ground missing person type dogs although 2 of our dogs were USAR and Water Dogs and another Cadaver Dogs. We have a small and specialised SAR Dog / SAR K9 capacity.
Like Police Dog Handlers are Police Officers first, in order to be a SAR Dog handler you need to also be a SAR Operator too. There is a lot of training and standards for the operator and the dog to maintain standards which are usually high.
For a moment we will focus on land / ground missing person type dogs although 2 of our dogs were USAR and Water Dogs and another Cadaver Dogs. We have a small and specialised SAR Dog / SAR K9 capacity.
Like Police Dog Handlers are Police Officers first, in order to be a SAR Dog handler you need to also be a SAR Operator too. There is a lot of training and standards for the operator and the dog to maintain standards which are usually high.
Tracking, Trailing & Air Scenting Dogs
In general, missing person search requires dogs to perform at least one of the following
In general, missing person search requires dogs to perform at least one of the following
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Tracking
The dog follows the scent of crushed vegetation and disturbed soil organisms created by the footsteps of the subject being pursued. The dog will follow the freshest track, regardless of who laid it. Trailing The dog follows a distinct scent trail from the subject, excluding all other scents. Air Scenting The dog follows airborne scent downwind from a subject. • Discriminatory – the dog locates and follows the scent of a DISTINCT human in a specific search area. • Non-Discriminatory – the dog locates and follows the scent of ANY human in a specific search area. |
Combination
The dog follows a distinct scent trail, excluding all other scents, combining air-scenting AND trailing.
A dog might trail a subject until he is downwind and then air-scent straight to the subject, OR
Air-scent to a subject’s trail from downwind, then follow the actual trail to the subject.
Having a SAR Dog capacity is invaluable to the search effort. One of the most effective types of wilderness (or other) missing person searches comprises of the lead team being in 3 components:
1. SAR Dog
2. Human Trackers / Human Trackers
3. Mountain Bike SAR Team.
The dog follows a distinct scent trail, excluding all other scents, combining air-scenting AND trailing.
A dog might trail a subject until he is downwind and then air-scent straight to the subject, OR
Air-scent to a subject’s trail from downwind, then follow the actual trail to the subject.
Having a SAR Dog capacity is invaluable to the search effort. One of the most effective types of wilderness (or other) missing person searches comprises of the lead team being in 3 components:
1. SAR Dog
2. Human Trackers / Human Trackers
3. Mountain Bike SAR Team.
