Saving And Service Dogs: Search And Rescue Dog

Search and Rescue Dogs

By Sydney Conley, Veronica Bumgardner, Nirupama Poojari, Cameron Robinson, Heather Cole, Izabella Dunlap and Amira Ibrahim

Did people know that dogs can often find humans better than the average human? “Dogs are amazing creatures, capable of so much more than many of us realize”. Search and rescue dogs are specially trained animals that work with rescue teams to locate missing people. Today people train search and rescue dogs to find people in the rubble after natural disasters or sometimes aid in finding or missing people. People train these dogs to be able to seek out humans in terrain that is difficult for rescue teams to navigate. Locals and citizens must understand what search and rescue dogs are, how search and rescue dogs are trained, and how we keep search and rescue dog’s safe.

Service dogs save many lives each

year after disasters. SD’s save and locate people stuck in a wildfire, surrounded by rubble, and also save people from drowning.They can find the scent of a human buried under rubble or track a missing child’s scent to help find them. SARD’s leap over jutting stone and twisted metal chunks, to save people from natural disasters to find victims trapped in small spaces or debris. Search and rescue dogs spend many years under training to be prepared for any scenario. Other SAR dogs are trained in the wilderness, avalanche or water searches. Each type of SAR has specific training. Disaster dogs must be able to focus on their search while navigating large piles of shifting rubble.“Tracking dogs work with their nose to the ground.” This quote shows that search and rescue dogs use their noses to find someone that is missing and how important their nose is to the job.
When looking for a dog to train, handlers should be energetic, entertainable for the benefits of these pooches. Hounds are often trained through playing games, like hide and seek, to learn different ways to find people, which can be applied to real life. Trainers also use dog toys, that dogs will sniff out and find, once they are hidden. There are 7 different types of senses rescue dogs are trained for are. Air-Scent, Trailing, Tracking, Disaster, Cadaver, Water Search, and Avalanche rescue. A dog's nose can help to do what other resources can’t; SARD’s can search missing children, track people grown-up from a nursing home, those buried in snow or debris, and criminals. According to Downing, “VARDA's” are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at no charge to the requesting agency,”(Downing,Kim). Search and rescue dogs have to be on demand at all times to do what is necessary. Case in point, SAR dogs can be a difficult process, that can take time to complete but is worth it to help people.

SAR canines protect people, however a human should also take responsibility.

Trainers of rescue dogs, by advanced tests and guidance, distribute adjustable skills; communication, proficiency, and dexterity are taught to search and rescue dogs. Handlers are known by the aided proficiency and safety for SARD’s. According to Jan, “Without collars, vests or equipment, the dog is less likely to be snagged and injured on the rubble”(Harkner-Abbs) . Obedience is expected from a distance as well as in close proximity to the handler.”(Harkner-Abbs). Dogs without minor gimmicks are expected to find people, individually, and let their handler know where that person is. People can keep these dogs safe by enhancing their senses and focus. Search and rescue dogs are needed to look for missing people. SAR dogs have a long training process where they learn what they need to do when they go out into the real world. Safety of SAR dogs is important, due to their working conditions, but staying near their handler is more secure. Search and Rescue dogs help us with problems that would be difficult to complete without their

help.

Individuals can understand (search and rescue dogs) SAR’s, what they do, how these canines are trained and how people can protect these dogs. Likewise, search and rescue dogs are specially trained to locate people by their sense of smell. Furthermore, instructors or handlers train search and rescue dogs to help to find people, or bombs for the US Army. The reason we want to save Search and rescue dogs from getting hurt because they risk their lives to save people from dying that you may have already given up on your life but the dogs haven't given up on you.They use their nose to search for humans who are missing.