How to Evaluate Dogs for Finding Lost Persons

While many search and rescue dogs are mutts, not just any dog is suited for finding lost persons. When choosing a search and rescue dog to train, you must consider three basic things. First, the environment in which the dog will be working will affect which search specialty will be your focus. Also, training takes over a year, so start with a puppy or very young dog. Second, the puppy should have a suitable temperament. Dogs that are aggressive to other people or dogs will not work well in the field. Third, and most importantly, the dog needs a high-play drive and should be easily trainable.

Things You'll Need

  • Pot or pan
  • Dog treats
  • Dog toys
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Instructions

  1. Breed, Temperament and Play Drive

    • 1
      Bloodhound

      Decide what type of search you will be focusing on. Air-scent searches are for finding any person in a given area. In trailing-scent searches, tracking dogs are given a particular scent to trail on the ground. Some trailing dogs use both types of searches to find a person. Disaster searches require dogs to work in enclosed spaces and on unstable surfaces. Cadaver dogs detect human remains. Water searches take place around water or underwater. In an avalanche, dogs will need to search under snow. Different breeds of dogs will be suited for the various environments. For example, an avalanche dog should have a thick coat. Bloodhounds work well for tracking, but they cannot last outside in the cold for hours because of their thin coats.

    • 2
      Litter of Puppies

      Find a puppy or young dog that is healthy, curious and friendly to both humans and other dogs. Ask the breeder or rescuer about the dog's general health. Bang on a pan loudly and note how the dog reacts. A small response is fine, but a puppy that reacts strongly or becomes uncontrollable won't work. Seek out the dominate dog of the litter or puppy pack. The dog that is pushing around the other puppies and taking their toys may be your best bet.

    • 3
      Puppy with High Play Drive

      Evaluate whether the dog has a high play drive. The dog must naturally enjoy, for example, chasing after a ball when you throw it, even to the point of obsession. You want a toy-motivated dog because playing with that toy will be the reward after finding the lost person. Ask the breeder or rescuer if the puppy has learned any tricks and how long the training for that lasted. Find the puppy that is the first one to the food dish. Dogs that are food-motivated and toy-motivated are easier to train and are more likely to be successful search and rescue dogs.