According to the National Association for Search and Rescue, (NASAR), the larger breed of dogs in the sporting or working groups usually do well as a search and rescue (SAR) dog. They list the following breeds as the most popular SAR dogs: German shepherd dogs, Doberman pinschers, rottweilers, golden retrievers, giant schnauzers, and Labrador retrievers. Dogs old and young may be trained for search and rescue.
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Temperament and Trainability
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Dogs that do well as SAR dogs have a natural affinity for people and get along well with other dogs. Handlers usually prefer to start training young dogs, but older dogs can be trained as well. The temperament and a high prey drive is key to successful training.
According to the American Rescue Dog Association, the dog should demonstrate the capacity to smell substances in the air that humans cannot. In addition to a high prey drive, they must also be in good physical shape, and especially possess strong endurance and the stamina to stay with the job at hand. The dogs must be intelligent and highly trainable.
Laying the Foundation
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German shepherd dogs are favored among search and rescue teams. Before SAR training can begin, the SAR candidate dog needs to have basic obedience skills on which to build. The dog will be tested by an evaluator from a certifying agency such as the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) or the American Rescue Dog Association (ARDA) and must know how to respond to directions to sit, lie down, stay, heel, recall and stop. Recall means the dog comes to you when called. Heeling means the dog walks closely at your side.
The dog must also do these tasks with a handler other than its owner. The dog must learn to jump into a vehicle that is at least 36 inches high, and be comfortable in a tight, confined space. The ability to swim well and be comfortable traveling in the back of a truck with many other dogs over rocky and uneven terrain is also important.
Each time the dog performs one of these tasks, it should be rewarded immediately, so that it associates the treat with what it has just done. This will reinforce its basic training and provide a good foundation for future learning.
Advanced Training
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Dogs with the right temperament and basic obedience training may begin training for search and rescue. The trainer will begin by throwing an object such as its favorite toy or ball, into the water at 40 to 60 feet and give the command for the dog to retrieve it. When the dog returns with its toy, it is directed to "drop," which means the dog is to drop the object. As soon as it does, reward it with praise, playtime or a special treat.
Setting Up
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Trainers also set up problems for the dog to solve. A toy is hidden somewhere in the area and the dog is directed to go get it. It does this by sniffing the air to find the object that has its own scent on it. They begin with clothing first and then with people. A dog is sent out to find the "missing person" and as soon this is done will be rewarded with a lot of praise and treats or playtime, whichever the dog prefers. The training is done for 30 minutes twice a day until the dog fully understands what the trainer expects. Each time the dog is sent out, the "missing person" will go just a little farther to challenge the dog's skills.
Various Considerations
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Dogs should be trained on a variety of terrains, work in all kinds of weather, and with the use different people "to be lost." Sometimes the trainer will use more than one person by giving the dog the scent of one person by having it smell that person's piece of clothing. But there will be two "victims." The dog is then given the instruction to "Go find Mike," and if successful will get a treat.
Where to Volunteer
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The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) offers training courses and evaluations of trained search and rescue dogs. They certify the dogs to work in concert with them during an emergency. In addition, there are national, state and local groups of volunteers from whom you may learn about SAR opportunities.
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