Instructions
Enjoy working outdoors in all weather conditions. Become proficient in map reading, compass use, radio communication, navigation, first aid and survival in the wild.
Pass a criminal background check. Be in great physical condition as well. Though not necessary, it's helpful to have a background in law enforcement, rescue operations or first aid.
Join a search-and-rescue unit at your local sheriff's office. Attend training meetings, usually once or twice a month. It takes up to two years to properly train and certify a dog in search-and-rescue--commit to spending a lot of time with the dog during this training period.
Give up free time to work with your dog. In many cases, the dog handler spends a lot of time outside the usual training periods to work with his search-and-rescue dog. Becoming a search-and-rescue dog handler is more than just a weekend endeavor.
Participate in ongoing training missions even after you and your dog are fully certified and equipped to go out on real search-and-rescue missions.
How to Become a Search and Rescue Dog Handler
We see them all the time: dogs assisting in search-and-rescue operations. From 9/11 to missing children to mine collapses, dogs participate in search-and-rescue missions around the globe. These dogs are usually paired with a handler. You need to be physically capable and pass through some rigorous training to become a search-and-rescue dog handler.