SAR Dog Training

Search and rescue dogs, also known as SAR dogs, are specifically and thoroughly trained to locate those people who are lost or those who are missing.



SAR dogs are known to work as a team along with their handler. The ideal search and rescue dog is for the dog to possess a good temperament. Hence some of the dog training tips for a search and rescue dog are to first and foremost find a dog that is even tempered.



The dog should not be afraid of loud sounds, should be adaptable to most situations, they should be able to remain calm and peaceful in the most stressful of situations and also under fast changing conditions. Besides this they should be physically healthy and very agile, being able to run, climb or jump when required. They should be able to get along with other animal and other people well too.



Rescue dog training involves getting a dog that has various different talents like being able to help track down a missing person with the help of its sensory powers, by just sniffing the air. Search dog training also requires the dog to be able to help in tracking down a person by simply following the scent on the ground and thus locating them. It also requires the dog to be able to locate the people while working off a boat or while working along the shore line. Some cadaver dogs which are also referred to as HRD dogs or human remains detection dogs are those dogs that help in locating dead people. Then there are avalanche search and rescue dogs which help to locate missing people that have got lost under avalanches in the snow.

When training these search and rescue dogs some of the dog training tips include the use of positive reinforcement. Here the dog is rewarded with a treat or some favorite activity when it performs a task that its handler or trainer has asked it to do. Training these dogs involves using a variation of the clicker training method too at times. When the dog carries out the correct action or request then a small sound like a clicking sound is made which helps in alerting the dog that it has performed or done the right action. Then the trainer will proceed to give the dog a treat as a reward. Air scenting is known to be the easiest search and rescue task.