Dogs utilized for the rigorous demands involved in search and rescue come from a variety of breeds. SAR dogs usually are medium to large working and sporting breeds; such as German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Bloodhounds, Labradors to name a few. Dogs are chosen for their intelligence, strength, size, obedience, agility, eagerness and temperament. Most handlers prefer to begin training a young pup. However, an older dog may be suitable if the dog has already developed a good working relationship with its handler. > OUR K-9'S ARE CAREFULLY SELECTED AND ARE RAISED FROM PUPS. WE MAINLY USE GERMAN SHEPHERDS FROM A WORKING GERMAN BLOODLINE. WE DO NOT ADOPT OR TAKE UNWANTED DOGS, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL HUMANE SOCIETY OR ANIMAL CONTROL IF YOU HAVE A DOG THAT YOU CAN NO LONGER KEEP. WE REGRET, BUT WE CAN NOT HELP WITH THE PLACEMENT OF UNWANTED PETS.

The Handler Requirements:

The dog is not the only member of a team with specialized training. Handlers are skilled at interpreting how their dogs behavior might be affected by wind conditions, ground currents, temperatures and weather. They are proficient in terrain evaluation, map/compass navigation, search theory, lost person behavior, CPR, first aid, radio communication and wilderness survival. Of course, the handler must enjoy working with dogs and being outdoors in all kinds of weather. In addition they must be physically fit and able to respond to emergencies. It normally takes a year of intensive training before a dog/handler team is search ready. Teams undergo a series of evaluations in search proficiency and obedience before becoming operational. Training requirements for all K-9 handlers include: CPR, crime scene preservation, first aid, fundamentals of search and rescue, incident command, SAR management, K-9 first aid, lost person behavior, map and compass/GPS navigation, radio communications, and survival.