How to Train Your Dog to Search and Rescue

Hello Emmy, Check out the following resources to learn how about getting started with search and rescue and training your dog for it. https://sardogsus.org/resources/ https://highlandcanine.com/search-and-rescue-dog-training/ Forums where you can talk to others who are doing search and rescue and training their own dogs. http://k9-sar.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=12 https://www.workingdogforum.com/forums/search-rescue.32/ I don't know where you are located, but one of the first things I would do if seriously wanting to pursue search and rescue work and training would be to find a local group in your state, where you can be mentored by another person locally. I would search that online using your location to see if there is a group anywhere within driving distance of you. Regardless of natural ability and the scent detection work, pup will definitely need off-leash obedience. I would start working toward off leash obedience like you would with any working dog, while you research and get connected with search and rescue in your area, and begin scent games and ease into the more specific tracking work. Not all dogs are cut out for search and rescue so a lot of this depends on pup's natural ability too. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Beth, I would work on building confidence around new things, like spending time hiking, around people, and around other animals and rewarding calmness in new situations. I would play scent games at home with pup to help pup learn how to use their nose more in preparation for formal training. I would find a community of others who work with their search and rescue dogs. Having a support system when training on your own can make a huge difference. There may be a local group you are already connecting with in your area. Often this will be done on a team. If not, look on places like facebook and instagram for other owner trainers who are working with their search and rescue dogs, who you can learn from, ask questions as they come up, and even meet up with those more local to you that you connect with for training practice and supporting one another. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Sophie, The answer to your question depends partially on pup's natural aptitude for rescue work, any prior obedience training or socialization, and how often you practice. In general about 1-2 years. Most dogs who are regularly trained are ready to do work one year into training, sometimes sooner, but the training is ongoing until they master it. It really depends on how often you train though. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Luis, At this age I would find a really great puppy class to help with socialization. I would really emphasize socialization and basic and intermediate obedience this year, so that pup has the social skills, obedience foundation, and confidence to prepare them for future rescue work. Basically start by pursing the things that would make pup a wonderful pet that could go with you tons of places to get started. Check out this free PDF e-book After Your Get Your Puppy for some tips on socializing and general manners. www.lifedogtraining.com/freedownloads I would also play search games with pup this year, like Round Robin and Hide and Seek Come. Treat hiding games, go find commands for leading you to house hold members that pup needs. You will want pup to have great social skills, a good nose and a desire to search that's been encouraged in fun ways, and an off-leash level of general obedience by the time you start more formal rescue training closer to a year. Round Robin Come: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-whippet-to-recall For hide and seek come, once pup knows the initial come, you will practice hiding in easy spots around your home and telling pup come from there. When pup finds you, give a treat pup loves. Start with easy spots and give hints like noises to help pup locate, then as pup improves, give less hints, hide in harder or further away spots, and take the game outside in fenced areas. Any time you hide treats for pup to search out make sure the area has not been treated with pesticides if outside. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello. You can start with basic obedience and scent tracking. I am going to provide you with steps to teach your dog how to track a scent. Advanced training will have to be done with a trainer who specializes in search and rescue. Start Early in the Morning To teach scenting a track, you need some treats and a grassy area, such as a baseball field or park. Although hot dogs are not the most nutritious food, I find they work best, and you won’t over stuff your dog’s belly. Begin early; many people start by 6 a.m. before anyone has walked on the grass. Create a Treat Track Have your dog sit or lie down and stay. Take a couple of inch-long pieces of hot dog and use your shoe to mash them into the grass. Make sure to crush the grass under the hot dogs, which will release a grass scent. Then, with the hot dog residue on the bottom of your shoe, walk a straight line away from your dog. Every six or ten feet, drop a piece of hot dog. Stop after about 20 feet and drop one of your gloves or one of your dog’s toys; your dog needs to find something at the end of the track. Drop another piece of hot dog on top of the item. Command Your Dog to Find the Treats Go back to your dog and release him from his stay, encouraging him to smell the ground where the hot dogs were. Tell your dog “Find it!” and let him sniff. If he begins to follow the track, praise him quietly by saying, “Good dog!” and let him lead the way. Don’t be too enthusiastic or you may distract the dog from his sniffing. Also, don’t try to lead him; let your dog figure it out. At this point, your dog is following several scents: the trail of hot dogs, which helps motivate him, the crushed grass where you mashed the hot dogs and the crushed grass where you later stepped. Your dog is also following your individual scent, which he knows well because he smells your scent every day. But now your dog is learning to combine the scents, to follow them and to find the item at the end of the track. Start Increasing the Length of the Track When your dog successfully completes this trick, make another one by taking 10 steps to the side. If your dog is excited and having fun, you can do three or four short tracks per training session. As your dog improves over several sessions, make the track longer, add curves and corners, and drop several items along the way, but put the hot dog only on the one you want him to find. When making tracks longer or adding curves, use small pegs, stakes or flags to mark the track so you can tell if your dog is off track. Air scenting requires your dog to find someone by sniffing the scents wafting through the air instead of following a track. Most search-and-rescue dogs have both skills; they can follow a track, but if people walking over the track spoil it, they can also use their air-scenting skills. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Thank you for writing in.