When disaster strikes, search and rescue (SAR) dogs step in, relying on their powerful scenting abilities and extensive training to find the missing, the wounded or the casualties. Most recently SAR dogs have helped with the rescue efforts in the aftermath of the hurricane in Japan, the earthquake in Australia and the flooding in the United States.
A dog’s sense of smell is up to 10,000 times more powerful than a human’s—and it’s also far more discriminating. They can differentiate between thousands of different smells, but are especially suited to finding humans, who constantly shed dead skin cells that can be as unique as a fingerprint to the canine nose.
A Brief History of Search & Rescue Dogs
If you remember Lassie from the 1950s or the iconic St. Bernard with the mini-keg of spirits around his neck, then you’re already somewhat familiar with the roles of SAR dogs. But their history reaches back much further.
The first record of SAR dogs dates back to 1660, in a monastery in the St. Bernard Pass, a well-traveled mountain route through the Alps between Switzerland and Italy. These first dogs, ancestors of the St. Bernards we know today, were originally meant to be guard dogs, but quickly evolved into rescue dogs. By the early 1700s, the monks had trained their dogs to accompany guides through the pass to help people trapped by the snow, most notably 250,000 of Napoleon’s troops.
SAR dogs had an important role during WWI and WWII, when the British, the Germans and the Americans used them to locate wounded and missing soldiers. After WWII, the Swiss Alpine Club began to use SAR dogs to find avalanche victims throughout the Alps. In 1972, the American Rescue Dog Association (ARDA) was founded, bringing together several local groups. Since then, the use of SAR dogs has spread all over the world.
Scenting & Tracking Dogs
SAR dogs usually fall into two categories: air-scenting and trail tracking. Air-scenting dogs work off leash, sniffing the air until they locate the victim. Trailing dogs work on leash, their noses and ears working together to find a scent on the ground. Teams use air-scenting dogs to work areas that have been contaminated by human searchers, and trailing dogs when the scent is weeks old. Some SAR dogs are trained in both methods, usually so that they can work an area that requires both skills.
Within each category, dogs can be of two types: scent discriminating or non-scent discriminating. In the former case, a dog can differentiate between individual humans, which makes him adept at finding someone based on an article of clothing. In the latter, he can only differentiate between humans and other types of smells, which makes these dogs excellent at searching rubble and finding cadavers.
Duties of a Search & Rescue Dog
SAR dogs provide critical assistance in a number of scenarios. Disaster dogs search for victims of mass casualty events, like the aftermath of tsunamis, earthquakes, landslides, avalanches or bombings. Human remains detection (HRD) dogs, also known as cadaver dogs, locate human remains, including those of drowning victims. Missing animal search (MAR) dogs locate missing, injured or trapped animals. Similar to disaster dogs, avalanche dogs use air-scenting and wilderness trailing techniques to locate victims buried beneath the snow. SAR dogs are also used to locate missing children, Alzheimer’s patients and other lost people.
Qualifications for Search & Rescue Dogs
Not any dog can be a SAR dog. Not only must he have the right temperament and necessary tracking abilities, but he must be able to complete a rigorous training program and remain focused for four to eight hours of work at a time. Given the rigor of SAR training and duties, the candidate must be in top physical health with no behavioral issues.
Although any breed of dog can qualify as a SAR dog, some breeds are better suited to the work. Bloodhounds, for example, are the classic archetype of a SAR dog, using their superior sense of smell to track down their quarry. Most scent hounds excel at SAR work, as do German Shepherd Dogs, Belgian Malinois and Golden Retrievers. St. Bernards and Newfoundlands are some of most adept avalanche dogs, and Labrador Retrievers are outstanding cadaver dogs.
Regardless of the breed, a SAR dog must be well socialized and have the correct temperament for the work: focus, high prey drive, motivation, obedience and a genuine interest in performing search and rescue tasks.
Before any dog can undergo SAR training, they must be evaluated to test for those qualities. Ideally, training begins in puppyhood, but slightly older dogs can still give it a try. A SAR dog usually retires at the age of five to ten years, so dogs over three years old probably won’t make the cut.
Search & Rescue Dog Training
Search and rescue dog training is the most complex kind of training a working dog can receive. Unlike other forms of training, which focus on a certain skill, like therapy work, assisting a disabled person or sniffing out bombs, SAR dogs must be trained in a wide range of skills, including advanced obedience, agility, dock jumping, wilderness tracking, scenting and sounding.
Regardless of its complexity, SAR training uses the same basic principles as any other training. The first stage of training is in puppyhood, when handlers teach the pups to fetch a toy if they want a treat. Their subsequent training is focused around the same pattern: command, action, reward.
Building on their basic training, SAR dogs are taught to distinguish between different types of smells and follow the scent through different terrains and weather conditions. At this point, handlers can determine if the dog is scent discriminating or non-scent discriminating, better suited to air-scenting or trail tracking. Often all four types of dog learn the same skills, with focus on their area of specialization.
SAR dogs aren’t the only ones who need training. Their handlers must have certification in CPR and first aid, knowledge of crime scene maintenance, basic survival skills and, of course, dog training and handling abilities. Handlers must commit to daily training sessions, even when the dogs are working.
Search & Rescue Dogs Are Service Dogs
It’s important to remember that SAR dogs are a category of service dog. If you see a SAR dog, assume he’s working and don’t try to pet or engage him. Likewise, if you own a place of business, you must give SAR dogs the same access to your facilities as the dog’s handler.
