Here in Dorset where Hubble & Hattie HQ is based, there
is a small team of highly trained search and rescue dogs. Together with their
owners, they support the police, coastguard and other Search & Rescue
organisations, to assist with searches for missing persons.
These dogs live at home with their owners just like any
other canine companion. However, sometimes they’re called upon to do something
extraordinary. The dogs are family members first, search dogs second. However,
their thorough and lengthy training makes them special, because in an
emergency - for example a report of a missing person - they assist the Search and
Rescue (SAR) team.
To be a good SAR dog, they need to have a very high play
drive, as to them it is a game with a reward for success. Training is a very
big commitment for both owner and dog; the it can take between 3 to 4 years and
is a complex process. It includes twice-weekly sessions, being on call 365 days
a year, and requalifying every two years.
Currently there are two fully-trained dogs on the Dorset team,
and another nine are working towards being operational.
Some dogs train to be tracking dogs (like police dog
trackers who are given a scent item and follow the route a missing person
takes), however the two operational dogs in the Dorset team are ‘air scenters’,
meaning that they follow air borne human scent.
The work is very rewarding for both the humans and the dogs.
The dogs need to have good stamina as a search can last for several hours, and also non-reactive to other dogs and humans. So whilst no breed will be
discounted as a potential SAR dog, the work suits some more that others. Some
breeds such as Labs, Collies, and Springer Spaniels are particularly popular as
SAR dogs.
You can find out more about the amazing work of the Dorset
Search Dogs at dorsetsearcgdogs.org.uk.
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