This document was created to aid in the proper deployment of search dogs. The views expressed here are those of the Search & Rescue Dog Association of Alberta ®. Some SAR managers are not well educated about how to make effective use of a search dog unit, resulting in searches being conducted without this added resource. While search dogs are a valuable asset to any search incident, they are only effective if deployed and trained properly. All volunteer search dog units should be a part of a recognized K-9 or ground SAR organization, and K-9 teams must be certified through recognized standards. We recommend that SAR managers collaborate with the dog handlers when determining search assignments. The K-9 handler should be able to offer constructive suggestions for optimum use of this resource. The following is an overview of the Search Canine Resource.
Tracking Dog
The tracking dog keeps his nose in the actual footprints of a victim and follows them systematically. Weather conditions dictate the amount of time that can pass
before the dog is started on the track of a person. In certain conditions, the scent will not last long. The tracking dog may be deployed to work in conjunction
with man-trackers.
Air-scenting Dog
The air-scenting dog is trained to locate any human scent in an area. They can work in areas along with ground searchers, or in areas where other searchers have
already been. They are not as limited as the tracking dogs regarding environmental conditions. These dogs are trained to locate anything with human scent on it,
be it an article or a person. With specific training, an air-scenting dog may specialize in: human remains, water, disaster and evidence searches.
Refind Alert- The dog locates the scent source, returns to handler, and then takes the handler back to scent source. The dog alerts by sitting, lying down, barking, or by jumping at the handler to let the handler know of the dog's find.
Bark Alert- The dog stays at the scent source and barks. The dogs bark alert may include a sit/stand or down. Digging and barking is permitted for disaster profile only.
Handlers receive a wide range of training also, including the following:
* Navigation
* First-aid and CPR
* K9 First-aid
* Wilderness Survival techniques
* Radio communications
* Incident Command System
* Search theory pertaining to lost person behavior , human remains, disaster, and water search
* Search protocols and procedures
* Scent theory
* Courtroom protocols and procedures
* Evidence handling
* For Disaster search, searchers should have training in - WHMIS, Structural awareness, fire behavior, confined space techniques, SCBA and basic rescue techniques
Wilderness
The wilderness search covers an area designated by the incident commander or search manager, which can range in size from an acre to hundreds of acres. The terrain,
the dog's ability, and the number of dogs available should determine the size of each search sector.
The dog teams work off leash ranging away from the handler in a search pattern dictated by the handler, terrain, wind and weather conditions.
The dog teams should be capable of working a search for a maximum of eight hours for two days. Night work can often be an optimum time for search dogs to work; the
heat of the day can be a detriment to scent conditions, particularly in mountainous regions.
When a dog team has completed a sector, the handler will report their coverage, including the probability of detection (POD), clues found, and their location.
The dogs should not be distracted by animal activity.
Tracking, trailing and air-scenting dogs (human remains, live, water) may all be utilized in the wilderness environment. Air-scenting dogs may perform the re-find
or bark alert.
Urban
Searches conducted in an urban environment offer many challenges for the dog teams. Dog teams can be used effectively to clear buildings, parks, alleys, and
confined spaces to name a few. The dogs should be trained to work around the many distractions held in an urban environment. The dog teams work on or off leash
in a controlled pattern dictated by the handler.
The dog teams should be capable of sustaining a search for a maximum of eight hours for two days. Night work can sometimes be a preferred time to work the K-9 teams.
When a dog team has completed a sector, the handler will report their coverage, including the probability of detection (POD), clues found, and their location.
Tracking, trailing and air-scenting dogs (human remains, live, water) may all be used in the urban environment. Air-scenting dogs may perform the re-find or bark
alert.
Evidence
Dog teams are often called in to look for evidence in criminal cases. Searches of this type usually involve small search segments.
The dog teams work on or off leash in a controlled grid pattern directed by the handler. The dog works the area meticulously, usually close to the handler. The
dogs should not touch the evidence, however, if the dog did touch the evidence, handlers should report this to the incident commander.
The dogs should not distract on other animals.
The dog teams should be able to search for several days, in 20 to 30 minute periods. Night work is possible. Air-scenting dogs trained in small article search are best utilized in this profile. Dogs may perform the re-find or bark alert.
Human Remains (HR)
Dogs trained in human remains detection seek a body or body parts. The scent's source may be on, in, or above the ground. In the case of a buried victim, the dogs
will alert on the scent in the soil rather than the scent of the body. HR detection dogs may also alert on articles where human remains or fluid is present, i.e.
clothing or the interior of vehicles and buildings.
The size of the search area will determine how the dog is to work. The dog teams may work on or off leash in a controlled grid pattern directed by the handler,
or they may range away from the handler if the search area is considerably larger. The dogs work the area meticulously. The dogs should not touch the remains.
However, if the dog does touch the remains, handlers should report this to the incident commander.
The dogs should not alert on animal remains.
The dog teams should be able to sustain for eight hours working in 20 to 30 minute periods, for multiple days. Air-scenting dogs trained in human remains search are best suited in this profile. Dogs may perform the re-find or bark alert.
Water
Water searches involve using dogs to locate the scent of drowned victims. The dog works from a boat as well as from the shoreline. Because of water currents and
wind conditions the dog may not be able to pinpoint the exact location of the victim but will give an alert in the area. The handler will report any alerts
to the command base. A second dog team, if available, will be brought in to work the area for confirmation of the alert. The various conditions under which
the dog works will determine how long he/she can sustain. If a dog is forced to breathe fumes from a gas engine, his search time can be as short as 15 minutes.
If conditions are acceptable, an electric motor is preferred. It is advisable that areas to be searched contain no other boat activity other than the dog team's
craft. Any diver activity should be halted a minimum of 2 hours prior to, and during dog team operations. Boats used should allow the dog to get his head as close
to the water as possible, i.e., using a Zodiac ®.
The dogs should not alert on clothing or animal remains in the water.
The dog teams should be able to sustain for eight hours working in 30 to 60 minute increments for multiple days. The Human Remains dogs trained in water search are best suited for this profile. Dogs may perform the re-find or bark alert.
Disaster
Disaster search refers to a variety of circumstances, covering all types of disasters, both man-made and natural, including but not limited to mud slides, rock
slides, collapsed structures, earthquakes, tornadoes and explosions. A disaster search requires a number of technical skills of the handlers.
Agility and control over the dog is mandatory. The dog is required to work off leash and take direction from the handler who may have to stay out of the rubble
for safety reasons. The dog must be trained to work where there is heavy equipment operating nearby, people yelling and the general chaos of a disaster situation.
All dogs utilized should be trained to ignore articles of clothing, food or animal distractions.
The handler reports scent clues alerts and makes recommendions of where to focus rescue efforts. A second dog team, if available, will be brought in to work the
area for confirmation of the alert. Since priority is finding live victims, dog teams should consist of four dog and handler teams with a minimum of two teams
trained to locate live victims only.
Dog teams should be required to rework a search area after a recovery is made, as there may be more than one victim in that particular area.
The dog team is expected to work eight to ten hour sifts in 20 minute periods, with rest periods in-between for a maximum of 7 days. The air-scenting dog trained for live-only, human remains or cross-trained in both, with disaster-specific training skills is best suited for this profile. The bark alert is the only acceptable alert for this profile.
© Copyright 2007 by Search and Rescue Dog Association of Alberta
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