Quote:
Originally Posted by Vicky
I know there have already been threads on this subject, but I was hoping for some more specific advice.  In the future, I want to get involved with Search & Rescue, and I was hoping to get some insight from people who have already done such work with their dogs.
How does one go about finding a group to work with? I'm looking for a training group that would be on more of the "casual" side, since I'd like to dabble in it with my current dog who would have a load of fun with it, but I know wouldn't have the work ethic needed to do actual SAR (husky! haha) The only groups I've found in my area so far have either been actual, serious working groups, or serious sporting groups for tracking which isn't even what I'd like to do. For people in the US, are there any parent groups for trailing that might show smaller groups in my area that you know about?
Also, what are some ideas for training at home? Ideally I'd find a group to work with first, but if I can't find someone willing to work with someone who isn't serious about actually working their dog, I'd at least like to "play" at home with training. |
My tracking group (AKC) actually gets/has quite a few people who are involved with SAR, but sometimes don't have the time/dedication at a particular point in there life to be completely involved in SAR (baby, work, etc.). As I figured out at a seminar I went to a couple weeks ago, AKC tracking is somewhere in between SchH and trailing - our dogs are supposed to "track" - follow ground scent. But, AKC is much more liberal in the distance a dog is allowed to air scent and leave the track than in SchH (which is no more than a body length off - training involves a lot of obedience). For AKC, it almost has to be that way, since the dogs are pushed further faster - a TD (beginner) track in AKC is very similar to a SchH III track. I think think that you will find members in a dedicated tracking club that will be willing to work with you towards your goals, and have plenty of expertise in scent theory to at least get you started. I've actually been training (laying tracks for) with a lady in my SchH group (from Germany) that does SAR - but she is a single mom in the navy, so no time for the intense stuff. The track-laying has been similar - except I sit as the reward at the end of the track, and no food is used as it is SchH or AKC. The dog is also not allowed to eliminate on the track (in AKC they can) - don't want to contaminate the track. And of course, things go much faster! The age of the tracks can be much longer too (in AKC, the age is a maximum of 5 hours - SAR can be days or even weeks long!).