Search & Rescue Dogs

Posted: **Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:05 pm**

I am currently studing design and technology and for a design project i have been asked to develop a new project with the brief "Helping Others". I decided i would like to develop a new SAR dog coat that would be suitable for all types of dogs. Any suggestions and ideas would be a huge help and the crazier the better. Any ideas to do with lighting, bells, GPS (tracking of the dog), dog being able to carry stuff. I need to make it different to what is already on the market however i can still incorperate ideas that work or alter an original idea. Please please please help me all suggestions would be huge help.

Thanks all

Posted: **Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:36 pm**

Hello amy!

This is. Popular subnet in the team. Here's one for you then. Create an Ll weaver all purpose dog jacket. It could be made of 2 halves, longer for cold weather, detach for ho weather. Could be multple layers. Add or remove as the conditions require, one of the layers may even be a flotation aid. The jacket could even hVe a hi-viz layr for working and removeable when resting. The jacket could be lit or not. LED technology had move on a little bit, have a look at LED strip, Whig can be waterproof and battery powered. The jacket should be rip- proof, durable, but not trap tr dog if caught on barbed wire or trees.
There are several other ligt types available but none of them effectively lplemented on jackets. Light tape is one, radioactive tape is another. Toy could even look Ito a wind up r solar one for the people who hug tressand knit their own meusli.
Something to be going on with

Posted: **Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:48 pm**

THANX jon thats some great ideas to start designing, if i typed up an online survey would you be able to get some team members to fill it in to help with my target audience research. Im a bit behind on the LED technology now so any extra help would be great.

Posted: **Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:13 pm**

This post has had a few views, so if u view this can u please take a minute to reply to this questinonaire to help my research thank you alot

1 - What make/model dog coat to you use for your search dog? How much did the coat cost?

2 - What do you like about the dog coat?

3 - Are there any problems with the coat or something that could be improved?

4 - What other dog equipment do you use on your dog? i.e. boots, specialist collars?

5 - If you could design a new coat what features are important to you?

Rate the importance of these features on a scale of 1 - 5,
5 being most important:

Lighting on coat
Bell
Reflectiveness
Search dog badge
Waterproof
Rip-stop fabric
Pockets
Tracking dog

Posted: **Thu Apr 01, 2010 2:19 pm**

AmyH wrote:1 - What make/model dog coat to you use for your search dog? How much did the coat cost?

A - Team issue, Keela. £18.00

2 - What do you like about the dog coat?

A - not much! It's bright!

3 - Are there any problems with the coat or something that could be improved?

A - hard to clean - can't wash it properly and it doesn't come up very clean. Gets very hot in summer. Not very durable, rips easily. Can't attach anything much other than bells and a small light.

4 - What other dog equipment do you use on your dog? i.e. boots, specialist collars?

A - Bells, light-up collar at night.

5 - If you could design a new coat what features are important to you?

A - washable; adjustable - not necessarily one size fits all, but adjustable so you can get a better fit, more comfortable for the dog. Warm in winter, cool in summer. Somewhere secure to attach light.

Rate the importance of these features on a scale of 1 - 5,
5 being most important:

Lighting on coat - 5
Bell -5
Reflectiveness - 4
Search dog badge -3
Waterproof - 2
Rip-stop fabric - 5
Pockets - 3
Tracking dog - 1

Posted: **Thu Apr 01, 2010 2:41 pm**

thanks judith please encourage everyone u know to fill this in especially the rating part xxxxx

Posted: **Thu Apr 01, 2010 7:10 pm**

Hi Amy,

My 2penny worth.

1 - What make/model dog coat to you use for your search dog? How much did the coat cost?
Keela Berkshire SAR Dogs Jacket
I also use a skid plate (similar to this http://www.gundogsonline.com/dog-vest/k ... plate.html), as my springer has had quite bad scratches on the abdomen (she has quite sparse fur since having pups)

2 - What do you like about the dog coat?
Keela is bright and has reflective tape...Skid plate is hi viz and protects abdoment

3 - Are there any problems with the coat or something that could be improved?
hot in the summer,

4 - What other dog equipment do you use on your dog? i.e. boots, specialist collars?
Light collar and Bells..

5 - If you could design a new coat what features are important to you?
Comfort for the dog....needs to keep them cool
Tab for attaching a light...(like a guardian) or maybe a pocket for light stick
easy to put on and take off

Rate the importance of these features on a scale of 1 - 5,
5 being most important:

Lighting on coat 4
Bell 2 (I prefer bells on the dog, as I can tell whether she is coming towards me (or away))
Reflectiveness 5
Search dog badge 1
Waterproof 2
Rip-stop fabric 4
Pockets 3
Tracking dog

Posted: **Mon Apr 12, 2010 6:35 pm**

AmyH wrote:This post has had a few views, so if u view this can u please take a minute to reply to this questinonaire to help my research thank you alot
Hi Amy,

I don't work an operational dog (we're still learning) but I have experience of police and military dog operations. The Met police as you probably noticed don't use coats but search harnesses. Each UK force uses slightly different models. i have also been involved in equipment design and procurement for harnesses.

1 - What make/model dog coat to you use for your search dog? How much did the coat cost?
Niton search harness £18.00 (ie not a coat) these are used by trailing dogs too.

2 - What do you like about the dog coat?
Prefer harness as easier to fit close to body of dog. stout webbing construction carries weight of attachments without sagging. Very quick to fit and remove, not too much to feed over dog's head. If dog falls into water will not impede swimming as much or trap water. Harness allows dog to maintain temperature equlibrium at most times but in very cold weather a coat would be better but dog's own coat is superior - if dog is kept outside. So a coat with some or all of these properties would be good.

3 - Are there any problems with the coat or something that could be improved?

From what i have observed they seem to loose their reflective properties over time and not very durable - absorb water rather than repel it?.

4 - What other dog equipment do you use on your dog? i.e. boots, specialist collars?
Nothing but will look at light collar in due course.

5 - If you could design a new coat what features are important to you?

Availiable full range of sizing to allow choce for different breeds and builds. Fully Adjustable fitting esp around chest and shoulders so Dog could wear it for extended periods and that it wouldn't trap a dog in thickets or fences.

Rate the importance of these features on a scale of 1 - 5,
5 being most important:

Lighting on coat (or ability to easily and securely attach it) 5
Bell (as above) 4
Reflectiveness 5
Search dog badge2
Waterproof1
Rip-stop fabric (rip stop is not the same as thorn resistant they do what it says on the tin ))
Pockets 0 unless you mean small one for gps transponder or similar
Tracking dog

Best Wishes . Andy.

Posted: **Tue Apr 20, 2010 8:26 am**

This post has had a few views, so if u view this can u please take a minute to reply to this questinonaire to help my research thank you alot

1 - What make/model dog coat to you use for your search dog? How much did the coat cost?
Unsure of the make or model, It is basically made up of 2 triangle flashes which are positioned on the dogs shoulders.

2 - What do you like about the dog coat?
Light weight.

3 - Are there any problems with the coat or something that could be improved?
The reflectivity of the fabric has started to fade. Not very colour-fast.

4 - What other dog equipment do you use on your dog? i.e. boots, specialist collars?
Nothing

5 - If you could design a new coat what features are important to you?
Small pockets for GPS so the track of the dog can be logged.
Small hook(s) for light/glowstick etc...

Rate the importance of these features on a scale of 1 - 5,
5 being most important:

4 Lighting on coat
3 Bell
5 Reflectiveness
1 Search dog badge
2 Waterproof
3 Rip-stop fabric
4 Pocket
0 Tracking dog

Posted: **Tue Apr 20, 2010 12:08 pm**

AmyH wrote:1 - What make/model dog coat to you use for your search dog? How much did the coat cost?
Clas ohlson £1.99 http://www.clasohlson.co.uk/Product/Product.aspx?id=146528372

2 - What do you like about the dog coat?
Very cheap almost disposable,great for training and light weight

3 - Are there any problems with the coat or something that could be improved?
Velco is not good quality fills with fur and mud

4 - What other dog equipment do you use on your dog? i.e. boots, specialist collars?
Termatex coat for winter, "Walkers" dog boot for injured paw, Team issued Keela jacket. currently designing an illuminated dog collar

5 - If you could design a new coat what features are important to you?
lightweight, breakaway fixings, attachments for bell and light, reflective, easy to clean
Rate the importance of these features on a scale of 1 - 5,
5 being most important:

Lighting on coat 4
Bell 5
Reflectiveness 2
Search dog badge
Waterproof1
Rip-stop fabric 3
Pockets
Tracking dog

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