Search & Rescue Dogs

Mojo wrote:Whats the difference between SARDA and LS Dogs? (if it's a political mine field don't worry about answering - just wondering)

Simply SARDA predominantly train dogs to search for lost people in mountainous environments, however in some areas they are starting to train dogs to look in more urban areas - I'm sure someone will corret me if I am wrong there.

LSDogs train dogs to search in Lowland environments for lost or missing vulnerable people.

They are slightly different in structure as well. SARDA is a training organisation that trains and assesses dogs whos hadnlers are in Mountain Rescue teams, where as LSDogs is a body the oversees and assess Lowland Search Dogs that are members of a Search & Rescue Dog unit.

Staying well away from the politics:

SARDA: Members are normally taken from Mountain Rescue teams and cover MR areas. Are trained extensively in mountain operations. In the public eye are normally seen as looking for lost or injured walkers and climbers, however, are frequently used in lowland searches for lost persons. Are trained by their home MR team prior to becoming a handler. Assessed under NSARDA standards appropriate to qualification (i.e. Mountain/Lowland).

LS Dogs: Members maybe members of ALSAR teams but not necessarily, operate in areas covered by ALSAR units. Used for missing person searches and body recovery searches (not referred to as this though). Undergo ALSAR SAR Tech course or equivalent and constant in-house training organised by their home unit. Assessed under LS Dogs standards (Lowland only).

Both organisations will assess and qualify dogs in airscenting and some other disciplines, details of both can be found in the ACPO Search Management & Procedures document which Cheshire should hold (If not let me know and I will get you a copy)

Pete.

PS. Please lets not have this turn into a bun fight like the last time it came up.

Sorry D put this up the same time as you, I'll leave it anyway.

Pete.

If there were training opportunities for a combined LS Dogs and SARDA training scenario, would that be acceptable seen as we are all working to the same common goal?

Also, what differences would effect us there and then, ie, no support, rangeing, terminology, etc etc.

Mojo x

Also I am aware there are differences between Gun Dog training and Search & Rescue training, but what are the differences?

Can a gun trained dog then come into the search & rescue world and qualify without causing confusion and distress?

Honest answers are always welcome

Hiya

not sure what others think here but I can certainly attest to the fact that in the Lakes we have a lurcher (Bedlington crossed Greyhound) who has been trained for game work who is an excellent search dog and also have heard of others who have swapped into searchwork - I guess the drive and instinct is the same thing with a different quarry at the end - I would say, however that the key for me has been to conctrate on using a dog for one skill and not try to use it for a variety of purposes. As for the differences between SARDA and LS dogs - yes the terrain differs in some respects but at the end of the day we are there to search and find people and I would be equally happy to work alongside any LS dog or SARDA dog and would really welcome some interaction and shared best practice between the two - in the last few months I have attended a number of semi-urban searches for mispers and would be happy to be more proficient in latest thinking.

Cheers and stay happy

Kaz and Dot (who is currently laying on her back waving her legs in the air under my desk!)