Search & Rescue Dogs

What is the general consensus on the best breed of dog for SAR work (both lowland and MR)?

I am guessing border collie is king, especially in the mountainous regions. However, I would also love to know what other breeds excel, and how many operational German shepherds are currently working.

Someone after my own heart, in the UK I would happily say that Border Collie's are top of the pack.

Pete

Pete wrote:Someone after my own heart, in the UK I would happily say that Border Collie's are top of the pack.

Pete

Peter,
Peter

Now you know that you are bias, don`t listen to him Kirsty wolf look a likes are best.as are labs springers kelpies cross breeds and all the other breeds we have on the team.

Mandy

LOL Mandy - it sounds like some friendly rivalry going on here My top breed is the GSD, but I also work my two border collies on sheep and certainly see the potential in them for mountain and lowland rescue work.

Has anyone here ever worked a bloodhound? Does anyone work a GSD?

I have recently enjoyed reading "Search Dog" by Angela Locke about Sam, a yellow Lab, who was a very valuable member of a MRT in the Lakes. It never really occurred to me that Labs would be good for this kind of work, but that book certainly changed my mind

there are quite a few GSD's working within SARDA throughout the country, there is no hard and fast rule as to which is the best breed its mainly down to the quality of training you and the dog are given.
Mike ( working a GSD cadaver dog )

I know sussex have a trainee GSD and i think Southeren do as well.
We have had a few come to try out with us, but they all don`t seem to make it, i think this was because they were rescue dogs and had issues, so didn`t want to range to far ,so i think they went on to do track/trailing.else where the owners choice not ours. Pete or Daryl would be able to tell you more about them

mandy

The GSDs that have come to train with us in the past have been great at finding, however we expect our dogs to complete a refind, this is where their problem was. They just didn't have the enthusiasm or drive to return to the handler, then take you back in. Having said that we have a GSD that is training with us now that is doing this.

I would suggest that any of the Working Breeds are suitable, but its really down to the personality and ability of the individual dog, one thing that is essential is a strong play/prey drive, without this your on a non starter really.

mike wrote:there are quite a few GSD's working within SARDA throughout the country, there is no hard and fast rule as to which is the best breed its mainly down to the quality of training you and the dog are given.
Mike ( working a GSD cadaver dog )

Thanks Mike. Do you have any pics of your GSD working? I would love to see them. I used to take an active interest in the way GP police dogs were trained, but was never fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time to see the cadaver training. What do you use to train your dogs to find cadavers (is it still bits of pig?)! Is your dog a specialist in finding and recovering cadavers, or will he also alert on living humans?

Sorry for all the questions, but I find it all fascinating, and would love to train my dog to search. I have started him tracking though, so could that hamper his air scent training, or can a dog be trained to do both? I am currently reading about Andy Rebmann and his cadaver dog training and have ordered Search & Rescue Dogs - Training the K9 Hero - (thanks for the recommendation Mandy) . Are there any other books/dvds that might be of use or interest?

Daryl wrote:The GSDs that have come to train with us in the past have been great at finding, however we expect our dogs to complete a refind, this is where their problem was. They just didn't have the enthusiasm or drive to return to the handler, then take you back in. Having said that we have a GSD that is training with us now that is doing this.

I would suggest that any of the Working Breeds are suitable, but its really down to the personality and ability of the individual dog, one thing that is essential is a strong play/prey drive, without this your on a non starter really.

Thanks for your responses everyone.

Daryl - do you know whether the GSDs that have come to train with you have been from working lines?

I am off for a week's walking in the Highlands from tomorrow (yippee!) so please don't think I am ignoring any responses.

No doubt I will be back with more questions when I return!