Saturday my dog Bandit and I received our OFFICIAL Search and Rescue certification! It took forever, but it was really fun. Hopefully we’ll get to save someone and everything!
YEA!!
Bandit (Boo, for training) did most of the work. I just hang around and say “left Boo”, “right Boo”, “in Boo” “GOOD DOG!!”
My dog rocks!
I would love to do that.
What kind of dog is he? How old is he? Where did you take the training? Details! Details!
That’s just wonderful-I want details too!
Bandit is a 3.5 year old Border Collie. I got him from rescue two years ago, and started training him on basic obedience right away.
After he had all of the basic training down, I contacted the local SAR group. You can probably find out your local group head by doing web search. After I talked to the group head, I went to the park where we meet on Saturdays, and Bandit and I were put through a aptitude test. After we were accepted I committed my first born child to the cause, filled out a membership form, and paid my dues.
The dogs carry differing certifications. We are now wilderness, disaster and urban certified (this is a single certification), but not water search, cadaver recovery, article, or scent discrimination (Bandit isn’t a good scent hound).
I should say, breed really isn’t important. We have everything from Labrador Retrievers, to full blood mutts. What is important is that your dog really wants to works. Bandit loves it!
We meet every Saturday at a local park, and sometimes go off to abandoned houses, the woods, or “piles” which are piles of junk that we hid in for the dog “working the pile” to find. The dogs are trained to the National SAR requirements, and we’re on call available 24/7 for the police, fire or other agencies. We are members of the national society, but unless it is a big disaster, we pretty much stay local.
wow, congratulations.
bandit must be really excited. a very good thing keeping a border collie occupied and happy.