Dog Training

SARQuest team members have the option to train a canine to become a search and rescue canine. All canines used by SARQuest are the handlers personally owned dog and are trained by the owner/handler. Currently SARQuest trains three main types of search and rescue canines: area, trailing, and human remains.

Area Search Canine: Area Search dogs are used to locate any person in a given area. These dogs are trained with directionals and usualy work off leash to locate any person that is not with the search team. Many times these dogs work somewhat independently and report back to the handler when a subject is located. Area search dogs are useful for covering large amounts of ground with old or no known trails left behind by a person.
Trailing Canine: Trailing Canines are used to find a specific person. These canines use a scent article taken or left by the victim and follow that specific scent. They generally are not tracking dogs, meaning they may not track the victim step for step, instead they use a combination of air and ground scenting to locate the victim. Many times trailing dogs will follow the scent and not the actual path traveled. Trailing dogs are effictve in finding specific subjects in known last location.
Human Remains Canine (Cadaver): Human Remains Canines are dogs that look for the scent left by human remains and human decomposition. These dogs are trained to find only human decomposition and to ignore animals. These dogs are generally partnered up with law enforcement and can be used to help solve cases or to provide closure for families.

Dogs are evaluated by SARQuest to determine if the animal has the right temperment and drive to want to become a search and rescue canine. SARQuest will work with any breed of dog pending it has passes its evaluations, has drive to work, and its owners can provide adaquate time to train. Training a search and rescue canine is a fun and rewarding experience, but it does come with many commitments. There are commitments to the canine, commitments to the team, and commitments to continuous learning and improving skills.

Is Search and Rescue for you and your canine?

Search and rescue canine canidates are usually dogs that have very high play, prey, or food drive. This is an important part of training a search and rescue canine, because no dogs are ever forced to train, the dog must have the drive to want to work. Also, do you have to time to commit to training a canine and training with the team? All team members are expected to come out to practices with and without their canines.

Still interested in joining the SARQuest team? Check the calendar for a training session and come on out! We also hold dog evaluations to determine if a canine is right for the job, these can also be found on the calendar. Also check the training locations page to see where all we train.

It is important to note that member canidates are expected to come out and train without their dogs before they are allowed to bring out their approved canine. This proves a commitment to the team, as well as the dog.