A search dog team is just that... a team. It is the handler's job to get to the site safely, quickly while maintaining the dogs energy levels. Once on site the handler then establishes that the site is safe before then assessing which way the wind is going before planning a strategy for the search. Search techniques are based on establishing which way the wind is blowing then deploying the dog across the slope down wind of likely burial areas.
Typically the dog will search across the slope until it finds the scent, then it will turn sharply and head straight up the slope to the point in which the scent disappears under the snow. At this point the dog will then start digging and barking, staying on that spot until the handler reaches it to take over the digging, or marks the spot for others to dig while the handler re-deploy the dog to continue the search.
Although most breeds suitable for search are very keen to work and satisfy their owner, all handlers rely on rewarding their dogs to get the most out of them. Blizzid's reward is a tug of war with a toy that she only ever gets to play with when training or searching. She has been trained in such a way that she thinks that her toy is under the snow with the buried person.
After a couple of years and many many hours of training a team is ready to be tested by NZLandSAR and the NZ Police to see if they make the grade to be listed as an 'operational' team. At this point they go in the call-out list and can be deployed by the Police in an emergency situation - ready to save lives!
Typically the dog will search across the slope until it finds the scent, then it will turn sharply and head straight up the slope to the point in which the scent disappears under the snow. At this point the dog will then start digging and barking, staying on that spot until the handler reaches it to take over the digging, or marks the spot for others to dig while the handler re-deploy the dog to continue the search.
Although most breeds suitable for search are very keen to work and satisfy their owner, all handlers rely on rewarding their dogs to get the most out of them. Blizzid's reward is a tug of war with a toy that she only ever gets to play with when training or searching. She has been trained in such a way that she thinks that her toy is under the snow with the buried person.
After a couple of years and many many hours of training a team is ready to be tested by NZLandSAR and the NZ Police to see if they make the grade to be listed as an 'operational' team. At this point they go in the call-out list and can be deployed by the Police in an emergency situation - ready to save lives!
- ../../resources/bg1.jpg