Post by oksaradt on Oct 17, 2007 10:43:22 GMT -5
While I agree with the intent of the post, the title rankles me. While you can find candidates in nearly any breed that could do SAR work there should be common sense applied. I would estimate that for every 8 dogs that owners come to try out for SAR work, maybe 1 will have the right drives. Out of five of those decent dogs, maybe one handler will stick it out for the long haul.
So, that means for every 40 perspective dogs and owners that come out to play with us, one will become an addition to the team.......and we're one of the more easy going teams as far as letting people come try.
As for breeds of dog, I know of a dog team on the west coast that uses a toy dog to trail out of the handler's back pack. While this sounds like an "awww cute" moment, I want the dog's nose pasted to the ground to trail.
The breeds I have worked with that have made it to deployment status around the country have been GSD, lab, mal, cattle dogs, border collies, ADTs, Baucerons (sp), poodles, goldens, GSP, Dobies, Swiss Mtn Dogs, 1 brittany spaniel that I can remember, a portuguese water dog that could do anything but the handler had/has an agenda of fame,
As you can see from what I expect in a dog I train, the nose and interior drives have to be there. After that, it just comes down to which options you want as to size, coat, etc. I didn't love ADTs before I got into SAR. I chose ADTs as I wanted to get into SAR. Most people that start in SAR, do it just the opposite when their favorite pet can find their lost socks.
Jim
So, that means for every 40 perspective dogs and owners that come out to play with us, one will become an addition to the team.......and we're one of the more easy going teams as far as letting people come try.
As for breeds of dog, I know of a dog team on the west coast that uses a toy dog to trail out of the handler's back pack. While this sounds like an "awww cute" moment, I want the dog's nose pasted to the ground to trail.
The breeds I have worked with that have made it to deployment status around the country have been GSD, lab, mal, cattle dogs, border collies, ADTs, Baucerons (sp), poodles, goldens, GSP, Dobies, Swiss Mtn Dogs, 1 brittany spaniel that I can remember, a portuguese water dog that could do anything but the handler had/has an agenda of fame,
As you can see from what I expect in a dog I train, the nose and interior drives have to be there. After that, it just comes down to which options you want as to size, coat, etc. I didn't love ADTs before I got into SAR. I chose ADTs as I wanted to get into SAR. Most people that start in SAR, do it just the opposite when their favorite pet can find their lost socks.
Jim