It is no news that the dog isn’t only a pet and that it can also help saving human lives in various catastrophes. But have you ever thought about what it means for dogs to become rescuers? You haven’t? Well, then it’s the right time to set off together on a short excursion into the life of search and rescue (SAR) dogs.
While you can read on the history of dog rescuers in one of the previous articles, the one today is going to focus in more detail on their training and on all that it relates to. For example, did you know that dog rescuers undergo a long training and that they are selected into the program not only according to their health state and breed, but mainly according to their desire to work, temperament and relationship with the trainer? However, most often, the dogs of the shepherd or hunting kind are chosen.
If a dog rescuer is supposed to perform their work well, they have to trust their handler unconditionally. From a very tender age, the dog has to be absolutely composed and it mustn’t show any fearfulness or aggressive behaviour. Such dog should therefore calmly stand sounds of shots, of a saw and the like, which normally scare the other dogs. Enormous demands are laid also on their physical shape. The size of the dog is also determining. The dog handler must count with the fact that they are going to lift the dog in the future, help them up or hand them over. Therefore, extremely large breeds are not suitable, same as the ones that are extremely small.
During the training, a SAR dog prepares even for extreme conditions. They are subjected to unexpected obstacles. These are represented by unusual situations that the dog may encounter. The dog can reach the top level “already” in two to four years. However, such training isn’t something one-off: on the contrary, training takes place for the entire life of the dog.
Even SAR dogs may specialize and pass numerous expert exams that test their readiness in various situations. Since they need different skills for every activity. Among the rescue disciplines belongs:
aerial search and rescue – the dog searches for lost persons in terrain, e.g. in the forest, it usually concerns children or elderly people;
disaster search – locations of buried people, in the Czech Republic most often in collapsed family houses after gas explosion, in collapsed buildings or various factory structures;
avalanche search – search of persons buried by an avalanche;
rescue from ice – help to the people who have fallen under ice;
drowning search – search for the drowned and rescue of the drowning – this is the youngest discipline during which the dog lies beside the handler on the bow of the boat and it searches using their scent on the surface of the water for the drowned;
and rescue tracking.
Experts estimate that one dog rescuer can cover the work of up to twenty people! Since they are able to explore wider areas mainly due to the fact that they have a much better developed scent, sight and hearing. This way, they are able to register even subtle signs of life. The high number of survivors is helped also by the fact that dogs are capable of working faster than humans.
The largest organisation that devotes itself to the training of search and rescue dogs in the Czech Republic is the Association of rescue brigades of dog handlers of the Czech Republic . The association is active abroad as well, where it helps e.g. after earthquakes of a larger scale.
I believe that these hard working dogs deserve genuine respect and acknowledgement. And I only wish you that you would never need their help. But if this has already happened to you or you witnessed such an event, I would be glad if you shared your experience with us.
Allegedly, fast is instinctively practised by both wolfs and wild dogs. This has led many people to that assumption, that our dog on the couch should, once in a while, be fasting as well. A wild animal surely knows what it is doing, nature is wise, you...
In this cycle, we will get to know interesting dog personalities. Dogs play an important role in our life, so let us take a look what they have already achieved during our life together. We should find Hachiko in the dictionary next to the phrase...
Markéta is my long-time friend. We got to know each other through a shelter, from which I took my first dog and where I then started to help out. Under this association, Markéta runs a depository for cats in Prague, where I like to go when I have a bit...
Have you ever wondered how much movement is healthy for your dog and when it can be harmful? Or that not every movement is beneficial? Most dog owners never think about this. It’s said that the more you move, the better. But this is not always true.
As I mentioned in previous articles, I occasionally help out my friend Markéta, who runs a cat shelter. I had the opportunity to take part in several humane trappings for stray cats and would like to share the experience with you today.
Did you know that even your pet dog can suffer from depression? As with people, we shouldn’t underestimate the mental state of our dogs. How to recognize it and what to do about it?
In this cycle, we shall take a look at how cats and dogs are getting along in the world. Where people nurture and spoil them, or on the contrary they suffer and their situation is critical. Today I would like to introduce you to the cats of Greece,...
The approach of warm sunny days will surely entice many people to go for long walks. Many of us take our four-legged companions on vacation. It’s during these times that we should be careful about sunstroke, both for us and our dogs. How can we prevent...
Just like with people, being overweight can have a negative impact on a dog’s health. Preparing the right diet and amount of food to give them can sometimes be, however, like pure alchemy, and so your dog can start to become obese. If this is the case...
There seems to be more and more ticks year after year. Fortunately, the ways to protect our furry friends, whether dogs or cats, against these parasites are growing. Everyone can choose what product fits best for them and their four-legged companions.
Until recently skinny guinea pigs were relatively rare in our country. Word about them is quickly spreading, however, and they have become a sudden hit among breeders. What’s it like having these guinea pigs and what do they like to eat?
The kidneys perform one of the most important functions in the body - cleaning the blood. Due to their small intake of water, cats are more burdened than other animals and therefore suffer quite often from kidney problems the older they get.
