Search and rescue (SAR) k-9’s spring into action assisting humans during difficult times. They track people lost in the wilderness or those lost after a natural disaster. SAR k-9 find Alzheimer’s patients who have wandered away from a care facility. They locate people trapped in debris after an earthquake or buried under an avalanche of snow. SAR k-9 adapt to a variety of circumstances and work well under pressure.
Why are k-9’s used for search and rescue work?
K-9’s are specially equipped to be rescuers and can home in on a lost person with their amazing sense of smell. With noses that far surpass ours, k-9’s have more than 100 million sensory receptor sites in the nasal cavity, as compared to 6 million in people. Moreover, the area of the canine brain devoted to analyzing odors is about 40 times larger than the comparable part of the human brain. In fact, it has been estimated that k-9’s can smell anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 times better than people. K-9’s simply have a “nose” for rescue work.
What are the types of rescue K-9’s?
Although all SAR k-9’s depends on their sense of smell, they are distinguished as either air-scenting or trailing dogs. Air-scenting K-9”s detect human scent that is airborne and often work off-lead to cover large areas of land. They are usually non-scent-discriminating, meaning that they detect scent from any human as opposed to a specific person.
By comparison, trailing K-9’s are trackers that can discriminate the scent of a specific person after smelling an article of clothing or object touched by the missing person. These scent-specific dogs track by keeping their noses to the ground, only occasionally raising their heads to detect air-borne particles. Trailing K-9’swork both on- and off-lead and follow the actual path taken by the missing person.
How do air-scenting K-9’s work?
Air-scenting K-9’s follows diffused or wind-borne aromas until they find the site where the smells originated. Once they find the source of the odor, these SAR K-9’s call their handlers by barking. If the handler is far away, the SAR K-9 may return to the handler and guide him to the scent's origin, such as a lost person.
Since air-scenting k-9’s detect air-borne particles, weather conditions affect their job performance. Wind speed, temperature, humidity, and wind direction all impact the K-9’s ability to work. Amazingly, despite less-than-optimal conditions, these talented k-9’s can cover a search area that may range from a few blocks to 150 acres and can detect a scent source as far as ¼ mile away.
Although an astute sense of smell is a common canine trait, some K-9’s perform better than others. Air-scenting SAR k-9’s are often herding or sporting breeds, such as Border Collies, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Springer Spaniels, or Labrador Retrievers.
How do trailing K-9”s work?
Trailing K-9’s follow a specific scent left behind by a missing person on earth and vegetation. They are so focused in on the scent that they can accurately map turns or even “double backs” taken by the lost person. The discerning noses of tracking K-9’s can rule out other human scents and focus on the “smell of the day”, an important aspect of successful rescue missions. Since these K-9’s often work on-lead and move at a slower pace than their air-scenting co-workers, the handlers of tracking K-9’s are usually close by.
Most people identify Bloodhounds as the premier tracking K-9’s, but other breeds perform well too. Sporting, working, and herding breeds excel at the task. Larger, sturdier breeds can adapt to rough terrains and face grueling conditions. Handlers must also be able to face the physical challenges of search and rescue missions.
Do the two types of SAR K-9’s ever work together?
In times of disaster, air-scenting and trailing K-9’s may work together. Air-scenting K-9’s are released in high-probability areas or places where the lost person is likely to be and scan broad swaths of terrain. Tracking K-9’s are deployed from the person’s last known point (LKP) or the site of a discovered piece of evidence and maneuver outwards from there.
Both types of SAR K-9’s must be able to work 4-8 hours straight and not be distracted by human rescue workers or wildlife. As crucial team members, handlers must be proficient in wilderness survival techniques when working in rough terrain.
Both air-scenting and tracking K-9’s can be cross-trained as cadaver K-9’s that are used to locate the remains of deceased victims. These K-9’s work over large areas in the event of natural disasters (hurricanes, floods, tornadoes) or small areas (specific crime scenes).
What training is required to become a SAR K-9?
A good nose is not enough. A proficient SAR k-9 needs lots of training, starting with basic obedience skills. Then SAR K-9’s learn how to track, signal their handlers, and behave appropriately in stressful situations. Their handlers need training, too. Handlers are often trained as law enforcement, fire service, and emergency response professionals.
Young pups begin training as early as 8-10 weeks old and go on the job by 1 or 1 1/2 years of age. Since the job is physically demanding, SAR K-9’s often retire when they are 5-10 years old. These hard-working canines then enjoy a much-deserved retirement, often alongside their handlers where they are part of the family.
