SAR Dog News - National Search Dog Alliance

Transcription

SAR Dog News - National Search Dog Alliance
SAR Dog News
January 2015 Published by the National Search Dog Alliance
Vol. 9, No. 1
The Voice of K-9 Search and Rescue @ n-sda.org
Founding members: K-9 Thor, Eileen M. Nobles, Susan Bulanda, K-9 Roo, Leslie Godchaux, Brian R. Hendrickson,
Continental Kennel Club, Inc., K-9 River, K-9 Persha, Jan Thompson, K-9 Cali, Peggy Ann Buchman, K-9 Geist
CONTENTS
Article
2015 BOD Meeting Dates
NSDA Recap of 2014
Hero Dog Contest
SAR dog poisoned
Loss to SAR
Regional Testing & New Rules
NSDA test
Wanted – Your Time
Winter To Do
Congratulations
With Full Honors
Watch for Ticks
More on Michigan Search
Another K-9 Save
U.S. Avalanche Accident Report
Do all Dogs Go to Heaven?
Abandoned
Nine Science Backed Reasons to Own a Dog
Kibbles and Bits
Trivia
Book Review
Open NSDA Positions
11 Noisiest Dog Breeds
Last Howl
Training & Seminars
page
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15
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2015 BOARD MEETING DATES
February 5
March 5
April 9
May 7
June 4
Contact Secretary, Julie Gibson ([email protected]) for the
call in number for the meetings.
Bucky says:
Sunlight coming
through a window is
not the same as the
sunlight we get
from taking a walk.
NSDA RECAP OF 2014
Finance: Our total equity for the year 2014
was up 21%.
Membership: our members increased by
25%, plus two new team memberships
joining in January.
The number of field tests were increased by
9%, for a total of 92 this year. This was an
increase over preliminary estimates so we will
raise our goal to 150 tests for 2015. We have
application for 5 regional testing opportunities
already this year. Regional tests would be for
10 or more handlers from one region.
Social Media
NSDA Facebook: our weekly “total reached”
increased 44% the week prior to January 4.
More interesting articles; more discussion.
Check it out.
We are now on Twitter! Come Tweet with us.
Austin Peah University, TN. students
presented a Multi media program to NSDA as
a semester project. Lots of good ideas from
young minds. We are implementing them.
Website: If you haven’t seen our new
website, check it out. We have a whole new
design with more access to information. A
few changes are still in the works to make
navigation of the site easier. We are putting
up educational materials in the next two
months and are working on study guides for
our written tests.
Norma Snelling
SAR Dog News, January 2015
American Humane Assoc.
HERO DOG CONTEST
Page 2
LOSS TO SAR
Next month we will be looking for
Edward F. Duffy
27 August 1951 – 8
September 2014
nominations of Hero Dogs to represent
NSDA. Win $2,500. in the SAR dog
category on behalf of NSDA and go to
Los Angeles for the finals. Who do you
know that is an outstanding candidate?
Watch for more information.
SAR Dog poisoned by
antifreeze in Anchorage
Little Su was a 5 year old English Shepherd,
operational with Alaska Search and Rescue
Dogs (ASARD) for three years. A container
was found near the property that contained a
mixture of chicken and antifreeze. Her
handlers are members of Nordic Ski Patrol
and ASARD. Anyone with information is
asked to contact the Anchorage police.
Photo courtesy of AK State Troopers
In September 2014,
SAR lost a man who
was instrumental in
founding and
progressing K-9 SAR
especially in the
State of Florida: Ed
Duffy.
Duffy was a retired Professional Engineer
who had over 30 years of experience training
dogs in a variety of disciplines. His
experience ranged from obedience, agility
and Schutzhund to the training of detection
dogs for civilian and government entities. In
particular, Duffy served for fifteen years as
the Director of Training for Tampa Fire
Rescue’s select K-9 Unit.
Utilizing consistent, systematic procedures as
integral parts of the instruction process, Duffy
played a direct role in the training and
subsequent certification of 24 USAR dogs in
Florida. He was instrumental in assisting K-9
SAR teams in the state with training and
implementation of their SAR programs.
His ability to challenge handlers in developing
the maximum capabilities of their K-9s played
a major role in generating overall competency
and reliability.
Duffy worked with the National Center for K-9
Training since it opened in 1998. Hel also
taught at various SAR K-9 seminars and
training sessions. He was a trainer, a mentor,
and a colleague whose passing leaves
another large hole in the SAR community.
SAR Dog News, January 2015
NSDA UPCOMING TEST
Heather Jo Cutting, an Evaluator from the
State of Washington, will be holding a
HRD certification test in Carnation,
Washington on Feb 16th at 9:00 in the
morning.
Those interested in testing can contact
Heather at [email protected]
REGIONAL TESTING &
NEW RULES
NSDA currently offers up to a $300.00 grant
toward evaluator travel expenses to any three
handlers testing during the same session.
We are now offering all evaluator expenses
paid to any 10 handlers testing during the
same session. They need not be testing in
the same discipline, whenever we can
accommodate multiple disciplines.
The problems we face as an organization:
NSDA pays for airline tickets for the
evaluator. The evaluator arrives, gets a motel,
walks the areas, sets up boundaries and lays
trails, obtains and coaches the subjects – and
the handler changes his mind.
Going forward, handlers will be asked to
prepay for their tests. A site will be set up on
the NSDA website to prepay by either Paypal
or personal credit card, the same way you did
for your on line tests. If you desire to pay in
cash or by check, arrangements must be
made in advance with the evaluator
personally.
Page 3
New certificates are being made up for tests
given in 2015. The certificate will not only
name the discipline and level but also what
you had to do for it, ie
Trailing II
1 – ½ miles, 4 – 8 hours
Water
Open Water & Shoreline
Land HRD
Wilderness, Roadway, Building, Vehicles
We are proud of our standards and want SAR
coordinators to know what they are getting
when you check in with them. For instance,
many water certifications only require
shoreline and the dog has no idea what to do
if he is put in a boat.
UPCOMING NSDA TEST
AT PENNSYLVANIA SAREX
April 30 – May 2
Area Search II
Land HRD
Water HRD
Possibly the new Trailing III
For more information contact
[email protected]. Visit www.nsda.org for prerequisites and standards.
Evaluators:
Susan Fleming – Trailing
Kim Veldheer – Area
David Lock – Land & Water HRD
Cancer Patient in Phoenix, AZ.
Dog pictures make him happy. Send your
photos to his Facebook Account:
Photo doggies for Anthony
SAR Dog News, January 2015
`
WANTED
Page 4
use. NSDA also has a cache of pictures with
releases that can be used.
By Sue Wolff
Looking for something to do in the New Year?
Made a resolution to do more for others?
Why not volunteer to help NSDA?
The Alliance has several openings where
volunteers can aid the organization. One of
them is Newsletter Editor, a job I have been
doing almost from its inception and one
which can be a lot of fun.
Finding subject matter for each issue is easy.
Subscribe to canine oriented magazines such
as K-9 Cop and AKC Family
Dog. Checking and
subscribing to certain
websites such as
Pedigree.com and AKC.org
also provides subjects of
interest.
There are some
technicalities with using
information from these
sites. If the article is to be used exactly as
written, then copyright restrictions apply and
permission for use needs to be obtained from
the originating publication. What I have
preferred to do was paraphrase the
information (just like we used to do on term
papers) and give credit to the publication in
the source line at the end of the article.
If being a detective isn’t enough fun for you,
perhaps searching for appropriate pictures
and/or clipart to go with the article will be
more enjoyable.
Most of the clipart online (and on CDs) is in
the public domain but photographs may not
be. Using pictures that you (or your team
members) have taken may be the easiest to
Other sources for articles are persons who
write columns i.e. Susan Bulanda with Kibbles
and Bits and handlers who submit articles on
their searches or on subjects that are
informative for K-9 handlers, i.e. drones.
Persons who submit items to the newsletter
must do so by the 8th of the month. That
gives the editor time to get items formatted
and fitted into the newsletter. It then goes to
the NSDA Board of Directors. Next it goes to
the NSDA webmaster with enough time for
him to get it on the website by the 15th of the
month. The last step is sending out an e-mail
through the NSDA website to all the
subscribers giving them the link to the
newsletter.
As you can see, the editor’s job can be
enjoyable and rewarding. So contact
President Norma Snelling at [email protected] if you think you can be of assistance
doing this for NSDA.
WINTER TO DO
Looking for something to do while snowed in
this winter? Why not read about SAR?
The NSDA Store/Depot has many good books
which offer selections for the beginning to
advanced SAR reader.
Based on a landmark study,
Lost Person Behavior is the
definitive guide to solving the
puzzle of where a lost person
might be found. It presents
new and updated subject
categories, behavioral
profiles, current statistics,
SAR Dog News, January 2015
suggested initial tasks, and specialized
investigative questions. Whether the subject
is underground, underwater, under collapsed
rubble, on land or has fallen from the sky,
this book delivers what search managers
need
Water Search provides the
reader with an intricate
overview of the training required
to prepare search and rescue
dogs to find the location of
drowned victims. Readers will be
amazed at how these highly
trained canines alert to their
handlers when they detect the scent of a
drowned victim. This book describes the
specialized world of SAR dogs, water training
and search techniques, and provides a
glimpse into the world of victim recovery
using dogs. A must read for all SAR dog
handlers planning to work in a water
environment. From the physical experience of
drowning, including information from victims
who experienced it and were resuscitated, to
using high tech sonar equipment to locate
drowned victims, the reader will experience
and learn how to work a search and rescue
dog in this genre. It includes training &
search techniques, equipment (boats, etc.),
safety precautions, search reports, and
industry protocols in working a water search.
Building a Basic
Foundation for Search
and Rescue Dog
Training is a basic
training book which
provides an overview of
the processes used to
train SAR dogs through
hundreds of tips for the
novice and experienced
dog handler. The instructional guide
Page 5
describes how to lay a solid foundation for
any type of SAR dog training. It takes
potential handlers through a Canine Handler
Test, explanations of the various SAR dog
disciplines, and how to prepare physically,
mentally and intellectually for SAR operations.
Buzzards and Butterflys is the text to learn
training and search strategies that work for
other HRD handlers. Included is information
on ground penetrating radar, behavior of
dogs, reading dog
behaviors, burial and
embalming customs, how
soil affects decomposition,
how to prepare training
samples in concrete, crime
preservation techniques,
evaluating dog teams,
industry standards for HRD
dogs, and many search
stories and tips from HRD handlers across the
U. S.
These books and many more SAR items can
be ordered at the NSDA Store on the website
at www.n-sda.org.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Terry Wise and Hunter, a Labradoodle, who passed
NSDA Trailing II in Pennsylvania with Susan Fleming,
Evaluator.
SAR Dog News, January 2015
Page 6
Watch out for those ticks
Bourbon virus is a newly discovered tickborne virus first isolated in a Bourbon
County, Kansas man who died after
contracting it. There is currently no
treatment or vaccine for it.
FULL HONORS FOR KYE,
KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY
Kye’s casket held an American flag and
was attended by two uniformed officers.
The 3 year old German Shepherd, a
Police Department K-9, received a full
eulogy and a 21-gun salute.
K-9
handlers from around Oklahoma plus
hundreds of others were in attendance
at the First Baptist Church.
Suspect Mark Salazar had stabbed the
dog multiple times when Officer Stark
allegedly shot the suspect. He died the
next day.
Officer Stark, a 13 year veteran of the
force was cleared for his use of deadly
force.
American Kennel Club
The Bourbon virus is a type of
thogotovirus. Although most closely
related to viral genomes that only are found
in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia, this is
the first time that a thogotovirus has been
identified in the Western Hemisphere.
None of the related viruses in those
regions, however, have been identified as a
cause of human disease.
The Bourbon virus has been identified and
confirmed only in a single individual in the
United States.[7] Currently, the prevalence
of the virus in tick populations and its
ability to affect human health is
unknown.[7]
Signs and symptoms
The patient suffered from high fever,
headache, muscle aches, and nausea before
eventually dying from multiple organ
failure.[7] The individual who contracted
the virus demonstrated laboratory
abnormalities similar to the tick-borne
illnesses from the heartland virus and
ehrlichiosis.[2][4] The abnormalities seen
were a decrease in his white and red cell
counts, an increase in liver enzyme levels,
and decreased appetite.
From Wikipedia
SAR Dog News, January 2015
MORE ON THE
MICHIGAN SEARCH
Editor’s note: Below is a response to the
article in the December issue of SAR Dog
News (Pg. 5)
Page 7
1
In the December editorial, the author
stated. “First and foremost: never, ever selfdeploy” and it appears that SAROM did not.
2
The December editorial also mentioned
“Bringing Team K-9s to do a demonstration
for local LE shifts is also a plus.”
ANOTHER K-9
SAVE
From: Dave Wright
Subject: Iosco Mich search
Date: December 21, 2014
11:36:52 AM PST
Norma
Please forward to Sue Wolf
Good follow up and appreciate this search,
perhaps became a "teaching moment".
Just to clarify, SAROM (Search and Rescue of
Michigan) was called by the county Sheriff
(who sits on our organizational board and is
one of our biggest supporters). We were
requested by LE. We do LE call out only.1
Sheriff and local police K-9 officer were on
site at the beginning and requested our
service however MSP (Michigan State Police)
was IC (Incident Commander) and declined
our services after we had arrived. The MSP
ultimately had NINE MSP K-9 teams on site
and the helo in the air.
Our board chairman and I met with the MSP
Lt and Inspector from the district office.
"Tense" meeting at first, ended more
positively. We offered, and MSP agreed, for
part of our team to do a demo. MSP said
they would contact us to arrange date and
time.2 I honestly doubt it will happen, given
our previous experience with MSP.
Will keep you posted.
CDW
boy.
A six year old boy was
flying a kite when he
tripped and fell into an
open manhole where he
was trapped for several
hours. A police dog
named Copper has been
credited with saving the
life of the missing Utah
After the child was reported missing, the 6year-old bloodhound tracked him to the
manhole. A police officer then descended
into the hole to lift the boy out. The child
suffered a broken arm and mild concussion.
The dog’s handler, West Valley City police
Sgt. Shane Matheson, said it only took
Copper about 20 minutes to lead him to the
manhole once they joined the search. They
began their search from where Kollin’s bicycle
was found.
“It was all in a day’s work for Copper, who
has tracked down 81 suspects and missing
people,” Matheson added.
“To him it is just a game of hide and seek,”
he said. “It’s kind of a nice change of pace
from finding bad guys to actually helping a
family out.”
Sources: Associated Press, Las Vegas Review-Journal
SAR Dog News, January 2015
Page 8
U.S. Avalanche Accidents Reports
On January 5, 2015, two American skiers on the
developmental level of the U.S. ski team were killed
in an avalanche in Austria.
The skiers, Ronnie Berlack, 20, of Franconia, N.H.,
and Bryce Astle, 19, of Sandy, Utah, were among six
athletes who were freeskiing at the Austrian resort of
Soelden. The other four were uninjured.
Berlack was a graduate of Burke Mountain Academy
in Vermont and had been named to the U.S. "D"
team this winter. He posted two top-20 results at the 2013 U.S. Alpine Championships and was a
forerunner at the men's World Cup races in Beaver Creek, Colorado, last month.
Astle had raced at Snowbird in Utah and had been invited to train with the development team this
season. He posted strong early results including two top-10 NorAm Cup finishes last month in
Canada.
Source: USA Today Sports, msn.com
2014-2015
TOTAL FATALITIES: 3
201412-31
Bakerville, Mt. Kelso,
Stevens Gulch
1
CO
CLIMB
1 climber caught,
buried and killed
201412-06
Delta Range, Isabel Pass,
Rainbow Ridge area, near
mp 197 Richardson
Highway
1
AK
SKI
2 backcountry skiers
caught, 1 partly
buried, 1 buried and
killed
201411-26
Cooke City, Henderson
Mountain, Daisy Pass
Trail Road
1
MT
SNOWMOBILE
1 snowmobiler caught,
partly buried and killed
Source: Avalanche.org
SAR Dog News, January 2015
DO ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN?
Or is it an urban myth?
Page 9
ABANDONED
Recently the world was all excited with the news
that the current Catholic Pope had said that dogs
can go to heaven. He was
quoted as saying, “Paradise
is open to all of God’s
creatures.”
As the story was circulated
around the globe, Pope
Francis was consoling a boy
on the death of his dog
when he uttered the words
quoted above. Dog owners
and animal lovers
everywhere rejoiced at the good news.
However various news sources have
contested the validity of this report. A
version of that quotation was uttered by a
pope but it was said decades ago by Pope
Paul VI. There is no concrete evidence that
Pope Francis said those words nor was there
a boy mourning his dog.
The New York Times issued a correction to its
story. Pope Francis actually said: "Holy
Scripture teaches us that the fulfillment of
this wonderful design also affects everything
around us." It was concluded that the writer
of the original article deduced those remarks
meant Francis believed animals have a place
in the afterlife.
The Italian version of the Huffington Post
picked it up next. A week later it was
translated into English and picked up by the
British news. Then The New York Times
story capped the validity of the quote.
Photo by Sky News
A dog found abandoned at a Scottish railway
station had a suitcase containing his
belongings. His luggage contained a pillow,
toy, food and a dog bowl.
The dog is a Shar-Pei crossbreed named Kai.
The microchip inside the canine not only
included his name but also that of an owner.
Unfortunately that person had sold the dog
via the internet and did not have any
information on the new owner.
Kai was sold on the Gumtree website in 2013,
but the SPCA has been unable to track down
the address of the person who bought him.
Inspector Stewart Taylor said: "This case
highlights the potential consequences of
selling an animal online as it often leads to
the impulse buying of pets that people know
very little about.
"Regardless of the fact Kai was left with his
belongings, this was still a cruel incident and
we are keen to identify the person
responsible."
SOURCES: NYDAILYNEWS.COM, USATODAY.COM
Kai is around two or three years old. He is
now being cared for at the charity's centre in
Glasgow.
SOURCES: SKYNEWS.COM, MSN.COM*
SAR Dog News, January 2015
Nine Science-Backed
Reasons to Own a Dog
Dogs are loyal, protective, and always happy
to see you. They have been a human
companion for more than 18,000 years,
making it one of the first domesticated
animals in history. Here are all the scientific
facts for why you should own a dog.
1. Dogs Make Us
Laugh
2. Dogs Are Loyal
Dogs evolved from
wolves which are
known for living in
packs and developing
strong bonds between
pack members. Dogs
see their human
owners as fellow
members of their pack
and, therefore, form the same close bond
with their owners as they would with their
canine siblings.
3. We're More Social With A
Dog
People with dogs are more
likely to encounter other
dogs and dog-owners
especially since dog-owners
are more likely to head out
of the house on walks, and
are more likely to run into
other dog-owners on their
own strolls.
Page 10
4. Dogs Keep Us Healthy
Dogs might even
protect us from poor
health. Children born
into households with a
dog have a lower risk
of developing asthma
and allergies. The
reason being dust.
A study published in the "Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences" last year
showed that, when exposed to dust from
households where dogs were permitted inside
and outside, mice developed an altered
community of microbes in their gut that
protect against allergens. They report that
these microbes could be what's protecting
young children from developing allergens in
households with dogs.
5. We're More Active With
Dogs
Researchers at
Michigan State
University
reported that
60% of dog
owners who
took their pet
for regular walks
met federal
criteria for
regular
moderate or
vigorous exercise.
Moreover, elderly who walk their dogs
actually have a more regular exercise routine
and are more physically fit than elderly who
walk with other people.
SAR Dog News, January 2015
6. Dogs Save Lives
SAR K-9s find endangered people so they can
be returned to safety. Dogs can also help
humans by
acting as an
early-warningsystem for
patients who
suffer from
seizures.
Trained dogs
can sense the
onset of a
seizure up to 15 minutes before it happens
and will bark which then warns the patient to
sit in order to prevent injury from falling
down.
7. Dogs Give Us a Sense of
Purpose
Dogs are great companions for any person
but especially for
the elderly. In a
study published
in the Journal of
Social
Psychology,
elderly who
owned a dog
reported experiencing more satisfaction with
their social, physical and emotional state than
those without a dog.
Page 11
9. Dogs Make Us Genuinely
Happy
Making eye
contact with
your dog can
release the feelgood chemical
called oxytocin
was the result
of one study.
Another study
found that dog
owners who
relied on their canines for social satisfaction
reported that "they were less depressed, less
lonely, had higher self-esteem, were happier,
and tended to experience less perceived
stress."
Responsibility
8. Dogs Give Us Confidence
Another study showed
that participants who
obtained a dog and were
assessed after 10 months
with their new canine
companion reported a
higher sense of selfesteem, improved
exercise habits, and less
fear of crime.
While owning a dog is a wonderful
experience, there is responsibility attached to
it, especially if it is a working dog. For some
who have never had a dog, before actually
purchasing it, consider fostering one for a few
weeks to get the feel for what kind of
schedule you'll have to keep
Source: msn.com
SAR Dog News, January 2015
Page 12
KIBBLES & BITS
by Susan Bulanda
A reader asked me to comment about using Schutzhund training for SAR
dogs. Again, this has the potential to be a hot topic. However, I will
comment based on my experiences. Interestingly, I was asked to do a
book review about using positive methods for Schutzhund training and I have included the book
review in this issue of Kibbles and Bits.
For those readers who are not familiar with Schutzhund, I will explain what it involves first.
According to the Guidelines for the International Utility Dog Trials of the Fédération Cynologique
Internationale (FCI), a dog can be trained and tested in the following: (IPO stands for
Internationale Pr fungs-Ordnung).
•
•
•
•
Preliminary Trial (IPO – VO)
International Utility Dog Trial 1 (IPO 1)
International Utility Dog Trial 2 (IPO 2)
International Utility Dog Trail 3 (IPO 3)
Each of the above levels includes three phases: tracking, obedience and
protection. Each level has an age limitation. Both the dog and handler
are judged at each level.
The rules for competition in Schutzhund are strict just as they are for
other dog sports such as obedience competition with the AKC, UKC or
other sport dog organizations.
In tracking, for example, the length, age, location, turns and contamination of the track is strictly
described. Where the dog can put his nose to follow the track is also part of the rules. How the
dog gives an indication and handles articles found along the track is
part of the requirements. A dog is allowed to pick up an article and
present it to the handler or they can indicate the article by sitting,
standing or lying next to it. However, it must be done the same way
for all articles.
In the obedience part of the sport, the dog is required to look at the
handler during certain parts of the exercise. Some of the obedience
exercises are as follows: Off leash heeling; Sit in Motion; Down with
Recall; Stand while Walking or Running; Retrieve on the Flat; Retrieve
over a Hurdle; Retrieve Over the Scaling Wall; Send out with Down; Down under Distraction.
SAR Dog News, January 2015
Page 13
The protection part of Schutzhund training involves finding a decoy
hiding in a blind (there are a number of blinds, not just one). When
the dog finds the decoy, he must hold the decoy and not let him
escape. If the decoy tries to escape, the dog must bite him until he
stops fighting the dog at which time the dog is supposed to stop biting
the decoy and again prevent the decoy from escaping. The dog learns
to defend against an attack as well. Defending against an attack
requires that the decoy attack the dog while the dog is guarding the
decoy. The dog is also taught how to transport a decoy two different
ways, a back and side transport.
According to the book, (reviewed in this issue) K9 Schutzhund Training, the dog who is to be
trained for Schutzhund should have the following characteristics: defensive drive, intelligence,
strength of character, a good temperament, composure, reliability, toughness, medium sharpness
and courage. The authors go on to explain each of these characteristics in the book. One of the
requirements is a dog who will not allow pain (when being attacked) to prevent him from obeying.
Keep in mind that this is a very brief overview of Schutzhund. It is a demanding sport with
specific requirements as to the performance of the dog, handler and decoy. Many people will start
their dog’s Schutzhund training while they are puppies and it can take a long time to earn the
highest degree of the sport.
Some people, some units (worldwide) and some trainers of SAR dogs feel that a SAR dog should
be trained in Schutzhund in order to be a good SAR dog. There are also some people who feel
that an AKC, UKC or other organization’s degree in competitive tracking qualifies a dog to be a
SAR dog.
I feel, and have witnessed, that no sport training prepares a dog for SAR work. I have seen it
have the opposite affect on a dog. In tracking situations, a dog must have the freedom to go
where the scent is, not where the rules and regulations say it should be. Competitive tracking
dictates where the dog should put his nose. For Schutzhund training, they like the nose to be
deep in the track. They also feel that the dog may not follow human scent but crushed vegetation
and disturbed soil. As I have written about scent in a past issue of this newsletter, I will not
repeat it here.
A sharp obedience performance is nice to watch and our SAR dogs
must be obedient and under control. But not to the level that
competitive obedience requires. The very nature of competitive
training teaches the dog not to think on his own! It also teaches the
dog not to act on his own. This is counterproductive to SAR dog work.
If you are walking away from the missing person, do you want your
dog to obediently follow you instead of giving you the signal or refusing to follow you? The dog
that is taught strict obedience may do that because it has been drummed into him to follow you
and not do what he wants or feels is necessary.
SAR Dog News, January 2015
Page 14
I once had a very intelligent Australian Shepherd with a UD (Utility Dog) degree and his handler
tried to teach the dog SAR work. Initially for the first few minutes of the runaway, the dog was
great. He could find the assistant and showed all of the enthusiasm that you want in a SAR dog.
But everyone who saw the dog work could see that as soon as the dog remembered, he would
shut down waiting for the owner to tell him what to do instead of letting himself do what his
instincts told him to do, just as he was taught for competitive work, wait for the command. This is
just one example.
Another example comes to mind. Many years ago a very well known SAR dog
person believed that all SAR dogs should first be Schutzhund dogs. When
anyone trained with that person, you were told that if the dog finds you, do not
move or the dog will bite you. When I was hiding for the dog, I could see the
hardness in the dog’s eyes instead of the “I love people” look that SAR dogs
must have.
The type of dog that succeeds in Schutzhund training is not the typical pet dog.
While there are a number of breeds that have the hardness or sharpness to do
Schutzhund work, there are more breeds that make excellent SAR dogs who would never qualify
for Schutzhund training. Most of the sporting breeds come to mind. Of course there are always
exceptions. For example I think the Karelian bear dog would make an excellent Schutzhund
candidate but I have never seen one trained for that sport.
You typically do not see Labradors, Goldens, Setters or Pointers trained for Schutzhund yet they
have the potential to be great SAR dogs. Border Collies are another example of an excellent SAR
dog breed that is not typically trained for Schutzhund.
What it comes down to is do you want to spend a year or more of your time training your dog to
compete in Schutzhund and then hope that the dog can transition from sport tracking to real
tracking or should you spend your time teaching the dog what your ultimate goal is, to find
missing and lost people?
Do you want to teach your dog to do bite work, however controlled, and
then hope that when a disillusioned missing person becomes aggressive
or hostile or moves in a threatening manner that your dog will
understand and not bite?
Additionally, the only part of Schutzhund training that relates to SAR is
the tracking and obedience phases. There is no part of Schutzhund
training that resembles airscent work, HRD, disaster, cadaver, or
avalanche work.
I will conclude with the following thoughts, first, there can be good SAR/Schutzhund dogs. Some
top quality units/trainers in Europe do Schutzhund training on all of their SAR dogs successfully.
Second, you should think about the dogs who wash out of Schutzhund training and what they will
be like. What if your dog washes out? Will they be suited for SAR work? And I have to say it
SAR Dog News, January 2015
Page 15
again; do you want to spend a year or more teaching your dog things that are based on
competition and not real work? Do you have the time, energy and money to do that?
A dog only knows what you show him. Can you show your dog the difference between
competitive work and SAR work where he has to make decisions on his own without your
direction, in situations that you could not possibly train for? When you have taught your dog to do
what he is told when he is told and not deviate from that, will he be able to exercise intelligent
disobedience which all SAR dogs must be able to do? Think about it.
TRIVIA
Dr. Pepper soft drink facts – Dr. Pepper was invented in 1885, one year before CocaCola and six years before Pepsi-Cola. The original formula did not contain caffeine or
cocaine because some researchers at the time felt that both were unhealthy. The
original advertising for Dr. Pepper called it Liquid Sunshine. Twenty-three fruit flavors
make up Dr. Pepper. The soft drink made its public debut in at the 1906 World’s Fair
along with the first time hot dogs and hamburgers were sold on a bun and the first
edible ice cream cone was introduced. More recently Dr. Pepper went from being the
most misunderstood soft drink in the 1960’s to the most original in the
1970’s.
Pell-mell – originally was “Pall-mall” an early 16th century British game. A round ball
was hit with a mallet through a high arch of iron. Whoever could do it with the
fewest hits won the game. It seems that the players would dash around and trip
each other resulting in a grand melee. The term came to mean “headlong in reckless
confusion.”
Perk is a short version of “perquisite” which is a benefit for employees.
Creosote – The word was coined in the early 19th century from the
Greek words that the person who coined the word thought meant
“flesh saving.” Though the person was wrong, the word has
endured. Creosote is produced from distilling wood tar and it was
originally used to preserve meat and fish. The evergreen Creosote
bush is the world’s oldest known living plant. A specimen was
found in 1985 in the Mojave Desert that is believed to be 11,700
years old.
SAR Dog News, January 2015
BOOK REVIEW
By Susan Bulanda
K9 Schutzhund
Training: A Manual for
IPO Training through
Positive
Reinforcement,
Second Edition by
Resi Gerritsen & Ruud
Haak, Brush
Education Inc., 242
pgs., ISBN:978-155059-556-7, $44.95
print; $34.99 ebook
It is not common in a
book review to
mention this but I am impressed enough to
say the following: Brush Education Inc. has
produced another excellent book. As with
their other books that I have reviewed, the
quality of the cover and pages is excellent.
The quality of the printing is also excellent
and the photos are clear. They have top
notch editors because, to date, I have never
found a typo or grammatical error in the
books that I have reviewed by Brush Ed. Inc.
Having edited a few books myself and as an
author, I appreciate the quality of their
books.
Having reviewed other books by the authors,
I was not disappointed in their technique for
teaching the sport of Schutzhund. The book
covers every level for IPO testing, (Level I, II,
III) with the details that the reader needs to
be successful.
The authors do stress that you cannot train a
dog with a book alone, which is true;
however, this book is a wonderful training
aide for people who are working with a
Page 16
Schutzhund trainer. The only problem that I
see is finding a trainer who will use the
positive training methods outlined in this book
rather than the harsher methods that have
been popular for many years.
One of the real values of this book is that,
after reading it, the reader will know the
difference between training methods and
should be able to identify a positive
Schutzhund trainer.
K9 Schutzhund Training covers all three
phases of Schutzhund training: tracking,
obedience and protection. I like the
explanations and examples that the authors
give for puppy training as well as solving
training issues. They detail the type of dogs
that do well with the sport of Schutzhund and
the characteristics that a dog needs to
succeed. Equal emphasis is put on the role of
the handler and, for protection work, the
decoy.
The authors cover the details needed to pass
an IPO test, including how many steps a
person can take in various exercises, the
handler’s body position in relation to the dog
and many other details that would otherwise
be difficult to find out.
This is an excellent book for anyone
interested in Schutzhund training or is curious
about the sport.
http://www.brusheducation.ca/catalog/k9training
Summing up at the end of the
year is a good thing. We do it
for taxes. Why not for
ourselves?
SAR Dog News, January 2015
Page 17
OPEN POSITIONS IN
NSDA
Please note that NSDA exists only because of
the volunteers who work within it. We have
no paid personnel. Without you, we are
gone. How many hours can you spare to
help us keep growing in order to help you?
Survey: 11 Noisiest Dog
Breeds
Which dogs are considered the noisiest by
veterinary professionals? Two hundred sixtynine (269) vets, vet techs and their office
managers were asked this question. Those
listed in order below received the most votes.
Many of these positions require multiple
people!
Newsletter Editor (see page 3 for more
in depth info)
a. Recruit contributors of articles and
stories pertinent to canine SAR
b. Compile material in an organized
and interesting manner
c. Be able to meet deadlines and
require deadlines from contributors
d. Have a good level of sensitivity to all
readers
NSDA Conference Coordinator
a. Seek out teams in all regions of the
country willing to sponsor a seminar
b. Review the disciplines best suited
for the local needs, the terrain
available and realistic number of
participants.
c. Provide teams with our procedures
and step by step methods of
preparation.
d. Assist in locating instructors.
Increase our existing list.
e. Advertise and promote the seminar
10.
Dachshund
9.
German shepherd dog
8.
Terrier (the entire group
was selected)
7.
Basset hound
6.
Jack Russell terrier
5.
Yorkshire terrier
4.
3.
Chihuahua
Standard schnauzer
2.
Siberian Husky
Requires initiative, cooperative efforts dealing
with people, systematic implementation
Assistance can be found for any subsections
of this position
1.
Beagle
Source: vetstreet.com
SAR Dog News, January 2015
Page 18
and what better time to do that than the
beginning of a new year.
THE LAST HOWL
By Sue Wolff
Everyone makes New Year’s Resolutions
but only about 20% keep them. Maybe
that’s because they aren’t realistic and
keep us within the confines of our
comfortable rut.
Opinions expressed in this column are
those of the author and not necessarily
those of the National Search Dog
Alliance.
Ac c ura t e
inf o rma t io n
is
imp o rt a nt
in
t h is
w o rld .
Ac c ura t e
inf o rma t io n
f ro m
v a rie t y
of
p e rc e p t io ns
e s s e nt ia l.
a
is
When we’re on a search, how much
attention do we pay to the information that
comes to us in the briefing and/or over the
radio? If we’re the IC, do we listen to our
Planning Section Chief or our Operations
Chief? If you don’t absorb this information,
how can you expect to run an efficient
search and locate the victim?
How about training? Are we open to other
views besides our own? Do we go to
seminars taught by persons whose work
we’re familiar with or do we branch out to
absorb other views? Do we automatically
reject a training method because it differs
from what we’ve been taught?
These are a lot of questions to ask yourself
but don’t we need to be open to a variety
of perceptions in order to keep from being
narrow minded? Just because it’s always
been done “this way” doesn’t necessarily
mean that it can’t be improved.
Ruts are nice. They are lined with velvet
and make us feel safe. After all, we’re
familiar with every nook and cranny and
know it all.
Every once in a while we have to shake
ourselves loose from the velvet lined rut
Maybe it’s time to break out and seek
something new. Perhaps it’s time to seek
new information from accurate sources so
we can take a new road and develop a
variety of perceptions.
Board of Directors—
Norma Snelling, President, Washington nsnelling@n-­‐sda.org 360-­‐808-­‐0894 Terry Crooks, Vice-­‐President, Montana tcrooks@n-­‐sda.org Julie Gibson, Secretary, Idaho jgibson@n-­‐sda.org Sherry Scruggs, Treasurer, Georgia scruggs@n-­‐sda.org Suzanne Elshult, Washington selshult@n-­‐sda.org Susan Fleming, Pennsylvania sfleming@n-­‐sda.org Gloria Howard, Florida ghoward@n-­‐sda.org Jan Meyer, Missouri jmeyer@n-­‐sda.org Robert Noziska, New Mexico rnoziska@n-­‐sda.org Advocacy Council
• Susan Bulanda
• Frank Hancock
• Lisa Higgins
• Marcia Koenig
• Carol Ann Namur
• Larry Welker
• Dee Wild
• Arthur E. Wolff
• Sue Wolff
TRAINING, SEMINARS & CONFERENCES
REACH OVER 1,300 SAR K-9 HANDLERS. LIST YOUR
TRAININGS, SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES IN THE
SAR DOG NEWS
Contact Temporary Editor Norma Snelling at [email protected]
January 24, K-9 First Aid, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more information call Lillian Hardy at
812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
January 26-29, CNCA Training Institute, Burbank, California. For more information, see www.cna.com
February 7, Surface Ice Rescue Awareness, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more information call
Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
February 21-22, Building Search Techniques for K-9s, Muscatatuck. For more information call Lillian Hardy
at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
February 28- MAR 1, Intermediate Tracking/Trailing Techniques for K-9s, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh,
Indiana. For more information call Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
March 7, Crime Scene Operations – Blood Borne Pathogens, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For
more information call Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
March 7-8, Intermediate Cadaver Search Techniques for K-9s, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For
more information call Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
March 14-15, Intermediate Disaster Techniques for K-9s, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more
information call Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
March 21-22, Ground Search awareness, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more information call
Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
March 28-29, Advanced Land Cadaver Techniques for K-9s, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For
more information call Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
April 11, Basic Tracking/Trailing Techniques for K-9s, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more
information call Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
April 12, K-9 Pretest, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more information call Lillian Hardy at 812-5260013 or e-mail [email protected]
April 25, Basic Land Cadaver Techniques for K-9s, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more
information call Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
Training, Seminars & Conferences Continued
April 26, Basic Air Scenting Techniques for K-9s, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more
information call Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
April 18-19, Ground Search Awareness, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more information call
Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
May 2-3, Ground Search Operations, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more information call Lillian
Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
May 2-3, Intermediate Tracking/Trailing Techniques for K-9s, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For
more information call Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
May 11-15, Washington State Search and Rescue Conference Pre-Conference K9 Workshops, Water
Searching for Experienced HRD K9 Handlers, Human Remains Detection Workshop, K-9 First Responder
workshop for Local Response. Contact: Marcia Koenig at [email protected] 253-630-0444 or
Heather Cutting [email protected] 206-550-7971
May 13-14, Advanced Tracking/Trailing Search Techniques for K-9s, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana.
For more information call Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
May 13–15, Trailing and HRD Seminar, Training and certification tracks. Brown County, Indiana.
For more information contact [email protected] or see www.nsk9ta.com
May 16-17, K-9 Credentialing Test, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more information call Lillian
Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
June 4 – 7, 2015 NSDA Summer Seminar, Camp Reed, Spokane, Washington
June 12-13, Scenarios Workshop, Cody, Wyoming. For further information, go to Northwest K9 Search and
Recovery (NWK9SAR.com) and click on training.
June 12-14, SAR Conference, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more information call Lillian Hardy at
812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
June 26 and 27, Scenarios Workshop, Driggs, Idaho. For further information, go to Northwest K9 Search
and Recovery (NWK9SAR.com) and click on training.
June 27-28, Ground Search Technician, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more information call
Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
July 3-4 Annual Water HRD Training Cody, Wyoming
Contact K.T. Irwin at [email protected] or go to NWK9SAR.com
June 27-28, Advanced Disaster Techniques for K-9s, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more
information call Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
July 3-4, Water HRD Workshop, Cody, Wyoming. For further information, go to Northwest K9 Search and
Recovery (NWK9SAR.com) and click on training.
July 11-12, Water Cadaver Search Techniques for K-9s, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more
information call Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
Training, Seminars & Conferences Continued
July 25-26, Intermediate Air Scenting Techniques for K-9s, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more
information call Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
August 1, Crime Scene Operations – Blood Borne Pathogens, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For
more information call Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
August 2, K-9 Pretest, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more information call Lillian Hardy at 812526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
August 29-30, Advanced Land Cadaver Techniques for K-9s, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For
more information call Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
September 19-20, K-9 Credentialing Test, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more information call
Lillian Hardy at 812-526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]
October 10, Skills Day, Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana. For more information call Lillian Hardy at 812526-0013 or e-mail [email protected]