K-9's can be trained for many types of search and rescue disciplines. A discipline is a way of searching that the dog will naturally do, that we encourage and strengthen with training. Some units only train a K-9 for one discipline, however in our area of the country it is helpful to have K-9's that are cross-trained for multiple disciplines.

SAR dogs are trained to focus on one scent - human - and search for it alone to the exclusion of all others.  Scent travels on air currents outward in the shape of a cone, like the smoke bomb we used for these photos. The dogs use the currents to pick up the scent and follow it as it gets stronger. Scent can be "airborne" or "ground borne". Weather and terrain conditions can affect how scent moves as well as its viability, however these K-9's are trained to locate and follow the scent, working from faint to strong.

Send mail to owner@centrallakessar.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 09/02/10