Sonoma County Search and Rescue

Search and Rescue Team in Sonoma County :: A banner of many activities performed by our volunteers.

Welcome to the Sonoma County Search & Rescue Team's Web Site!


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	Common Radio Codes Radio Frequencies Ready Pack SAR 24 Hour Pack Working with Dogs OES Searcher / Terrain Typing

Check out our training program by visiting our educational section below.

Clue Awareness
Map & Compass
Land Navigation
POD Exercises
Man Tracking
Interviewing &
Investigations
Helicopter Safety
GPS Training
Ropes and Knots
Low Angle Rescue
Specialty Resources
Table Top Search
Mock Search


	Shopping SAR Apparel Relevant Readings Hypothermia Fatigue Study

Understanding and Working with Canine Teams

Or "What To Do With Those Dogs!"

Specific Goals for Specific Dogs

You should think of the dog and handler as a team each with a specific job. The handler’s job is to get the dog in the right place using a strategy which covers the area in question (assigned search area or PLS and track) which ultimately leads the dog and handler to the subject. The dog's job is to use its sense of smell to detect and locate a specific thing and alert handler to the presence of that thing.

CONTENTS

DOG TYPES

AREA SEARCH

The area dog’s job is to find a person and then report back to the handler with a trained alert*, then lead the handler back to subject. Different methods of alerting:

* pull on a bringsel, bark, jump, come and sit, or whatever unique behavior the handler can read

The Area Dogs Strategy

TRAILING

The dog’s job is to follow a subject’s scent trail from the PLS (place last seen) to subject.

The Trailing Dogs Strategy

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