WATER RESCUE SERVICE
Published in Vienna in 1994
These rules have been adopted by the international organization IRO (International Recsue Dog Organization). The IRO unites national organizations and clubs whose members are amateur dog breeders who volunteer to train their dogs for various types of rescue services. Dogs that have undergone special training work as guides for the blind, together with mountain rescue teams they come to the aid of travelers buried in avalanches, and search for people buried under the rubble - victims of earthquakes, fires and other disasters.
IRO also unites clubs that train water rescue dogs. If dogs are used for other rescue services different breeds and outbred, then practically one breed is used for water rescue - Newfoundland. This is not only a tribute to a centuries-old tradition, but also the result of worldwide recognition of the unique working qualities of four-legged swimmers.
Water rescue training includes four levels of difficulty. Training begins at the bottom level and ends with passing tests.
Water rescue dog tests (RH-W) can be passed sequentially, according to the course of each subsequent stage, but not earlier than 26 days after the next test, provided the dog reaches the required age.
Age of dogs required to pass the RH-W test
1st stage (A) -- 15 months
2nd stage (B) -- 24 months
3rd stage (C) -- 36 months
Stage 4 (D) -- 37 months
During the test, the trainer can perform with several dogs in succession. A dog can only be controlled by one trainer. The trainer gives short commands to the dog (commands can be given in any language). It is allowed to pronounce the dog's name along with the command.
Bitches in heat are allowed to take the test, but must be isolated from other dogs and are tested last.
Dogs that fail the test are allowed to retake the test after a minimum of six days.
Sick dogs and suspected carriers of infection are removed from testing.
Before the start of the tests and during them, the judge observes the behavior of each dog. He must record any shortcomings he notices in his grade book.
Deviations from normal behavior are considered:
insufficient resistance of the dog to external influences;
inability to cope with challenging testing conditions such as long periods of work, multiple dogs working together, extreme heat or cold, loud noise, etc.;
weakness nervous system and the associated aggressiveness, malice and associated cowardice and the like.
Each trainer must have a test book with him, which he hands over to the judge before the start of the test. The instructor writes it down in a book and the judge signs the test results. Test results are expressed in grades and points received for each exercise. In the final calculation of individual scores to determine the score for each individual exercise, fractional numbers are rounded up.
Number of points required for award
ratings, and their percentage expression
RH-W Stages A, B, C, D
Scores: Number of points 300 100%
excellent 300--286 more than 95%
very good 285-270 95-90%
good 269-240 89-80%
satisfactory 239--210 79--70%
not enough 209--110 69--36%
unsatisfactory 109--0 35--0%
The test is considered passed if the dog scores at least 70% of the possible points in each individual exercise.
The test results are entered into an evaluation sheet, which is filled out in four copies. The original is given to the trainer along with the record book.
Copies are sent to:
referent of the national rescue dog training organization;
to a national organization;
trial judge.
Tests may be administered by licensed judges. One judge has the right to judge no more than 30 dogs per day. The judge cannot evaluate the performance of his dog. Overhead costs for judging are determined by the national organization. The judge's decision is final.
The safety of people and dogs must be guaranteed during testing.
Testing dogs for water rescue service.
Stages A, B, C, D(RH-W)
Obedience
The highest score is 50 points.
Moving nearby on a leash 5 points.
Free following next to the trainer
with turns and passage through a group of moving
people, consisting of at least four people 10 points.
The command “Sit!” 5 points.
The command “Lie down!” with a call to the trainer 5 points.
Command "Stop!" with a call to the trainer 5 points.
Importation on land 5 points.
Team "Forward!" 5 points.
Exercising on the command “Lie down!”
(checked individually or in a group) 10 points.
Requirements for performing techniques
At the discretion of the judge, obedience trials may be conducted individually or in a group of a maximum of three dogs. The dog must obey commands quickly and willingly.
To points 1 and 2
Moving side by side on a leash and freely following the trainer is carried out with turns to the right, left, in a circle, as well as changing the pace of movement (slow, normal walking and running). At the direction of the judge, the trainer and his dog walk through the group of people, making at least one stop. People in a group move in different directions. While leading the dog on a leash, the trainer unfastens the leash during the last stop and continues moving. The trainer can call the dog and give commands only at the start and at the moment of changing the pace of movement. During movement, the dog's shoulder is constantly located at the trainer's left knee. For running ahead, lagging behind, deviations of the dog to the sides, as well as uncertain execution of turns by the trainer, points are deducted. Only a dog that is indifferent to distracting external stimuli can receive the highest rating. Aggressive and cowardly dogs are excluded from testing.
To point 3
The trainer leaves the starting point with the dog walking next to him without a leash at his left leg. After walking 10 steps, he gives a command, according to which the dog must quickly sit down, while the trainer follows forward, without turning around or slowing down the pace of movement. After walking 30 steps, the trainer stops and turns to face the dog. At the judge’s signal, the trainer approaches the dog and takes the starting position.
To point 4
The trainer leaves the starting point, the dog moves without a leash at his left leg. After 10 steps, at the command of the trainer, the dog must quickly lie down, while the trainer follows forward, without turning around or slowing down the pace of movement. After walking 30 steps in the same direction, the trainer stops and turns to face the dog. At the judge's signal, the trainer calls the dog to him. The dog must approach willingly and quickly and sit in front of the handler. Then, on command, the dog takes the starting position.
To point 5
The trainer leaves the starting point, the dog moves without a leash at his left leg. After 10 steps, at the command of the trainer, the dog must quickly stop and remain standing in place, and the trainer follows forward, without turning around or slowing down the pace of movement. After walking another 30 steps, the trainer stops and turns to face the dog. If the dog tries to leave the place, points are deducted. At the judge's signal, the trainer calls the dog to him. The dog must approach willingly and quickly and sit in front of the handler. Then, on command, the dog takes the starting position.
To point 6
Importing an object. A dog sitting without a leash next to the trainer must, at the trainer’s command, quickly run up to an object thrown by him at approximately a distance of 10 m, take the object and quickly bring it to the trainer. The dog must come close to the trainer, sit in front of him, hold the object in his teeth for several seconds and, on command, give it to the trainer. Then, on command, the dog takes a place next to the trainer. During the entire time the dog brings and serves the object, the trainer does not leave the starting position.
To point 7
At the judge’s signal, the trainer with the dog following next to him without a leash walks several steps in a certain direction. With a directing hand gesture, the trainer sends the dog forward, while he himself remains standing.
The dog must quickly cover approximately 40 steps in the indicated direction, after which, at the command of the trainer, it immediately lies down. At the direction of the judge, the trainer calls the dog to him, stands to the right of it and the dog, on command, takes the starting position.
To point 8
Before the next dog goes to the start, the trainer puts his dog down with a command, without leaving any object near it. Remaining in the dog's field of vision, the trainer moves away from it about 40 steps, turns to face the dog and remains standing motionless. The dog must lie quietly, without any influence from the trainer, all the time while the other dog is performing exercises 1-7. When testing endurance in a group, distracting influences are applied to the dog. During the 2nd exercise, the trainer joins a group of moving people, after which he independently returns to old place. At the judge’s signal, the trainer approaches the dog, stands to its right, and the dog, on command, takes its starting position. After this, the trainer takes her on a leash.
Stage A(RH-WA)
Stage A consists of the following exercises:
2. Importation from the water
3. Obedience 50 points
General rules
Test rules
Required participants:
judge, shore instructor, motorboat driver.
Required equipment:
1 motor boat, 1 buoy, 2 retrieval items (pieces of floating boat rope with a diameter of 5 cm and a length of 30 cm).
Swimming 200 m
The trainer and the dog get into the boat, which sets off and stops 200 m from the shore. Having given the command, the trainer orders the dog to jump into the water. It is allowed to provide assistance to the dog. The boat is heading towards the shore. The dog should calmly swim to the shore. The trainer can encourage the dog with commands and gestures. The dog should not show signs of fear or fatigue. This exercise evaluates her swimming ability.
Fetching from the water
1. The retrieval object is thrown from the shore. The trainer throws a floating object from the shore into the water at a distance of at least 15 m. After making sure that the object lies calmly on the surface of the water, the trainer sends the dog after it. The dog must swim to the object, take it and deliver it to the trainer along the shortest route. A dog can release an object from its teeth only at the command of the trainer.
2. The retrieving object is thrown from the boat, the dog starts from the shore. The trainer with the dog is in the starting position on the shore. The retrieval object is thrown in a direction parallel to the shore from a boat that is approximately 25 m from the shore. After making sure that the object lies quietly on the surface of the water, the trainer sends a dog after it. The dog must swim to the object, pick it up and deliver it to the trainer along the shortest route. A dog can release an object from its teeth only at the command of the trainer. Two attempts are allowed.
After pronouncing the command, it is allowed to make a gesture that attracts the dog’s attention.
Obedience (see above) - 50 points.
Stage B (RH-W B)
Stage B consists of the following exercises:
1. Swimming distance 100 points
2. Working in water
(The minimum acceptable score is 75 points.
If you try again, 10% will be deducted.) 150 points
3.Obedience 50 points
Maximum score 300 points
General rules
When taking tests, safety rules must be observed.
During all exercises, two motor boats must be in the water. All people sitting on boats must wear life jackets or wetsuits.
Dogs must have special equipment for working in water: a harness with a handle firmly attached to the back, with which you can easily lift the dog out of the water.
Tests can be carried out in bodies of water with calm water. In the event of unfavorable weather conditions or strong roughness on the water, the judge has the right to postpone the test if it is impossible to carry it out normally.
Test rules
Required participants:
judge, shore instructor, assistant (drowning person), motor boat driver.
Required equipment: 1 motor boat, 2 buoys, 1 board (surfing).
Swimming 400 m
The trainer and the dog get into the boat, which sets off and stops 200 m from the shore at the first buoy. Having given the command, the trainer orders the dog to jump into the water. The boat follows. The dog must swim after the boat. At the second buoy (300 m) the boat turns and goes back to the shore. The dog, following the boat, must also return to shore.
This exercise evaluates jumping into the water and swimming behind the boat.
Working in water
1. Towing a surfboard with a person lying down. The trainer with the dog takes the starting position on the shore. In the water, 30 m from the shore, there is a surfboard on which the assistant lies. At the trainer's command, the dog swims to the board. A man lying on a surfboard gives the dog the end of a rope, she takes it in her teeth and tows the surfboard and an assistant to the shore. On the shore, the dog releases the rope only at the command of the trainer. Two attempts are allowed.
The trainer can accompany the command with a gesture.
2. Rescue of a drowning man, the dog starts from the shore.
The trainer with the dog takes the starting position on the shore. The assistant sets sail in the boat. Approximately 30 m from the shore, the assistant falls into the water, and the boat follows further. The assistant pretends to be a drowning man, waves his arms, but does not have the right to call the dog to him. At the command of the trainer, the dog swims as quickly as possible to the drowning person. As soon as the drowning man has the opportunity to grab the dog's fur, the dog turns and tows him to the shore. The dog itself should not actively grab the drowning person with its teeth. Two attempts are allowed.
The trainer can accompany the command with a gesture. The exercise is considered completed after the trainer reports to the judge and the latter is awarded a mark.
Obedience (see above) - 50 points.
Stage C (RH-W C)
Stage C consists of the following exercises:
Work in water 250 points
For exercises 1 and 4 minimum
60 points are awarded
For exercises 2 and 3 minimum
65 points are awarded
Obedience 50 points
Maximum score 300 points
General rules
When taking tests, safety rules must be observed.
During all exercises, two motor boats must be in the water. All people sitting on boats must wear life jackets or wetsuits.
Dogs must have special equipment for working in water: a harness with a handle firmly attached to the back, with which you can easily lift the dog out of the water.
Tests can be carried out in bodies of calm water. In the event of unfavorable weather conditions or strong rough water, the judge has the right to postpone the test if it is impossible to carry it out normally.
Test rules
Required participants:
judge, shore instructor, 2 assistants (drowning people), motor boat driver.
Required equipment:
1 motor boat, 1 lifebuoy, 1 retrieval item (a piece of floating boat rope with a diameter of 5 cm and a length of 30 cm).
Working in water
1. Towing an unconscious person; the dog starts from the boat.
The trainer and the dog, together with an assistant, get into the boat, which then moves away from the shore about 50m. The helper falls into the water, and the boat goes on for another 20 m. At the command of the trainer, the dog jumps into the water and swims to the helper, who, at the moment of her approach, lies motionless on the water. The dog grabs the helper's wrist with his teeth and tows him to the boat. The man and then the dog are lifted aboard. Two attempts are allowed.
The trainer can accompany the command with a gesture.
2. Towing two people; the dog starts from the shore.
The trainer and the dog stand in the starting position on the shore. Two assistants in a boat sail 50 m from the shore. One assistant, while moving, falls out of the boat, which continues to move parallel to the shore for another 20 m. The second assistant, a lifeguard, jumps into the water while the boat continues to move along the shore. The rescuer swims up to the drowning man and calls the dog to him. At the command of the trainer, the dog swims towards people in the water. The rescuer, who supports the drowning person with one hand, grabs the dog's fur with his free hand, after which the dog tows both of them to the shore. The dog should not grab swimmers' hands with its teeth. Two attempts are allowed.
The trainer can accompany the command with a gesture.
3. Towing the boat to the shore.
The trainer and the dog, accompanied by four other people, get into the boat, which departs approximately 50 meters from the shore, after which the engine turns off. At the trainer's command, the dog jumps into the water. The trainer puts a rope in the dog's teeth, and it tows the boat to the shore. Two attempts are allowed.
The trainer can accompany the command with a gesture.
4. Importation from the shore lifebuoy.
The boat moves away from the shore about 40 m. The assistant falls from the boat into the water, the boat continues to move on. The assistant pretends to be a drowning man, waves his arms, but does not have the right to call the dog to him. The trainer with the dog is on the shore in the starting position. On command, the dog takes the rope to which the lifebuoy is tied in its teeth and swims to the drowning person. The drowning man grabs the circle, and the dog tows him back to the shore. Two attempts are allowed.
The trainer can accompany the command with a gesture.
The exercise is considered completed after the trainer reports to the judge and the latter is awarded a mark.
Obedience (see above) -- 50 points.
Stage D (RH-W D)
Level D consists of the following exercises:
Swimming distance 100 points
Importation 100 points
For exercises 1.1 and 1.2, or 1.3,
or 1.4 minimum 50 points awarded
Delivery 100 points
For exercises 2.1 and 2.2, or
2.3, or 2.4 minimum 50 points awarded
Maximum score 300 points
General rules
When taking tests, safety rules must be observed.
During all exercises, two motor boats must be in the water. All people sitting on boats must wear life jackets or wetsuits.
Dogs must have special equipment for working in water: a harness with a handle firmly attached to the back, with which you can easily lift the dog out of the water.
Tests can be carried out in bodies of calm water. In the event of unfavorable weather conditions or strong rough water, the judge has the right to postpone the test if it is impossible to carry it out normally.
Test rules
Required participants:
judge, shore instructor, 2 assistants, 2 motor boat drivers.
Required equipment:
1 motor boat, 1 lifebuoy, 1 retrieval item (a piece of floating boat rope with a diameter of 5 cm and a length of 30 cm).
From the number of exercises from 1.1 to 1.4 and from 2.1 to 2.4, each test participant is required to complete only four exercises by lot. The draw is carried out by the instructor before the start of each participant. Only one attempt is allowed for all exercises.
Distance swimming (endurance test)
At the discretion of the judge, this exercise can be performed simultaneously by several (maximum three) participants.
Trainers and dogs are taken in a boat to a distance of approximately 1000 m from the shore so that the dogs can then swim behind the boat for about 20 minutes. The boat stops, and at the command of the trainers, the dogs jump into the water. The boat turns towards the shore, leaving the dogs alone, but does not move further than 20m so that the dogs remain constantly under observation. Dogs should swim calmly and fearlessly to the shore. They can go with the flow and do not have to come ashore exactly at the starting point. The instructor monitors the return of the dogs, meets them on the shore and takes them to the starting point.
After the endurance test, the dog should be allowed to rest for at least an hour before proceeding with further work.
Importation
1. Rescue of a drowning person (start from a boat).
The trainer and the dog sit in one boat, the assistant, portraying a drowning man, in another. Both boats move away from the shore and stop at a distance of 40m from each other. The assistant falls into the water. At the command of the trainer, the dog jumps into the water and swims to the drowning man, takes him by the wrist with his teeth and delivers him to the boat in which the trainer is located. A drowning man and a dog are lifted aboard the boat.
The trainer can accompany the command with a gesture.
2. Rescue of two drowning people (start from the shore).
The trainer with the dog stands on the shore in the starting position. Two assistants are sailing in a boat. 30 meters from the shore, first one assistant falls into the water, then, after about 20 m, - second. At the trainer's command, the dog swims to the first drowning person. He grabs her fur with his hand. The dog then swims to the second drowning man, grabs his wrist with his teeth and tows both people to the shore.
The trainer can accompany the command with a gesture.
3. Towing a surfboard with a lying person (starting from the shore).
The trainer with the dog takes the starting position on the shore. In the water, 30 m from the shore, there is a surfboard on which the assistant lies. At the trainer's command, the dog swims to the board. A man lying on a surfboard gives the dog the end of a rope, she takes it in her teeth and tows the surfboard and an assistant to the shore.
The trainer can accompany the command with a gesture.
4. Towing a drifting boat (starting from the shore).
The boat is towed 30 m from the shore. There she is left adrift with a rope hanging from the side, while the second boat returns to shore. The trainer with the dog stands in the starting position on the shore. At the command of the trainer, the dog swims to the drifting boat, finds a hanging rope, takes it in its teeth and tows the boat to the shore.
The trainer can accompany the command with a gesture.
Delivery
1. Delivery of a lifebuoy (launch from a boat).
The trainer with the dog and one of the assistants get into the boat. After the boat moves 40 m from the shore, the assistant falls into the water. The boat floats along the shore another 20 m and stops. The trainer throws a lifebuoy in the middle between the boat and the drowning man, who waves his arms and calls for help, but does not call the dog to him. At the trainer's command, the dog jumps into the water and swims to the life buoy. She grabs the rope of the lifebuoy with her teeth and delivers it to the drowning man. The drowning man holds on to the circle, the dog tows him to the boat. A drowning man is lifted aboard. The boat returns back to the shore. The dog swims to the shore after the boat.
The trainer can accompany the command with a gesture.
3. Delivery of a small inflatable boat to a drowning person. Forty meters from the shore, the assistant falls into the water from a boat, which immediately moves away. The trainer with the dog stands in the starting position on the shore. The trainer puts a short rope in the dog's teeth, the other end attached to the bow of a small inflatable boat. The dog swims to the drowning man and delivers him a boat, into which he climbs. A dog tows a boat with a man sitting in it to the shore.
The trainer can accompany the command with a gesture.
4. Delivery of rope from one boat to another.
The trainer and the dog get into a boat containing a 30-meter rope. This rope should unwind easily. The boat moves away from the shore, accompanied by a second boat, then both of them stop at a distance of 20 m from each other. At the trainer's command, the dog jumps into the water. She is given the end of a rope, and with the rope in her teeth she swims to the second boat, where she gives the rope to the driver. The dog then returns back to the first boat and is lifted aboard. The boat heads towards the shore, with the second one in tow.
The trainer can accompany the command with a gesture.
The exercise is considered completed after the trainer reports to the judge and the latter is awarded a mark.
Everything you need to know
WOLMAR
Unfortunately, modern reality is such that the dynamics of growth of man-made disasters and the frequency of terrorist attacks are becoming alarming. In these conditions, the work of search and rescue services (SRS), created for the purpose of timely searching for victims and providing them with assistance, is extremely important. Along with people, specially trained and trained dogs serve as part of rescue teams.
In order to most vividly imagine what a search and rescue dog should be like, it is enough to recall the now textbook story of a shepherd dog named Ajax. In 1954, in the Dachstein mountains, an avalanche covered a group of schoolchildren led by a teacher. The dog worked for four days without rest, one after another, rescuing people from under the thickness of compacted snow. She dug and clawed, even frostbitten her paws, until she collapsed from exhaustion. When rescuers took Ajax to the base to bandage him, it was impossible to keep the dog in place - he was rushing to the search site. With frostbitten paws, the dog dug out another child in the snow.
Necessary qualities of dogs for search and rescue services
Performing such complex and exhausting work is only possible if the dog has excellent natural abilities, which are developed and improved by special professional training of dogs. To work in the PSS, a dog must have excellent hearing, keen sense of smell, endurance and remarkable strength.
It is advisable that it be no higher than 45-50 cm, which will make it easier to transport and move in hard-to-reach places. A dog for PSS must have a strong and balanced character, be well trained and trust people. Even strangers and animals should not cause her aggression. Lethargic or, conversely, overly excitable animals are unsuitable for rescue work.
Despite the fact that PSS is a rather complex job, it does not require the selection of dogs of special breeds with special pedigrees. Experience shows that huskies do a good job, german shepherds, collies, St. Bernards, as well as mixed breeds. As for age, not only a puppy is suitable for training, but also a well-developed dog up to two years of age.
Taking into account the specifics of the work, trainers use both more hardy and strong males and attentive and cautious females. Not age, breed and gender, but competent preparation animals and proper care they influence the final result.
Initial dog training
Preparing a dog includes proper rearing (growth, physical development) and consistent education (formation of behavior and nervous system). Both concepts are inextricably linked and are mandatory. One cannot expect a balanced psyche and a strong nervous system from a physically undeveloped dog.
That's why with early age, along with the unpretentiousness to food and vitamins for service dogs WOLMAR and the ability to work in difficult weather conditions, rescue dogs develop courage and interest in searching, perseverance in achieving goals. This is why it is important that training sessions on finding the source of an odor always end with finding it. Otherwise, interest in search work will be reduced or completely lost.Diseases and recommendations for the Rottweiler
However, this does not mean that you should make the animal’s task easier by making too simple digs. From the very first lessons, the dog should be focused on difficulties in work, which means that it is preferable if it finds a couple of difficult holes than many simple ones. If the animal does not cope with the task, the trainer can gradually narrow the search circle, helping his pet. If successful, the trainer encourages the dog more actively.
Dog training system
It is recommended to start every morning with a half-hour cross-country run to train endurance and strength. During daily walks, the dog is let off the leash, allowing him to sniff objects freely. It is also necessary to train her instincts by sending her for far-thrown retrieval items.
Once a week, the animal needs a long walk with increased physical activity: jumping, overcoming obstacles, swimming. To harden in winter, they practice spending the night in a snow hole.
In order to develop the ability to navigate the terrain, you should often change your walking route, take your dog on long hikes in areas with various types relief. Loads should be dosed and the animal hardened gradually, avoiding sudden hypothermia. You also need to be careful with the dog’s psyche, without overloading it.
If the task is successfully completed, the trainer should reward the animal with treats, expressions of joy and affection, creating motivation for correct behavior from puppyhood.Diseases and recommendations for beagles
Training methodology for search and rescue services
When teaching a dog to select an item by smell, you should ensure that it does not bring the found item to the trainer, but only gives a voice. This is extremely important in a real situation: when the dog finds the victim's belongings, it should not leave the area due to the threat of losing it.
Having barked about the find, the dog continues to sniff everything around, trying to find the person himself. You can achieve correct behavior in the following way: as soon as the dog finds the retrieving object, the trainer runs up to it, gives the command to sit and waves the found object in front of it, provoking barking.
To search for a victim, dogs develop the skill of zigzag examination of the area and finding two burrows with the scent of a helper. The conditioned stimulus in this case is the trainer’s command “Look!” and a characteristic hand gesture in the direction of the search. An auxiliary stimulus is the command “Forward!”.
Treats, affection and the trainer's expression of joy are unconditional stimuli for developing a skill. The shuttle method allows you to use the head wind to search for an object from different angles, making it easier to catch the smell. In addition to the shuttle search, such search methods as “fan” and “spiral” are used. As the dog masters one or another method, the training becomes more complicated, and the depth of burying a person and objects increases. The dog learns to find a stranger without first being familiar with his scent. In parallel with training search skills accustom to loud sounds, the smell of smoke and blood, transportation by various modes of transport.
Dog keeping
It is better to keep dogs in an open fenced enclosure with insulated booths. This way the animals will be hardened, they will retain their undercoat, which you cannot do without when working in the cold. It is more rational to keep not one, but 3-5 dogs in an enclosure. This method has the following advantages:
More space for every dog.
Animals don't get bored playing together.
Ease of care for trainers.
Conditions for physical development and hardening.
When keeping a house, the dog is given an unheated room or veranda, but without a draft. Burlap with a wooden shield underneath is suitable as bedding. If training in winter time will be quite frequent, dogs retain their undercoat even at home.Diseases and recommendations for the Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Equipment
Careful equipment is a necessary condition proper organization training sessions on the PSS course. For the coach, it consists of light, comfortable clothing and shoes made of waterproof material, over which is worn a red vest with the SPSS emblem. This form makes it possible to distinguish the trainer from other workers, and for the dog it is a conditioned stimulus in preparation for the search, activating the animal.
The dog's equipment consists of a standard harness with pockets with clasps, lined with red fabric. It serves as a belt for attaching a safety rope, allows you to see the dog against any background, and serves as a container for delivering notes and medications. In addition to the harness, the kit includes a long red leash. With this equipment, the dog can tow a skier or a loaded sled. Special shoe covers protect the dog's paws from cuts and wounds.
Dog certification
The training course for any PSS dog ends with a control session. This is a serious test for both the coach and his student. The commission assigns marks for the implementation of each technique. Dogs take this exam every year to obtain permission to participate in rescue work. Certification reveals the strengths and weaknesses of dogs and evaluates them search qualities, enriches the experience of trainers and their charges.
Earthquakes, avalanches, terrorist attacks and man-made disasters - all this, unfortunately, is part of our life. We are used to sympathizing with the troubles of people from afar, worrying about those who were buried under an avalanche or under the rubble of a collapsed building, only looking through the TV screen: after all, indeed, we cannot help these people. When everything is over, we can take part in collecting money for medicines, donate blood, send parcels with clothes and Money transfers. But this is necessary for those who have already been saved. And before that, it would seem beyond our power to do something for the people who were buried alive and are desperately waiting for help, even if the misfortune happened not far from us. But in reality, perhaps we and our dogs could help someone in trouble.
Content- First steps in PSS
Did you know that in most European countries, 90% of dog handlers who take part in rescue operations with their search dogs are volunteers, that is, people of various professions who prepare their dogs and then go to places where trouble has occurred, voluntarily and free of charge. Of course, to become a volunteer rescuer, desire alone is not enough. Training a search dog requires a lot of work and perseverance; in addition, a volunteer, before he is allowed to perform rescue work, must undergo a special certification and pass two exams: the dog - in conditions close to real - must show the required search skills, and the volunteer - his the rescuer's own knowledge. But, despite the difficulties, a huge number of people prepare their dogs for search service and join the ranks of volunteer rescuers.
There is an International Rescue Dog Organization (IRO), and different countries There are national associations of volunteer dog handlers. Now such an organization has been created in Russia, its name is "Russian Search and Rescue Society of Volunteer Dog Handlers ROSSPAS-KV."
The main goal of the dog handlers united in ROSSPAS-KV is to help people who find themselves in a disaster zone or disappeared in a deserted area. For this purpose, ROSSPAS-KV creates volunteer groups in which anyone can undergo search and rescue service (SRS) training with their own personal dog, and over time, be certified for admission to real search work. There are already several such groups working in Moscow now. Some groups were created just a few months ago, others have been working for quite some time. Some of the participants in such groups even became certified dog handlers - rescuers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Now the volunteer society ROSSPAS-KV is creating its own units (and, accordingly, groups) in the regions so that anyone who wants to help the rescuers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in their city or region can do so. Groups in the regions will operate independently, taking into account local specifics, but within the framework of the organization’s charter and volunteer code of honor.
PSS volunteer groups
Volunteering is hard work. You have to spend a lot of time training the dog and learning yourself. Training in a volunteer search and rescue group is quite different from any traditional training at a training site. It differs primarily in that there is no training area. Most of classes take place in places where people usually do not voluntarily go - construction sites, destroyed buildings, basements, forests and rough terrain. And, the main difference from training with a dog that is usual for many dog breeders is that here you need to help others a lot. Here you won't have to stand around and wait until it's your turn with your dog. Or rather, the dog will probably wait its turn, but you won’t. Training a search and rescue dog is impossible without the help of a large number of people, the so-called extras, who pretend to be victims during the training. Every dog handler has to be such an extra during a lesson more than once. First, you help others by pretending to be a victim, and when you come to work with the dog, extras will also be ready for you, cleverly hidden in bookmarks - these are the names of places that imitate natural rubble, wells, etc., in which victims may find themselves People. The correct arrangement of a bookmark is a whole science, and you will also have to learn it during your classes. In the bookmark, you not only need to accommodate an extra with all the amenities (and sometimes you have to stay in such bookmarks for a very long time), but also take into account all the scent outputs in order to correctly evaluate the dog’s work and avoid mistakes in training.
Different people come to the search service for completely different reasons: romance, the desire to keep the dog busy, communication, nature, entertainment, sports... But very few remain. Few people, coming to class for the first time, can confidently say that they will remain in this service for a long time. And this is not required, first you can just try your hand. Perhaps you will not be afraid of difficulties and the noble profession mastered by your dog and you is worth all the difficulties.
Dina Kuznetsova, instructor of the PSS group, says:
Previously, we accepted absolutely everyone into the group. Now, if a person expresses a desire to study in a group, I immediately tell him what our classes are “fraught with.” That you need to spend quite a lot of time, that you can’t skip training, that our place is dirty and uncomfortable, that the dog, especially at first, will have to endure all sorts of “jumps.” For example, in the first lessons, all dogs that are given a voice designation come up to the owner and bark endlessly. And this cannot be stopped! This will pass later, but first you will have to be patient. Also, the person must immediately be warned that even if he is not going to be a volunteer, the training process itself is such that he may have to forget about the dog as a real protector; the dog will most likely be friendly to strangers and will take food from the hands of others. And then... We have now introduced a trial period - 2 months, so that we can take a closer look at each other, find out whether a person will like the service, whether he will be hooked, and, of course, whether they will be suitable for volunteer work. search work dog and dog handler. And then probationary period a person either begins to purposefully work on himself in order to become a volunteer, or... a person simply likes to do service, or participate in competitions. How to deal with such people is up to each instructor to decide for himself. But all of us, ROSSPAS instructors, must not forget that our main goal is precisely the training of volunteers, that is, people who will be ready to help people in case of trouble.
First steps in PSS
So, you have decided to try your hand and come to train in the PSS group or, if there is no such group in your city, try to start training on your own with your friends. To begin with, it should be said that it is impossible to study alone. As mentioned above, you will need big number extras and assistants, so if there is no group in your city, and you want to study, try to create this group. Feel free to contact ROSSPAS-KV members and rescuers in your region. They will help you with all their might to learn, organize classes, the main thing is desire.
Choosing a place to study
Classes are held at abandoned construction sites, ruins of houses, catacombs, junkyards of old cars, railway cars, etc. - such places are necessary for learning to search in a man-made environment. And for searching in the natural environment - everything that the terrain in your region allows: forest, mountains. It is better to choose a forest with very rough terrain so that the dog cannot see a person from a distance.
Workplaces must be changed constantly. At the initial stage, it is best to train on construction sites (ruins), and change training locations every 3-4 sessions. In the future, places need to be changed even more often. The general rule is that the more experienced the dog, the more often it needs a change of environment. It will be possible to return to the place where you have already trained again after several changes of places. If you have several classes in a row in one place, you should remember that bookmarks (places where people are hidden) must be new at each lesson. There must be not only a change in construction sites, but also a change in different types of terrain. From time to time, you need to go out into the forest with beginning dogs, but be sure to organize hidden nests there.
Places for classes are also selected based on the level of difficulty. For example, for beginner dogs, you should not use basements (where it is dark), rooms with smells of burning, feces, mold, etc. It is best if it is a spacious, bright and well-ventilated building, or a clearing with building materials in the fresh air.
Building bookmarks
On initial stage during PSS classes, it is necessary to work only on “deaf” bookmarks, that is, those where the dog will not see the person and will not be able to get to him. This is very important, because if the dog is allowed to see a person at first, this can lead to the fact that it will search with its eyes rather than use its scent. And if the bookmarks allow one to get to the extras, then subsequently the dogs have problems in identifying completely deaf and inaccessible bookmarks. If there is no opportunity to work at a construction site, then you can organize “blind” bookmarks in the forest by digging holes and covering them with boards. The main rule is that the dog should not see a person lying openly.
It should be borne in mind that dogs very easily “disassemble” bookmarks, sneak through, squeeze through, and jump on. It is also a mistake to prepare a bookmark into which a dog can stick its head and see a person.
You should start with simple bookmarks. These are bookmarks that stand out visually, that is, they stand apart from others, so that the dog, having smelled the smell, can easily determine where it comes from. It is necessary to ensure that the dog has a free approach directly to the place where the smell comes from. The source of the smell and the source of the smell should be in the same place. This is how we teach dogs to identify the source of the smell in the immediate vicinity.
Also, the bookmarks should have good volumetric odor outlets either evenly upward and to the sides (all kinds of boxes) or in one direction (long pipes where a person sits on one side, bookmarks with a door or hole on one side).
Do not forget to determine the direction of the wind, as the smell can be blown to another exit or even blown to the side.
You can determine where the smell comes out and the draft (that is, in which direction - air comes out of the hole or into it) using a lighter or torch. We bring the lighter to the hole and see which way the flame leans. This is where the air is drawn. The torch gives us smoke. Having smoked it properly in the stash (you just need to do this in advance so as not to confuse the dogs with the smell of smoke), we look at where the smoke will come out. Thus, we determine possible odor outputs.
It is also worth remembering that dogs very quickly get used to one type of bookmarks, so they need to be varied - holes in the ground, boxes, piles of iron, slabs, in walls, raised above the ground, and so on.
Over time, the bookmarks can be made more complex by making point odor outlets, raised above the ground up to 2 meters, deep (the odor outlet is far from the source or weak). Please note that the support of an extra is required for quite a long time, that is, his communication with the dog from the bookmark, therefore, while complicating the bookmarks, it is worth making them in such a way that this possibility is preserved.
When preparing a bookmark, we must remember that dog handlers, as a rule, prefer to carry out the search process visually for them. You constantly have to fight this, using bookmarks that the human eye will not stop at, and the handler will not be able to give a tip to the dog.
You should not constantly use the same methods of restricting access to the stash (boards, doors, etc.) because dogs also get used to them and begin to detect them visually.
Maintain safety
The places where we practice PSS are rife with all sorts of dangers. These include holes in the floor where you can fall, sand pouring in, and falling bricks. Old, unsafe buildings are especially dangerous, where a wall, ceiling or floor can collapse at any moment. Therefore, when choosing a place for an activity, first of all you should think about safety, so as not to turn from rescuers into those being rescued. The holding area (where people and dogs wait their turn) should always be in a safe location. Bookmarks should be organized in places where there is no danger of collapse, movement of slabs, etc. You should also make sure that the design details of the bookmark do not fall on the head of the extra or the dog. Since dogs work without leashes, it is necessary to ensure that there are no unnoticeable holes in the floor and the like, especially at first, when the dogs do not know how to move correctly in such places.
The most common injury in training is paw cuts. You can use shoe covers, but those sold have a very slippery surface, which in itself can lead to injury, this must be taken into account. In addition, it is worth accustoming the dog to moving through the rubble, so in places where there is no scattered glass, it is better to let the dog without shoe covers. In emergency buildings, it is better to use helmets to protect your head from accidental falling bricks.
Never forget how many extras are hidden and in what places, as well as how long an extra remains in the stash. In winter, this time should not exceed 40 minutes, and preferably within 20 minutes. In summer, more is possible, but it depends on the bookmark. If it is a cold, wet basement, then you should not keep a person there for 2 hours. When burying in the snow, remember the location of the extra using landmarks. Of course, checkboxes and the like cannot be placed above a bookmark.
“Combat kit” for classes
For classes, first of all, you need warm, comfortable clothes, especially in winter. Even in summer, sitting in a bookmark can be quite cool, especially since you can’t move. Warm pants, jackets, comfortable warm and waterproof shoes, hats and mittens are a must in winter.
For classes you will need:
What other devices can you dream of? The dog handler's imagination is very developed. Moreover, there are always not enough “devices” for our business. These include: - spotlight for effective lighting of the area.
- Walkie-talkies are a very necessary thing, especially when practicing in the forest.
- A bunch of all kinds of clothes - warm fleece jackets, membrane shoes and outerwear...
- Snow protection “flashlights” - devices for protecting against snow getting into boots
- And so on and so forth...
How is the lesson going?
The structure of the lesson depends, first of all, on the experience of the dog handlers working with their dogs. If these are beginners, then it is possible to work only in turns, since at the beginning of training constant supervision of the trainer is required. Further, when the dog handler is already experienced and knows what he wants to work on in a given lesson, he can take extras himself and go to work.
In any case, there is always only one dog in one search area. The average duration of a group lesson is 3-4 hours. First, the bookmarks are built, then the dog handlers take turns working with their dogs. Then you can go to another place (to another set of bookmarks) and again work with all the dogs in turn. In this way, 2-3 launches are made per session, and the number of conditional victims at each launch varies. “Start” is work on one set of bookmarks, which is done without a rest break. Those. They send a dog to search, it finds 1 person, it is encouraged and immediately sent to search for another. Depending on the level of training, in one run the dog can find from one to 8-10 people. It is best to work with new dogs at the beginning of the lesson, before they become tired.
If the group is large, and some of the handlers have to wait a long time for their turn, you can use this time to introduce the dog to the territory (if space allows, so as not to disturb working dogs), so that an indicative reaction does not arise during the search (beginner dogs need this) , teaching the dog to move around the rubble, fearlessly overcome obstacles encountered along the way, and enter dark rooms - this is also part of the training.
For beginner dogs, the lesson should not last long, intensely, quickly, in one breath and very exciting, especially the lesson with puppies. The dog should not get tired under any circumstances, including while waiting for its turn. Experienced dogs already calmly endure the wait. The search itself should be in such a volume that the dog does not get enough of it and wants more.
It is worth taking into account that what more experienced dog, the more determined she is to do serious work. Try doing beginner exercises with such a dog and you will see that something that he did a few months ago, now he does completely differently, taking into account all the experience that he has gained over this time.
Primary training of dogs
Dog selection
The dog must first of all be healthy, or at least not have diseases that interfere with service. This is especially true for diseases of the musculoskeletal system, because The workload in our service is very high. A PSS dog must have a good psyche that is resistant to influences, expressed food and (or) play motivation, a good connection with the owner, and be active and mobile. No aggression! The dog should be calm towards strangers, and preferably willing to communicate with them.
Pre-preparation
At this stage, it is important to prepare the dog for future work, to decide on the methodology and motivation for work. How the preparation will be structured depends on the chosen methodology, but there are certain “rules” that are common to all. When choosing future motivation, you need to focus on what the dog needs more. It is much easier to develop the need for food; it is enough not to feed the dog. With a toy, if the dog doesn’t go crazy when he sees it, you shouldn’t try it. Remember that it is very difficult, often impossible, to transfer a dog from one motivation to another. Its formation occurs very quickly, therefore this choice must be made even before the search itself begins. Methods differ in search technique (shuttle search, controlled, free), and in final motivation (based on the play behavior of dogs; search-orientative; need for approval from the leader). There are methods that are based on the development, first of all, of search behavior, and the designation is introduced later. In others, special attention is paid to signaling behavior. In all methods, the dog is taught to work by the smell of a living person (and not by things). Regardless of the chosen technique, at the time of the start of direct search training, the dog must:
Let's start working on the search
The initial lessons are the most important. We use them to develop motivation in the dog. The motivation is that the dog knows that only by performing a certain set of actions in a strictly defined order - launching the skill with the command “search!” or “look for the person!”, search for the person, designate him, without leaving the extra – she will receive encouragement. At the same time, the dog should be interested in this encouragement. If we work on treats, then the dog must be hungry (1-3 days of hunger strike).
The first exercises are always based on the person running away. We start right away with strangers. If the preliminary preparation is done properly, there will be no problems with this. First, the extra plays a prank on the dog (or shows him a treat), then runs away to a simple shelter in front of her and calls him by name all the time. The dog sees where the extra is running, but does not see exactly where he is hiding. This is best ensured by placing a bookmark around the corner, you can simply cover the dog’s eyes. As soon as the extra hides and calls the dog, it is released. She runs after him, and the owner follows her. As soon as the dog pokes its nose into the bookmark, the extra gives it the command “voice!”, after which he begins to communicate with it, praise it, stimulating its barking and periodically rewarding it with treats. It is important to be very friendly. Under no circumstances should you allow the dog to move away from the stash. It is most important. If he tries to leave, call him over and tease him with a piece. You can open the gap slightly so that the dog can see the person (but only after he barks). The owner is standing nearby. Depending on the dog’s behavior, if it doesn’t “let go” far, then you shouldn’t provoke it. But no closer than 3 meters. After 15-20 barks, the owner approaches the stash, opens it and allows the extra to climb out. After which the extra talks vigorously with the dog, playing if necessary. You can continue either by running away with the same extra to another shelter, or with another extra.
Depending on the methodology, the escape scheme can be constructed in different ways. If the dog is accustomed to shuttle search, then training begins at the training ground, using shelters “in the corners” of the shuttle. You can use boxes, which are then buried in the ground. Then they move on to work on construction sites. If they teach free search, then there should be a minimum of influence from the owner. The dog is taught to move freely around the territory, guided by air currents where the person is. 
When the dog confidently follows the extra and, having found it, barks until the owner approaches, we begin to make complications. We use several nearby shelters, in one of which an extra is hiding. We let the dog see only the direction of movement of the extra until halfway. Or, in front of the dog, the extra hides in one shelter, then they cover the dog’s eyes, and the extra hides in another, then they let the dog in. Increase the launch distance. They make more complex bookmarks with more complex approaches to them. Gradually, the escape is made so that the dog sees that the person is running away, but does not see the escape route. Then we enter the “call” of the dog as an extra only from the bookmark, and then remove it altogether. Then we begin to teach the dog that a person does not necessarily run away while searching. To do this, we run away two people at the same time, each of whom teased the dog with a treat. First the dog finds one, then the second “previously hidden”. So we gradually move on to working with previously hidden people. The work of the extras in the bookmark is also important. Rudeness, unspecified silence in advance, incorrect encouragement (when a dog, for example, is silent) or its absence are not allowed. You need to remove contact with your dog carefully and gradually. Barking must be achieved for a long time. Encouragement should be mandatory for every person! Gradually, the moment of rewarding the dog is delayed from the beginning of barking until the first bite. When the dog already understands what is required of him (this happens quite quickly), we introduce glass jars in which we put the treat, close the lid so that at the time of marking in the bookmark there is no smell of the treat. If sitting or laying is chosen for designation, then when a person is found, the owner, or better yet an extra (this must be determined in advance), gives the dog a command. After giving a short time for exposure (10-15 seconds), the owner comes up, gives a treat to the dog (and if possible, the extra gives a treat), after which the extra is opened, he communicates with the dog and feeds him pieces.
When dogs are already normally looking for pre-hidden people, additional complications begin to be introduced. These include more complex bookmarks, increased search duration, various physical activities immediately before the search, work in dark rooms contaminated with foreign odors, etc.
All complications, order, methods, etc. are the fruit of the instructor’s imagination :) and his ability to determine the dog’s readiness to move to the next level. In general, full training of a dog according to PSS takes about 2 years.
Even well-working dogs at some point may stop working correctly and begin to make mistakes, for example, problems with signal behavior may arise. The main thing is not to despair and continue to work, only regular exercise will give results.
Forms of organizing the training process, monitoring and checking the readiness of dogs
- a regular lesson in which the required skills are consistently practiced, shortcomings are eliminated, and complications are introduced in accordance with the lesson plan.
Test classes– here it is planned to complete one task for all dogs and compare the work of the dogs, check the quality of the work and identify errors that require elimination.
Joint activities– they involve several (at least two) search and rescue groups. They are good because it is possible to use extras unknown to the dogs. It is best when first one party - one group - organizes bookmarks for the other, and the second works on them, without knowing their number and location. Another time, this group will organize the same for the first.
Exercises– checking the readiness of dogs as close as possible to real working conditions, in accordance with the standard. Additional complications may be introduced in the form of rappelling with dogs, working in difficult conditions (night time, rain), taking into account the fact that dog handlers do not know in advance the number of victims, the location of the traps and working conditions. You can do a “team” search, when dog handlers must work together according to pre-thought-out tactics (for example, dividing the territory into search squares for each dog, or sequential search). And also combine checking the dogs with checking the dog handlers’ readiness for rescue work (for example, knowledge of the basics of first aid, when he must provide first aid to the found “victim”).
Tests (certification)– checking the readiness of the crew (dog handler) to act as intended. They are carried out in the Ministry of Emergency Situations system. Successful completion of the certification allows the crew to participate in rescue operations for 1 year.
Competitions– are carried out with the aim of improving professional skills, exchanging experience in training and using dogs, checking readiness for actions for their intended purpose and certification, as well as identifying the best calculations. At competitions, various additional complications that may arise in real work are organized for calculations. So they can be called a real holiday for dog handlers. It is worth remembering that competition is not an end in itself, but a means to achieving mastery in real work, and therefore obtaining a greater chance of saving a person.
We recommend that owners and trainers keep diaries on the work of each individual dog in each lesson. For the dog owner, this is a way to better understand his dog, and for the instructor - to see how much the owner understands what is happening, to complement, discuss with him the work of the dog, and maybe see it from the other side. Diaries also help you remember what a particular dog did and track its development over the entire period of training. It is most convenient to keep diaries in in electronic format and then sending it by mail to the instructor.
What you should pay attention to:
- You can't keep using the same people as extras, even at entry level.
- Train your dog immediately different quantities extras on the lookout. At the beginning 1-2, then we introduce the third. In this case, it is advisable that he first run away or call the dog from the stash.
- On initial period classes, when the dog needs to reinforce signal behavior, you should use only sane extras who know how to communicate with dogs, because inept work can ruin everything at once.
- After each search, encouragement by communication with the extra should be maximum; the dog should be interested in communication and, as a result, in searching for the person.
- Don’t forget to pay attention to training dogs to deal with rubble, moving over obstacles, darkness, and heights.
- Before searching, you should familiarize the dogs with the area, allowing them to run around and sniff everything, so that the dogs do not have an indicative reaction while working. When the dogs are already more experienced, you can smoothly move on to working in unfamiliar terrain.
- Regardless of the chosen preparation method, it is important to remember that there are several “components” that only together give an excellent result.
- This is the search itself: search style, passion, speed, focus on results, i.e. The dog must search for the sake of finding (remember motivation), and not just because he likes to run.
- Signaling behavior: very important. If the dog finds, but does not mark, consider that you have not found anyone. It's scary to imagine yourself in a situation where, during real rescue work, you cannot help a person because the dog does not make a clear, good sign.
- The dog should not be “removed” from the stash, i.e. leave without permission.
- Endurance and mental preparation: the dog (and the dog handler too) must be prepared for long work and emotional stress. This is not a matter of one day, you need to go to this gradually, without overloading the dog.
- False designations are a separate matter. They can happen due to improper organization of the bookmarks, due to frequent work on monotonous bookmarks, when the dog begins to navigate by external signs, due to the dog’s increased excitability, due to residual human odors in the bookmark (especially in beginner dogs), odor food, freshly worn things. These additional provocations are introduced later, when the skill is already formed and quite stable.
- It is worth accustoming dogs to the smells they don’t like coming from “homeless people” (perhaps by recruiting them to work with experienced dogs), since this smell is closest to the real smell of a victim who has been under rubble for several days.
- To play with a dog, it is highly undesirable to use forest sticks (i.e., special dumbbells are fine), since dogs, especially when searching in the forest, can begin to pick up sticks near the bookmark, thus self-rewarding, without fully developing the skill.
- When practicing both searching and tracking, it is necessary to move from one type to another when the primary skill has already been formed (the dog clearly knows what they want from it on the track or on the search), otherwise you can confuse the dog.
- You should not study different types of services (including obedience) on the same day, especially if new skills are being learned in both types of services (that is, the courses are being mastered in parallel). It is recommended to study only obedience during search and tracking training, otherwise the dog may become confused, lose control and become very overtired, which will lead to bad work everywhere.
What to pay attention to in tracking work.
You need to focus not so much on standards, but on real needs. Search in the forest for traces up to 3 days old. In the city - up to a day. Work on various surfaces, in the dark, in bad weather conditions, with distracting stimuli, etc. A large number of corners, intersections with other people's tracks, and other things that may be encountered in the work. Special attention focus on finding the beginning of the trail. As a rule (if this is not a completely deserted area), a specific trace is looked for specific person, for which the dog is allowed to sniff a thing with the smell of the victim before searching. Things on the trail are indicated by placement (this can also be done in another way). It is impossible for the ways of designating people and things to coincide. In general, training a dog for tracking work takes about 3 years.
Training a search and rescue dog is complex and full of nuances. But if you are interested in this service, and your heart is touched by the opportunity to really come to the aid of people with your dog - welcome to ROSSPAS-KV. We will help you organize a group in your city or region, go to seminars and gatherings, and obtain the necessary information. Contact the leaders of groups and regional branches of ROSSPAS-KV:
If you can add addresses to this list of actually working groups or correct outdated data, please be sure to write to us - or through the form below.
Real heroes who serve completely unselfishly and selflessly, without any doubts about those they helped, and about how dangerous and difficult the work they did not consciously choose can be. At the same time, the owner of such a service dog is always with his pupil (pupil) and devotes a significant part of his life to his noble cause. Additionally, you can read about other breeds of rescue dogs by following the link on the profile portal.
According to their qualities, dogs are suitable for performing various services and can be involved in activities in services, for example:
Protective guard;
Wanted;
Search and Rescue;
Convoy;
Mine detection;
Intelligence;
Ore prospecting and gas prospecting;
Drug investigation;
Shepherd's.
In addition, these magnificent, intelligent animals are used in social types services, such as guides, water rescuers, firefighters, for the rehabilitation of people with disabilities and others. Today we will talk about what could be the list of dog breeds found in search and rescue activities.
Water rescue dogs
Once upon a time, Spanish and Portuguese fishermen were such strong friends and coexisted harmoniously with dogs that they entrusted them with pulling nets out of the water, and if it happened, then saving their own lives. The dogs of the island of Newfoundland, located at a considerable distance from the two mentioned countries, became especially famous. When dogs of the breed, named after the island, became widespread in Europe, they began to serve on merchant and military ships. They were otherwise called “divers.” Dogs of this breed are distinguished by their intelligence and endurance, they are capable of dragging heavy weights and can jump into icy water without a command to help a drowning person. Their physiological characteristics allow them to stay in very low temperature water for a long time, and this will not harm their health. Anatomical structure eyes (presence of a third eyelid), interdigital membranes on the paws and a special device ears allows them to dive to depths of up to 30 meters or more.
Newfoundland puppies are trained according to the methodology used for all breeds of service dogs until approximately 4-6 months, and then specific techniques are used: training to be in a boat, the ability to swim behind a boat for a distance of up to 500 meters, and the like. If the dog owner is a novice, he should be trained in first aid techniques for those rescued from the water - artificial respiration, warming massage, treatment of fractures and wounds.
In 1949, Germany established an official standard for the Leonberg breed, which is a mixture of St. Bernard, Pyrenean Mountain and Newfowland. Heinrich Essing was involved in breeding a new breed. The bred dog had a strong instinct to save drowning people, muscularity and strength, a height of up to 80 cm, a weight of up to 40 kg and waterproof wool. To serve as a water rescuer, a dog requires absolutely short course special training.
Initially, fate destined the Labrador breed to be water rescuers - these animals were excellent at finding those who found themselves in the water due to a storm. They are strong and resilient and remember up to two hundred different commands.
Breeds of mountain rescue dogs.
It is believed that oldest breed rescue dogs – Alaskan Malamute. This breed has the habits of a wolf, it rarely barks and its external characteristics strongly resemble its forest counterpart. In a very short time, a devoted dog can dig a hole. large sizes, so great is his strength and agility. But he will not dig just like that: from afar he will sense the rubble and the injured person, and will never confuse him with an animal, and will dig him up in the shortest possible time, carefully, without causing harm, and deliver him to the nearest rescue point.
Rescue dogs in the mountains
Main tasks search dog in the mountains are the following:
Find the victim and indicate his location by barking, or by grabbing a special diarrhea with your teeth;
Do not be distracted by extraneous stimuli (noises, smells);
Be friendly, do not show aggression towards those who appear at her call medical workers, human rescuers and other dogs;
Have a keen sense of smell and endurance;
Have the ability to concentrate on the task at hand.
The following skills can be taught and used in search and rescue operations in the mountains:
Spaniels;
Labrador Retrievers;
Drathaars;
Rottweilers;
Laek;
Border collies (mainly abroad, as their cost is high) and other breeds.
Dog serving in search expedition, should not be too large, since it will have to make its way into rubble and small holes. In order not to get confused and not to be injured in caves, the surfaces of which are covered with rhizomes, it is better for the animal to have not too long hair, but it will be difficult for short-haired animals, the optimal coat is medium. Such a dog must be obedient and, at the same time, be able to make decisions independently.
Despite these requirements, which would seem to exclude the possibility of participation in mountain expeditions to save St. Bernards - large dogs with rather long hair, employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations are well aware of the story of a selfless rescuer - St. Bernard Barry, which happened in the Alps back in the 19th century. Barry managed to save 40 people. The dogs of the monastery founded by Saint Bernard were trained to find people covered in snow or fallen through the Saint Bernard Pass and warm them up with their bodies and licking their faces while their relatives ran away for help.
Dogs in service in the Ministry of Emergency Situations
Canine services exist in every regional center; it is a branched structure of professional and volunteer teams. There are such well-known canine units as PSSC (Search and Rescue Canine Service) and Tsentrospas. Dogs undergo special selection through testing, which is carried out for puppies in the first three months of birth. IN rescue services puppies that do not have a sufficient sense of smell or that show fear will not be included. Upon completion of training, each animal passes an exam and is assigned to the Ministry of Emergency Situations that is optimally suited for its demonstrated qualities.
Let's consider brief description four breeds of rescue dogs. These will be: St. Bernard, German Shepherd, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Saint Bernard
One of the oldest known to man breeds of rescue dogs. Dogs of this breed were bred in France. This was the well-known monastery of St. Bernard, from which the name of the breed came. Saint Bernards are designed to rescue people high in the mountains.
They are called “avalanche dogs” for their exceptional sense of smell and ability to find people buried alive under avalanches. Saint Bernards are able to anticipate an upcoming disaster 6-7 hours in advance thanks to their unique intuition.
They easily find a person under several meters of snow. Thanks to their strength, they can easily dig out a person buried under snow or other rubble, warm him with their body and drag him to a safe place or lead rescuers to the scene of the incident.
Newfoundland
Newfoundland is a breed of dog designed to rescue people on water. Dogs of this breed are not afraid of frost. Newfoundlands can easily be in icy water. Anatomical differences in the structure of dogs of this breed, such as the presence of a third eyelid, the special structure of the paws and ears, and the presence of membranes between the toes. All this allows Newfoundlands to dive to great depths, about thirty meters, and swim very long distances up to twenty kilometers.
The instinct to save a person is so strong that a dog rushes into the water at the slightest suspicion that a person is drowning.
German Shepherd
At the very beginning, the German Shepherd was used as a protector of livestock from predators. However, dog handlers have noticed that German Shepherds are distinguished by their special intelligence, great strength, dexterity, and devotion. Gradually, German shepherds began to be used to protect borders, as rescuers during emergency situations and in war time, and now they are used to catch criminals and protect property. German shepherds cope with such work much better than their brothers.
Labrador
Labrador (Labrador Retriever) is one of the most good-natured, obedient, active and hardy dogs. Labrador combines many functions. He is a hard worker, a guide, a rescuer and a hunter. But, the main thing is that the Labrador is a faithful and devoted friend! Labradors learn easily and quickly, as they are smart and quick-witted. This was originally a breed of working dog. Now, thanks to the ease of learning, Labradors remember and carry out about two hundred commands! The history of the breed originates in Canada, on the island of Newfoundland. According to another version, their homeland is the island of Labrador, which gave the name to the breed. Dogs helped local residents in fishing, in search of people lost during a storm, served as cargo carriers, and helped during hunting..
Currently, Labrador is considered one of the best dogs– rescuers and human assistants. He can save people on the water, like a Newfoundland, or high in the mountains, like a St. Bernard. Labradors take care of bedridden people and so on. In addition, he is a wonderful dog for a family, he easily finds mutual language with other pets.
The most popular breeds of rescue dogs
If a person, for example, is weak in spirit and lonely, if he needs a reliable protector, or if his work involves a risk to his life, then breeds of rescue dogs are what you need! Choose and feel safe!
