It is impossible to imagine how human history would have developed if we had not had a dog - a loyal, brave, intelligent and strong friend. For thousands of years they have guarded and protected, helped in hunting and transported goods. They are the ears and eyes of those who need it. And if trouble comes, rescue dogs do everything to save the life of a stranger at any cost. What are they, our four-legged guardian angels?
A small lump that is no more than three months old. He's such a fool: he chases his own tail, clumsily jumps on the sofa, constantly tries to kiss. But already at this age you can understand whether a funny puppy will be able to become a faithful, capable and strong rescue dog, whose life will be closely intertwined with the lives of people who find themselves in scary situation– situations where it is almost impossible to help yourself.
During the Second World War, after the bombing of London, the four-legged rescuer Irma found seventeen people in the ruins of buildings.
One day a stranger visits the house. He has kind eyes, a gentle voice, and he smells pleasantly of something subtly familiar. How interesting and fun! For some reason, the owner is worried and keeps saying that he really wants to become a volunteer, that he admires rescue dogs who work in the mountains, on fires, rubble and in many other places, the names of which do not yet mean anything to the puppy. The stranger tells the owner about some tests. I wonder if they are as tasty as the dough? It seems that the stranger is about to play: he touches his nose, teases with a bone, claps his hands, drops a rattle on the floor, runs away and hides, invites the owner to play.
St. Bernard Barry saved four dozen people during his twelve years of service. In total, throughout the history of the breed, St. Bernards have saved the lives of thousands of people.
Just like that, at the owner’s request, the journey of two heroes begins – a rescue dog and its owner. So far this is only a small step, and there are two more to come many years teaching basic commands, training in different conditions and tests for “professional aptitude”. Of course, the fate of many puppies is determined even before birth if, for example, the baby’s parents work in the Ministry of Emergency Situations. But throughout history, rescue dogs working in tandem with their owners achieve very high results - either due to emotional attachment, or due to the amount of time the owner devotes to his pet.
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 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 it is sufficient for a long time the support of an extra is required, 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 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” medical care).
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, the encouragement of 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 increased excitability dogs, due to residual human odors in the stash (especially in beginner dogs), the smell of food, and 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.
- Don't do it in one day various types services (including obedience), especially if new skills are learned in both types of services (that is, the courses are 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.
Loyal to humans, representatives of the canine family by nature are called upon to serve their owners in exchange for their warmth, care and affection. This has been the case since the times when a wild animal, similar and about the size of a bird, relentlessly followed the primitive hunter to feast on scraps from his prey.
And as he received tidbits, he became more and more useful to him, clearing people’s homes of food debris, freeing the environment from the disgusting smell of rot.
The descendants of the tamed animal, becoming attached to their owners with each generation, gradually took on the appearance and acquired the features of modern dogs. Millennia have passed. Since then earlier wild dogs have proven themselves not only to be loyal allies, but also hardy, strong angels guardians. This is how the first ones appeared rescue dogs.
Using the four-legged servant, at first, to successfully hunt wild animals, the ancient people, seeking safety and comfort, over time found other uses for the domesticated animal. scared away uninvited guests, licked the owner's wounds and warmed him with the warmth of their bodies in severe frosts.
Later, representatives of human civilization became cattle breeders and farmers, but the descendants of wolves continued life together and brought more and more benefits. And dogs were easily used, because they played the role of shepherds, guards and faithful companions.
In the photo there is a rescue dog of the breed German Shepherd
Small dogs are perfect for searching for people in rubble after earthquakes and during fires, as they have an excellent sense of smell and can crawl through even narrow crevices. They are hardy, efficient, and foreign odors are not a hindrance for them in searching for a target.
The best water rescue dogs are rightfully considered to bear the well-deserved name “divers”. They are resistant to cold and feel great even in icy water.
The membranes between their paws and the structure of their ears and eyes allow them to swim tens of kilometers tirelessly and dive to great depths. They, without hesitation, rush into the water in the blink of an eye even at the slightest suspicion that a person is drowning.
In the photo there is a Newfoundland dog “diver”
The retriever is a very hardy dog, extremely smart, easy to train and obedient. Such dogs not only serve as rescuers, but also as guide dogs.
Labrador rescue dog
They specialize in searching for people in difficult conditions, helping in emergency situations. – service dogs and wonderful sappers. There are many other breeds with amazing rescue qualities.
Today, like many centuries ago, man and dog need each other. There are many known cases when rescuers saved the dog, By various reasons abandoned and becoming an unnecessary burden for the owner.
And such dogs, in turn, were successfully trained and carried out many years of devoted service, bringing back to life the most different people, became talented rescuers, receiving medals and incentives.
Doberman rescue dog
Rescue dog training
Rescue dog training requires patience and understanding from the owner. And successful learning from animals requires obedience and patient work to develop technical skills in searching, detecting and rescuing people. Four-legged warriors are taught to overcome obstacles, climb stairs, and also develop the skills to move safely among the ruins.
There are many areas of study. The guide also has to learn how to provide first aid to victims and how to use a map and compass. He learns the rules of behavior and learns to quickly assess the situation at the scene of a disaster. And during the training course, an annual exam is taken.
The rescue dog's execution of commands becomes automatic with a gradual transition from simple to complex. And soon the acquired skills turn into conditioned reflex. Behavioral techniques are first developed and then reinforced in accordance with strict training rules.
The remarkable sense of smell and amazing endurance of thoroughbreds, which they inherited from nature and as a result of thousands of years of artificial selection, are not the only qualities that four-legged rescuers should have.
Specially trained dogs They learn to use their voice in the right way, which serves as a signal for people when searching for victims and detecting suspicious odors. And it's not that simple. First of all, it is necessary that the animal is properly socialized, even if it has a good-natured disposition and easy-going nature.
What can a rescue dog do?
Bloodhounds specialize in finding missing people and rescuing them in critical situations. They are required to perform perfectly, even in pitch darkness and bad weather, search various territories in a short time, including moving over rough terrain; carry out searches in rubble and ruins resulting from dam breaks, fires, explosions due to gas leaks, floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters.
A rescue dog must be able to work without a collar and leash in difficult terrain, equipped with special devices. A trained animal cannot be afraid of the smell of gas, fire and smoke, or react to noise.
To search for drowned people, brave dogs need to be able to act independently, moving by swimming; and also, while in a boat with people, locate victims under water.
Natural strength, a strong physique and physical fitness. A rescue dog should not be embarrassed by frosts and unbearable heat, extreme stressful situations and psychological stress associated with people's suffering and grief.
A rescuer is not a breed, it is a calling!
No, they will not be able to provide first aid, cannot give a person life-giving moisture and will not relieve pain. But rescue dogs are able to give more - life, by promptly finding the victim and notifying people about it. Representatives of what breeds can engage in such necessary and important activities, and what skills and abilities should they have?
Rescue Dog Breeds
In general, history contains a lot of evidence of the devotion and fearlessness of our four-legged friends. They showed remarkable courage and ingenuity during hostilities, saved people during floods and other weather disasters, and sacrificed themselves for the sake of children. Moreover, these heroic deeds are sometimes not at all related to the breed of the dog.
But still, to work in harsh conditions and due to the specific nature of the activity, the dog is required to have certain innate qualities, which the following breeds possess:
- – this breed has long been intended for rescue work in high mountain areas; it is not without reason that they can anticipate an avalanche several hours in advance and notify people about it. The second name of this breed is “avalanche dogs.” They can dig out a person buried under the snow and drag him to a safe place, or lead rescuers to this area.
- – these representatives work in conditions of another element – water. Their anatomical structure and physiological properties are designed for the animal to be in water, even ice water, without harm to health. This is the third eyelid, paws and ears special structure, interdigital membranes and non-wetting wool. Newfoundlands have incredible diving and swimming abilities, as well as an amazing instinct to rush to the rescue. the slightest sign, indicating that a person is in trouble.
- – having protected livestock from attacks by predators for a long time, and living in harsh conditions, representatives of this breed acquired a lot of qualities necessary for survival. Naturally, this matter cannot be accomplished without developed intellectual abilities. Having become an almost universal dog, the German Shepherd has also proven itself in rescue work.
- – the history of the breed is such that from its very origins, dogs have already been rescuers. They helped fishermen catch fish and also looked for people during storms. In addition, thanks to their strength and endurance, they were draft animals and assistants during the hunt. Modern intellectual abilities allow these dogs to remember two hundred commands!
Of course, this is not a complete list, and representatives of other breeds are often involved in rescue operations. But in these dogs, whatever you say, the rescue instinct is embedded in their genes.
Among those required from rescue dogs There are two main skills that can be distinguished: to find a person in trouble and to inform your fellow human beings about it. Of course some strong dogs They are able to get victims out of the rubble and dig them out in the snow, but more often than not they still need the help of specialists. In addition to a fine sense of smell, physical strength and a desire to work, a number of other requirements are imposed on the dog:
- Stable psyche. A working dog should not react to what is happening around him, but should be completely focused on the task at hand.
- Good nature and goodwill. Four-legged rescuer should be glad to see the victim he found, and not growl and grin, frightening. In addition, usually during an emergency the scene of the incident is filled with many people - doctors, rescuers, etc., and the dog should not show wariness or aggression.
- Ability to make decisions independently. In critical situations, when a person is not nearby, the dog must be able to act without waiting for a command.
- Obedience. Dogs that like to run away when they sense freedom or when they see another dog are absolutely not suitable for the role of rescuers. This job requires strict discipline and completion of the assigned task at any cost.
Needless to say that a dog may be the only chance for salvation, risking itself and not demanding anything in return? These smaller friends can perform heroic deeds, which once again confirm their dedication and fearlessness.
Watch how rescue dogs are trained:
Dogs have long been used as strong and resilient rescuers. Thanks to their excellent sense of smell and hearing, they find people under snow rubble, in a burning building, in water and under the rubble of destroyed buildings.
The incredible works even in smoke and fumes. By and large, a dog’s sense of smell is akin to a sixth sense, since a dog can smell a person even under a nine-meter thick layer of snow. Dogs are more effective search engines in rescue operations than humans.
For example, in the same room, twenty people will need about four people to search for victims, and one dog will only need 10 minutes.
Rescue Dog Breeds
There are quite a lot of such breeds. On this moment the most popular are
- Belgian and German shepherds,
- doberman,
- spaniel,
- rottweiler,
These are the dogs that are most often used rescue services. Best breed Newfoundland is considered to be used to save drowning people, which is why its second name is “diver”. These dogs are not afraid of frost and can swim calmly even in icy water. The Newfoundland's body features (special structure of the ears and paws, membranes between the toes, third eyelid) allow it to swim up to 20 km and dive to a depth of 30 m.
He has a very powerful unconditional instinct to save a person. The dog will rush into the water as soon as he suspects that someone is drowning. In all mountains where there is snow, the rescue team always includes a dog. These rescue dogs can be any breed, but the most commonly used are St. Bernards. They are very hardy and easy to train.
Along with St. Bernards mountain rescuers Shepherd dogs also often work. After earthquakes, dogs are the best way to search for people. They are able to get through where a person cannot get through, and they can smell the victim under a large thickness of rubble. Thus, two spaniels became famous for saving 35 people from the rubble after the Neftegorsk earthquake.
Neither the smells of ruins, nor medicines, nor the intense heat bothered these dogs. Rescue animals worked 7 hours a day, studying piles of concrete centimeters at a time and pointing out to rescuers where a person might be.
Rescue dog skills
It is not enough to have a natural sense of smell and stamina. Each rescue dog is specially trained in its craft. Such a dog must find the victim, inform his guide about this by voice and lead the rescuers to the place where the victim is located. To do this, she must have a number of qualities.
For example, it is important that such an animal is very well socialized. That is, he treated people kindly, was obedient and flexible. Also, a rescue dog must be very hardy and have a strong constitution.
