“...This incomprehensible, wonderful transmission of the psyche,” Durov continues further, “of thoughts, feelings, desires undoubtedly exists. This is what I base my work on, and this is what forms the basis of my training method. The animal, thanks to a joyful, creative environment, comes into psychic contact with me and already vaguely senses in advance, predicts what I need from it, what it should do.”

The above statements by Durov do not exhaust, of course, his entire system of mental control of animal behavior, which he developed with the participation of Academician V.M. Bekhterev.

Let the words of the great animal connoisseur given here be the “first law” for the rescue dog handler.

After searching in difficult weather conditions for a long time and not finding IZ, young dogs often become confused and lethargic. If the dog displays such behavior or anxiety and nervousness, the handler should give it a little rest, a treat, and encouragement. While the dog is resting, he quietly buries an object with his own or an unfamiliar scent and gives the dog the opportunity to quickly find it. With this technique, he restores her cheerful mood, desire and confidence to find IZ. Young dogs should be given a treat every time they find IZ. It is very important that the harness is removed from a dog that has been given even a five-minute rest - this will give complete rest and rapid recuperation.

Just as the handler’s harness and vest have a stimulating effect on the dog, both an additional conditioned signal and “talking to the dog” before and during the search activate its work. This technique, which gives positive results only with good contact with the dog, has nothing to do with “anthropomorphism.” No dog, although it carries out a large number of commands from the handler, only as if they were conditioned sounds, perceives human speech. But everyone knows that one threatening glance from a person or dog makes another dog tuck its tail, walk around or growl and rush into a fight. Through gesture, posture and biopolar signals, other intentions and thoughts are transmitted from one organism to another - but not always. A kind, affectionate look makes even an unfamiliar dog come up to you, but again - not always, but only with mental closeness and the “mood” of each organism at the moment. The effect is also in the intonation of the voice, which is picked up by a dog many times better than by a person, as well as in the ultrasonic part of speech, which is completely unperceivable by a person. Putting a harness on the dog, the handler, for example, says in a cheerful, confident tone: “Now we will find this guy, Altai!” etc. This always helps the work!

Intonation and gesture

A standard voice command, which is a conditioned stimulus for a dog, is only a trigger for the search to begin. The hearing ability of dogs is much higher than that of humans. Therefore, during training sessions, voice commands are given at a “below average” volume and in a “calm” intonation. A loud voice and commanding intonation are a “reserve” for working in an emergency zone when there is a lot of noise, the dog is distracted by something extraneous, etc. The “common language,” that is, the language of communication between the trainer and the dog in the complex process of searching and finding the victim, is intonation and gesture. Even in the most lexically expressive language of any nation, according to the American psychologist F. Sulge, the significance of words is only 7%, intonation - 38%, gestures - 55%. When two unfamiliar wolves, dogs, or people meet, the “conversation” begins through sight, not hearing. Both partners perceive each other by sight, complementing the intonation of a few words.

Gesture, in an expanded sense, including body movements and facial expression, is the most expressive means of communication in both people and animals. This refers to a natural, emotional gesture, but not a contrived standard “training gesture” (like the commands “Come to me!”, “Lie down”, etc.). The standard command with a gesture is convenient and good at the OKD training site, but not for the PSS special course and other complex services in field conditions. Here the gesture is enriched with emotional intensity and expressiveness of the trainer’s movements “from nose to toes.”

For complete contact and mutual understanding, you need to “merge with the dog,” working as one organism.

During complex, intense activities, such as hunting or mountaineering, people communicate in addition to the voice with “non-verbal language,” which for a dog is not just a command, but a means for “direct” understanding without words - biocommunication.

Intonation, simplistically divided into affectionate, approving, ordinary, commanding and threatening, has dozens of other tones and shades, for example, encouraging, calming, exciting, commanding, etc. The same voice command, when changing intonation, can conditionally reflexively influence -different. Unusual intonation causes actions that are inappropriate lexical meaning command given to the dog. IN difficult situations the vocabulary of the voice command is eclipsed by “non-verbal language” with the participation of the ERD and the biofield. Only with a positive emotion, making a search in difficult and hazardous conditions interested, as a “favorite thing”, and not forced - on command, the dog, also wanting to please its “leader,” searches for and finds the victim.

For example, after several hours of unsuccessful searches, when the strength of the guide and the dog is running out, they take a break. The handler gives the dog its favorite treat, drinks strong tea, and lights a cigarette. What follows is not a command, but a “conversation”: “Altai! Al-tai, the smartest, the strongest!.. Now we’ll find him! Al-ta-ay, come on, come on!..”, etc. Successful use of intonation is a powerful impulse that awakens great potential strength: both physical and mental.

The words of “conversation” may be different, the dog still understands not them, but “intonation” and “non-verbalness”. These elements, like the music of the “magic flute,” work wonders. This is encouragement, and excitement, and encouragement, and a call... The dog’s eyes light up, its nostrils flare, it makes a jump... A few minutes of furious search - the victim is found.

Non-verbal language is more accessible to the taiga hunter, who is close to nature, hears “how the grass grows,” and the dog understands and obeys without words. IN English language concepts exist and are used in life - thought-reading, thought-transfer, thought-wave, the meaning of which is not difficult to understand. In Russian everyday life, these concepts, clumsily translated as “reading other people’s thoughts, transmitting thoughts over a distance, mental wave,” do not inspire confidence and are equated with the unreal or “magic.” Scientists attribute this type of non-linguistic communication, like gestures and smells, to the so-called “non-verbal language”, without conventional sound vocabulary. To ignore the closeness of “verbal language” to “non-verbal” would be a violation of the method of studying the unity of the “nature of things”.

Practical conclusion - develop all the skills of a dog’s PSS not on conditioned stimuli that are “abstract” for it - commands, but on “natural” actions and gestures. For example, to begin learning to dig - with digging by the guide himself, with the command “Dig!” only accompanying this action. This is a type of "imitation method" where the dog imitates not another dog, but the trainer.

It is the understanding of the dog’s psyche, intonation and gestures that it understands that create mutual understanding, strong contact and affection. One of the forms of manifestation of good contact is the dog's vocalization in response to the handler's whistle in case of poor visibility at a great distance under any circumstances. This is an example of executing not a conditional command, but contact at a distance.

Contact and affection

Dogs, like people, have to varying degrees contact and affection. But for the majority of both, replacing one trainer with another during the course of training is extremely undesirable in all respects. Any dog ​​has full contact with only one trainer/handler. The mentioned “psychic transfer”, which allows the dog to work in the “luxury” class, is possible only with one permanent handler.

A dog's contact and affection are developed through the process of raising, training and communicating with it. Without contact, that is, close connection, mutual understanding in actions, learning is impossible at all. Under the same conditions, the same trainer has different contacts with different dogs, which depends not on the breed of the dog, but on the neuropsychic characteristics of both. The Swiss training method is entirely based on affection, that is, a feeling of closeness, sympathy and devotion to the trainer. To develop a strong contact, it is necessary to know the typological characteristics of the dog’s GNI, its character and behavior; treat kindly, but demandingly; be caring and attentive, especially in difficult situations. However, always and everywhere the trainer is the eldest, the “leader”, the dominant... But the dominance of the trainer should not oppress the dog’s psyche, suppress its activity, independence, initiative. However, it must always be “in hand.”

What is the significance of these the most important qualities components " mutual language” without words can be seen from the following examples.

A rescue worker with a dog was crossing a glacier with cracks covered with snow. There was thunder in the distance - a thunderstorm was approaching. Suddenly there was a crash nearby. At the same moment, the snow bridge they were standing on collapsed, and they found themselves at the bottom of the crack. The crack is not deep, but the walls are steep, smooth and slippery... The handler raised the dog above his head and shouted: “Forward!” The dog jumped, but slipped off the edge of the crack... Once again... and the guide heard barking above him. Command "Home!" - and an hour later the dog led a group of people.

A hunter with a dog was returning home through a mountain spur. When they crossed over it, the dog suddenly squealed, laid back its ears and rushed down... The hunter heard the noise, but it was too late. An avalanche knocked him off his feet and carried him down. When the hunter regained consciousness, he felt hot breath on his face. He widened the passage dug by the dog and climbed out of the snowy grave...

Experienced dog breeders know what a sociable, loving and clever dog. In the above cases, the dogs, having overcome the “instinct of self-preservation,” did not run away anywhere, as dogs usually do without sufficient affection, but each in its own way began to help the owner out of trouble.

It is very important that in both cases the dogs accepted independent decision, that is, in a difficult, threatening situation they showed greater independence. The specificity of training PSS dogs is to make it as independent as possible. To develop this valuable quality, all types of coercion, threatening intonation and gestures should be reduced to a minimum. In difficult weather conditions, smoky ruins, mountains, when the dog does not see or hear the handler, forcing it to search forcibly, on command, is completely unrealistic.

All work of PSS dogs is based on the independent orienting search instinct and the instinct of freedom. “Reflex of freedom,” pointed out I.P. Pavlov, is a common property, a common reaction of animals, one of the most important innate reflexes. Without it, every slightest obstacle that the animal encountered on its way would completely interrupt the course of its life. And we know well how all animals, deprived of ordinary freedom, strive to free themselves...

It is easier to “train” a dog to perform a series of techniques without failure, as in a circus, than to train an independent, active search. It is well known from practice that the more a dog is enslaved, that is, the more its independent behavior and rational activity are suppressed, the more difficult it is to prepare it for PSS.

In the above-mentioned actions of dogs based on contact and attachment to the owner, it was in a difficult situation that their rational activity, useful to humans, manifested itself. The fact that animals instantly, without special training, were able to accept correct solution, and lies the irreplaceable value of electric propulsion as a mechanism of adaptation in diverse, constantly changing environmental conditions. It is unlikely that “room” or “chain” dogs, whose ERD is constrained by their lifestyle, would be able to express themselves in this way, regardless of breed. The best way for the study and development of rational actions, give dogs more often tasks of intelligence during training sessions, walks, creating an environment close to extreme.

During search and rescue operations, which always take place in a tense, extreme environment, dogs often display such intelligent behavior that it seems like a “miracle.” From the above it follows:

1) the PSS dog is not only a very precise instrument, an indicator of smell, but also an intelligent assistant, whose behavior must be carefully observed and more trusted;

2) during the training period - avoid “drilling” the dog, which inhibits the development and manifestation of its rational activity.

Dog training

The special skills of the PSS include: searching for the belongings of the “victim”, searching for the “victim”, giving a voice when found, unearthing found items, for which grades are given according to a point system. The dogs are also trained to lead the trainer to the found sources of odor. For methodological ease, the PSS special course is as close as possible to the programs of other special courses of kennel clubs. For this purpose, auxiliary techniques have been introduced - sampling someone else's things, searching by the same smell for the “victim” and his things.

According to the “Program” (see appendix), a lesson plan is drawn up: daily, weekly, monthly. Any plan must be adjusted along the way educational process. The individual characteristics of the trainer and the dog and the level of their contact are always and everywhere taken into account. It is equally important to take into account the location of classes, weather conditions and other factors affecting the learning process.

All necessary skills are gradually formed on the basis of initially developed conditioned reflexes. In PSS, the stages of their development also have psycho-methodological features. The 1st stage - the development of an initial skill - is associated with the “laying in” of interest in searching/finding a person’s scent using a game element. Stage 2 - consolidation and complication of the skill - for constant interest, “excite” the dog, give the load “not enough”, so that the dog constantly wants to look for more. 3rd stage - improving the skill until it can be performed without failure in a variety of difficult conditions - load to the fullest extent, “to find out the ceiling” of the dog’s capabilities. At maximum load, to avoid nervous breakdown and a more severe, long-term disease of the central nervous system - neurosis - strictly monitor the dog’s behavior.

Training dogs to retrieve someone else's things is done in the same way as in the protective guard service. But it is advisable not to bring the selected object to the trainer, but only to indicate it by taking it into the mouth or by giving a voice. This is necessary so that in a real situation, having found clothes or equipment, the dog does not leave this place, which can be lost in difficult weather conditions, but sniffs around where the injured person himself may be. The development of all skills is based not on “coercion”, but on “pushing” the necessary actions, awakening interest in it.

Initial training of a dog to search for a “victim” and his belongings is carried out in the same way as when training to search an area. Then complications are introduced. Dogs develop the skill of finding, by zigzag searching in the direction against the wind, buried assistant trainers and two things with his scent. Conditioned stimuli when developing a skill are the command “Look!” and a gesture - throwing out the hand in the direction of sending the dog to search. Auxiliary conditioned stimuli - the command “Forward!”, the exclamation “Good!”. The assistant's underwear (plans, shirt), worn for at least 24 hours, is used as buried items.

To prevent the dog from bringing the found things to the trainer at the moment when it found it, the trainer energetically gives the command “Voice!” and hand gesture. If this is difficult for the dog to do, an auxiliary command is given with a voice and the “Sit!” gesture, and things are tied to driven pegs or bushes. After the dog has mastered the initial skill of finding a helper and his things in an area of ​​30x30 m, it is gradually increased to a size of 70x70 m, and the burying depth is increased to the test depth. An important point for training is to clearly mark the corners of the training area with red flags, which are clearly visible to the trainer from the start.

Training in one area should not be carried out more than three times in a row, otherwise dogs will develop the habit of searching only in places they are familiar with. In the second period of classes at the training site, in order to complicate the search, in addition to the usual burying of the assistant’s things, “false burials” are made, that is, digging up the surface without burying things.

The most important thing that the trainer should not forget in all classes is to maintain the dog’s constant interest in searching. Sometimes the dog needs to be given a rest, sometimes it needs to be entertained with a game or a change of environment. The search should always and everywhere end with finding the source of the smell. If the dog is not able to find it on its own, the trainer helps it by leading it to the hole. If the burial site is forgotten, he should quietly throw in an additional item (mitten, handkerchief).

At the initial stage of search training, the dog is rewarded with treats and exclamations of approval after each finding of an item. Later, the treat is given only if the task is performed particularly quickly and accurately. When finding a hidden helper, both the trainer and the helper are given, which increases the dog’s interest in finding it and speeds up the development of the initial skill.

A good trainer constantly keeps the dog in his biofield, preventing it from being distracted by unnecessary stimuli, stimulating the search for IZ with an invigorating, stimulating intonation. It is not the words of the command that play a role, but the desired intonation - at the moment. To “keep her in your hands”, commands and calls alone are not enough. Team "Search!" only a trigger for starting a search, such as the “Start!” signal. for the runner. He made a jerk... then he ran to the approving intonation of the fans.

Due to the fact that burying a person compared to a thing takes much more time and is impossible in damp weather, half of the classes can be carried out on things alone without damage. When burying a person in snow or soil, a free space for breathing is left in front of his face - an “air closet”. To do this, the “victim” is placed with his head under a coniferous tent of a young Christmas tree or a vault is built above his head from blocks of snow and boards. When burying in very loose snow and soil, an ordinary wicker basket or wooden box with air slots is placed above the head of the person being buried, to prevent hypoxia.

Schemes of educational searches: 1. middle stage - the “victim” and his two things, 2. last stage of the test - 2 unfamiliar “victims”

Impeccable vocal delivery is the most important skill of the PSS, which is why dogs with voice defects and so-called “silent ones” are rejected. During classes and work, dogs bark instinctively in response to some stimulus (someone else's dog, etc.). Therefore, in the PSS, when finding a “victim”, dogs are required not to bark randomly, but to strictly define, voice three times. You should start practicing this skill from the very first lesson. In order to teach a dog to voice three times and consolidate this skill, it is enough to immediately exclaim “Good!” each time after the third presentation, and put a treat in its mouth. For highly excitable dogs, after the third serve, you can put a mitten in their mouth and cover their mouth with your hand. Depending on the dog’s behavior, it is advisable to alternate performing this technique on command by voice and gesture with digging out the source of the smell. Oral signal behavior - barking, howling - is manifested in a dog, as well as in a wolf, to call the leader of the pack when the desired IZ is found.

Sheltering the “victim” during training sessions: 1 - with a ceiling made of poles and boards; 2 - in loose snow, soil with a wooden box;
3 - in the niche of a deep trench covered with snow

Unearthing a source of odor that interests a dog is inherent in its instinct. But the dog may not be interested in the thing buried by the trainer. Therefore, from the very first lessons, the dog is taught to dig using the command “Dig!”, combining it, depending on the situation, with a voice. When developing this skill, a favorite retrieval object or large bone is buried to a depth of 15–20 cm, and the trainer, tearing it apart with his foot, gives the command “Dig!” In the future, his leg movements will serve as a gesture for the dog to dig out the source of the smell without a verbal command. Sometimes the trainer has to take the dog’s paws in his hands and, while digging with them, repeat “Dig!”, “Good!”. The dog is rewarded for energetic digging, but gnawing or carrying the found object is not allowed. When digging holes of rodents and sewage, the command “Fu!” is given. Having consolidated the initial skill of digging out the source of the smell while simultaneously uttering a voice, an object with a smell familiar to the dog is replaced with other, unfamiliar ones.

At the final stage of training, the entire complex of search - digging - voice skills developed in the dog is brought to automatic unity, that is, they merge into a single complex search skill. To achieve this, during training you need to gradually add the following techniques to the one familiar to the dog (familiar to it separately) and repeat them many times in a strictly defined sequence. So, to develop the above complex, the corresponding commands are “Look!”, “Dig!”, “Voice!” Always and everywhere served to the dog only in this sequence. If this rule is observed, after repeated repetitions, a certain dynamic stereotype is developed - a complex action of the body, obtained on several stimuli in a strictly defined sequence - and the dog will perform all three techniques with only one command “Look!” In psychophysiology this is called a chain conditioned reflex. Adding each next appointment to the initial ones should be done not at the stage of developing the initial skill, but only after it has been firmly consolidated. Developing a complex skill of search work in a dog is possible only with strict adherence to the basic principles of training: consistency, regularity, consistency, gradual transition from simple to complex.

One of the types of dog training that stimulates and diversifies everyday activities is competitions: which dog finds the IZ faster, which one makes the alert and eyeliner more clearly. Only regular training preserves all acquired skills and improves them.

Principles of training

Systematicity is the establishment of a certain order based on the systematic arrangement and mutual connection of its parts, which may not be close in essence. Consistency ensures that the most difficult work is completed, turning the “off-road” into a “road” convenient for progress. Depending on the chosen direction, systems may vary.

Training system specific dog PSS consists of using this book and others to create your own training system - taking into account your specific conditions, your personal abilities, and the individuality of your dog. Everything should be “laid out on shelves” and, just like in a library with millions of books, the librarian does not look for the right book, but thanks to the system of their arrangement, he only raises his hand and removes it from the shelf.

Regularity - uniform and correct execution of actions in time: feeding, educational activities, training, etc. Any healthy body both dogs and humans without clockwise, subconsciously and due to the phenomenon of biorhythm, strive for regularity in their life activity. It ensures health and maximum activity. The results of training sessions and training without their regularity are very insignificant and come to naught. Moreover, an irregular lifestyle leads to weakening and disruption of physical and mental activity, diseases and premature aging of the dog.

The sequence clearly expressed in the development of the dog’s search complex “Look - dig - voice - lead” should be strictly applied in all training sessions and training sessions. Continuous sequence of one action after another in a certain order - necessary condition development of a dynamic stereotype in any activity. It is important that the development of a new complex skill in a dog is done from the natural flow of the subsequent action from the previous one with the inclusion of rational activity in the work.

The gradual transition from simple to complex, both qualitatively and quantitatively, is known to everyone from the example of personal study of mathematics, playing volleyball or walking with a backpack.

A clear understanding and practical use of the “laws” of the 1st and 2nd signal systems helps to avoid mistakes when preparing and working with PSS dogs. This also gets rid of the disturbing anthropomorphism and simplification of “training” only on conditioned reflexes. Both of these systems are ways of regulating the behavior of humans and animals in their lives. The entire surrounding world is perceived by the brain in the form of signals, captured either directly by the senses as sensations of shape, smell, sound - 1st signal system, or through the sign system of written language - 2nd signal system.

Due to the close interaction of both systems, the 1st signaling system of humans is qualitatively different from dogs and other animals. But “naming” the 2nd signaling system, which conveys socio-historical values ​​through language only, only in human society, “higher” is not entirely correct, since primitive and some tribes living today live without a written language, passing on their experience to their offspring. It is possible that dogs that communicate with humans through the biofield, non-verbal language, and rational activity have some kind of “addition” to the 1st signaling system. For training and working with a dog, what is more important is not the name of the “additions,” but understanding the dog not only by its eyes, but by the “tip of its tail.” It is also important to be able to develop, if necessary, reflexes of the 2nd and 3rd order.

When developing PSS skills in dogs, a command is simultaneously given with a voice and a gesture, which is more understandable to the dog as a “common” - non-verbal language. A command only by voice is a purely conventional sound combination, incomprehensible even to a person who does not know the given language. It happens that you teach a dog to perform a technique on command with a gesture later, using an already developed voice command. Reflexes developed on the basis of previously acquired skills, not reinforced by unconditioned stimuli, are conditioned reflexes 2nd, 3rd and higher order. The formation of a conditioned reflex of the 2nd order can be seen in the example of teaching a dog to work using gestures when controlling its behavior at a distance. Area search skills are developed according to the principle of forming conditioned reflexes of the 2nd and 3rd orders. This method can be used to develop the entire complex search skill. If each skill is developed separately and then combined into a single one, then the method is called “integration”.

Eyeliner to the found source of odor is the final stage dog training according to the club program. It consists of the dog, having discovered the IZ, vocalize three times, then, running up to the trainer located at a distance, vocalize again and at the command “Lead!” led him to his location. The method for developing this complex skill (2nd order reflex) is as follows. The trainer holds the dog on a long leash at the start. In full view of them, the assistant moves away 10–12 m and hides. The trainer with the command “Look!” sends a dog to search. Having found an assistant without difficulty, the dog gives a voice. The trainer calls the dog to him. If she does not respond well to the call, she reinforces the command with a leash. Returning to the trainer, the dog raises its voice again. The trainer shortens the leash and gives the command “Look!” - “Lead!” and follows the dog. This is repeated until the dog gives one command “Lead!”. Having brought the trainer to the assistant, the dog receives a treat. This completes the complex search skill of 4 techniques: search - digging - voice - eyeliner.

Training sessions in preparation for testing should be carried out in areas with rough terrain. The more rugged it is, the more complex the movement of air currents on the surface. Training with human burial is carried out according to the following method. After selecting the belongings of an assistant unfamiliar to the dog, who will later be the “victim,” the trainer and the dog retire to a shelter that excludes visibility of the area. At this time, the “victim” enters the area from one of the side boundaries no closer than 20 m from the start and buries two of his things to the test depth at a distance of 20–30 m from each other.

The snow (soil) is slightly compacted. As distracting smells, 2 “false burials” and loops of traces of the second assistant are made at a distance of 5-10 m from the buried things. Then, at the end of the area, the second assistant buries the “victim.” 2-3 more “false digs” are made nearby.

The trainer and the dog go to the start. At the instructor’s signal, he unfastens the leash and sends the dog with the command “Look!” to search. The trainer himself follows the dog 10–15 m along the center line of the site, moving no more than 10 m to the side. If the dog tries to go beyond the boundaries of the site, he attracts its attention with a nickname and directs the further search with a command and gesture. The dog must begin searching in zigzag parallels with a distance of 5–7 m between them and show the ability to work as a “shuttle” near the start. In the future, if she picked up the smell with her upper sense, then she can, stopping the “shuttle”, rush straight to it. When the “victim” and his things are found, she must, starting to dig, give a voice three times and bring the trainer to them. Complete excavation of all IZs is done by the trainer with a shovel. The dogs themselves are tested in the same way to receive a diploma in the club’s special PSS course.

When developing PSS skills in a dog, trainers often make the following mistakes:

1. Conducting initial search lessons in an area heavily polluted with distracting odors, which makes it difficult to develop the skill.

2. A long session with the dog in the same area, as a result of which the dog, having become accustomed to it, is poorly oriented and searches in a new, unfamiliar area.

3. The same type of burying of the assistant and objects - at the same distance from each other, in the same places in the training area.

4. Frequently pointing the dog to the source of the smell, that is, unnecessary hints that are necessary only in the first lessons.

5. Excessive restraint of the dog with a leash to maintain the correct zigzags of the “shuttle” search. Frequently pushing the dog and mistrusting its instincts.

6. Using the same assistant and his things in classes, as a result of which the dog gets used to looking only for this familiar smell.

7. Burying unworn assistants’ underwear as belongings or those that have been used in classes for a long time and have lost their smell.

8. Violation of the sequence of commands when developing the complex search skill “Search - dig - voice - lead.”

Finding a stranger. A dog that has passed tests in the club's special PSS course is a semi-finished product. In service, dogs must find IZ under a thicker layer of different environments and in different wind directions. And, most importantly, when differentiating a person’s smell from the smell of his things, always find it first. These skills are improved by gradually increasing the depth of burying IZ according to a pre-designed training plan, sending the dog to search in different directions relative to the wind.

The principle of training to find an unfamiliar “victim” is that, together with a person familiar to the dog by smell, a stranger is buried. The dog, easily finding a friend, gradually learns to find an unfamiliar “victim”, that is, it switches to finding any stranger. The dog's good behavior is required for this.

The olfactory reception of the PSS dog is the same for the smell of a person, both familiar and unfamiliar. When searching for strangers, she does not differentiate between people's smells.

"Switching" sequence.

1. Trainer with a dog in a shelter. After camouflaging his assistants at the training site, he goes out with the dog to the start and leads the search.

2. A helper familiar to the dog and an unfamiliar one are camouflaged in a nearby area in the same trench. The trainer lets the dog search, and it finds both assistants by the familiar scent of one of them.

3. The helpers disguise themselves in such a way that the stranger is closer to the start and under less cover, so that when searching, the dog finds him first.

4. Both assistants are masked at the same distance from the start with a distance of 3 meters from each other, which later increases. The dog finds both familiar and unfamiliar without much difficulty.

5. After the dog can easily find one unfamiliar helper in various places area, new unfamiliar people and things with their smell are camouflaged and buried by the dog.

Due to the fact that the smell of a person differs from his smell on things, dogs, easily differentiating them, often prefer to find first the person and then his things without any training. In order for dogs to always and everywhere find the person himself first, without paying attention to things with his smell, the following method of step-by-step training is recommended. They use the dog's attachment to the trainer - a powerful incentive for the rapid development of many skills. The search is carried out in the direction towards the wind.

1st stage. Dog, trainer and his assistant at the start. The trainer hands the dog over to an assistant and, moving along the middle of the training area, in full view of the dog, scatters several objects left and right. He excites the dog by pronouncing its name, then hides at a distance of 25–30 meters from the start. The assistant gives the command “Look!”, releases the dog, which in an excited state, not paying attention to objects, rushes in the direction of the trainer and quickly finds him.

2nd stage. The dog is in cover and does not see the trainer scattering objects or burying him. At this and subsequent stages, people enter the site from its rear or sides. This complicates the dog’s search, since it cannot follow the scent trail from the start.

3rd stage. After the dog has acquired the skill of finding a person first, the assistant and the trainer are buried together.

4th stage. Instead of an assistant, a person unfamiliar to the dog buries, then 2 strangers. Objects with a distracting trainer scent are scattered around the area, which the dog finds only after strangers.

Depending on the specific situation and behavior of the dog, you can slightly change the training plan, compress or stretch the stages by introducing intermediate ones. Whenever the dog finds a person first, it is rewarded with an increased portion of treats and exclamations of “Good!” etc. All attempts to search for objects before finding a person are “extinguished” by the commands “Forward!”, “Look!”, and in no case “Ugh!”

To train and train each dog to find a “stranger”, a large number of extras are required, the smell of which is unknown to the dog. The same extra can be used no more than 3 times with weekly breaks.

Features of behavior

Among the dogs selected for training in the PSS course, there is a wide variety of types of GNI, behavioral reactions, and individual characteristics. In dogs with a predominant food reaction behavior, the initial search skill can be developed only with the help of reinforcement with a treat after each discovery of the source of the odor. Over time, their orienting-search behavior usually awakens. It is better to conduct classes with hungry dog, the treat is given in small pieces. At the first stage of training, all search actions are reinforced; at the second, with the strengthening of the conditioned reflex, only individual ones are reinforced, which the dog performs clearly, without errors.

In life, purely expressed types of behavior are rarely encountered; usually they are mixed. There have been cases where dogs with eating behavior on the plain in the mountains, orientation and search were clearly displayed. After lowering them down, behavioral reactions alternated.

For training dogs with a predominant orienting reaction, the imitative method gives good results. Inhibition of stimuli that distract the dog during exercise is developed through gradual habituation to them. Classes begin in a closed area with no distractions. As conditioned reflexes develop, the manifestation of indicative reflexes weakens. In response to stimuli above the threshold - in strength or duration - extreme inhibition occurs in the dog’s central nervous system, protecting the nerve centers from overexcitation.

During orienting-search behavior with visual expression, dogs are distracted by moving objects - cars, livestock and other distractions from work by smell. Initial lessons With such dogs it should be carried out in desert areas, in the dark, gradually teaching them not to react to moving objects.

In some dogs, the reaction of attachment to the owner makes them dependent and passive when searching. To get rid of these shortcomings, the handler should show minimal affection, other handlers give food to the dog, and let the dog communicate more with the dogs in the absence of the handler.

There are differences in the methods of training dogs and different types of GND, age, gender, education, physical fitness, individual traits. Each handler must learn and feel the individuality of his dog as himself. There are doubles, both in humans and in dogs, in appearance, but there are no doubles in behavior. The common thing in the sequence of improvement will be the “formula”:

Special course in rescue services

To train PSS dogs in professional services, the above techniques and rules should be supplemented. On the first day of classes, the conductors’ ability to use indicators of toxic substances and their serviceability are checked.

If the dog has not yet been trained to bring a thrown object to the command “Fetch!”, it should not be taught this, since in the future, when searching the area, it should not bring what it found, but only notify about the find by barking. To develop this skill, when the dog finds a retrieval object, you need to run up to it, sit it down and, waving the found object in front of its nose, call for a voice. When training to search an area, it is very important for PSS dogs to have the skill of “sending” it in the right direction at 15–20 meters on the command “Forward!”, “Search!” and the gesture of a thrown hand.

Some dogs have difficulty developing fetch, however, their search abilities can significantly exceed good “fetchers”. In fact, the search for victims over a wide area is based on the orienting search instinct of the dog’s wild ancestors to look for food for sustenance. The trainer must skillfully direct this behavior towards finding people, giving freedom to the dog’s instinct and natural abilities. This is the main difficulty in training PSS dogs - to make maximum use of the instinct, without at the same time losing control of their search. Dogs of the orienting-search type of behavior do not need food reinforcement when finding an IZ.

Shuttle search helps PSS dogs not only to detect with the upper sense of the victim in the air flow and with the lower sense during a “thorough search”. It makes it possible to use the headwind at different angles, which makes it much easier to find the IZ. Depending on the individual characteristics of the dog, the shuttle search skill, in addition to fetching, can be developed in other ways. For example, with a lethargic or overly excitable dog that is distracted by external stimuli, you need to run along the “shuttle” line, keeping it on a leash using a contrast training method. Another method is that the trainer, leaving the dog at the start, runs 15–20 meters across the direction of the wind and calls it to him. The dog rushes towards the trainer and usually overtakes him. As soon as the dog runs 10–15 meters in this direction, he stops and runs along the zigzag “shuttle” in the opposite direction, again calling him to him. The dog catches up with him again and overtakes him, etc.

An option for teaching “retrieving” without an assistant and a leash is that the trainer, in full view of the dog, throws the retrieving object 10–12 meters and, after a short wait, sends it out to search. When the dog finds an object, he gives the command “Voice!” from a distance, then calls it - again “Voice!” and, having given the commands “Look!”, “Lead!”, follows her to her location. For dogs with a defect in vocalization, but with good search abilities, notification of the found source of odor and guidance to it is done using a pointer wear, which is suspended on its collar.

With all of the above and other options for developing search skills, the main attention is paid to the dog’s interest in finding. Training in its search in the rescue services is carried out not after OKD, but from the very first days of classes and continues in parallel with it until testing. If within 3–5 days the dog has not shown interest in finding the IZ, it means that it is not suitable for PSS.

To conduct classes, the training group is divided into teams with a permanent composition of 3-5 trainers with dogs in each. With such an organization, the trainer does not need special assistants; if necessary, they can be members of his own team. Dogs not working at this time usually closely observe those working, which makes it possible to use an imitative training method, which is especially effective for young dogs. This organization allows one instructor to conduct classes with 2-3 teams, which by the end school year work well together and form a team capable of working harmoniously in an emergency zone.

From many years of practice it follows that it is most advisable to use underwear with a certain strength of odor for burial as a source of odor and conduct half of all classes on it. An underwear shirt or trousers worn for at least 24 hours are called “standard tucks.” When the wearer performs intense physical work, this period is reduced to 2 hours. There is absolutely no need to bury larger objects in class. Burying a person should be done in the second half of the school year. The use of three “standard burrows” with different scents by each trainer allows for constant variety of tasks for the dogs. For example, four trainers of one team, exchanging burrows, give each dog the opportunity to work with twelve different odors in one lesson. If necessary, you can exchange digs between teams.

Technique significantly save time for large group training sessions. A convenient way to scatter burials over a large area from the back of a truck. The tracks from the wheels do not leave a scent trail and serve as a noticeable boundary between the training areas of each team and crew. To throw over long distances, mechanical ejection is used.

For stationary training grounds and parade grounds, V.K.’s method has proven itself well. Karpova. Along it, an extensive network of covered trenches is being constructed at the training ground. Their dead-end compartments, located at different depths, have holes with a diameter of 10–15 cm, which go to the surface of the earth and are closed with gratings. Over the holes there are rubbles of “ruins”, “forests”, etc. Assistants in the role of “victims” penetrate into dead-end compartments and regulate the release of their smell according to what is planned for each team, each calculation. Debris on the surface and dead-end compartments change for a change of scenery. This method saves precious training time and allows the dog to work on untracked terrain.

Special training of PSS dogs, which is carried out in parallel with training for raising the class, includes accustoming to: 1) explosions and shots, 2) fire and smoke, 3) the smell of blood and corpses.

Not a single search and rescue event is complete without signal flares, so the dog should be gradually accustomed to sharp sounds from an early age, starting with clapping and rattling. Later, take her for walks near shooting ranges and shooting ranges. During artillery shots, for example shelling avalanche slopes, dogs should be removed at a distance along with handlers who distract them with games and various techniques. One of them is that the handler, sitting on the ground, hides the dog’s head under his arm and approves of its behavior with a caress and a soothing tone. Dogs that have never heard gun shots often run away from them for several kilometers and, due to a breakdown in nervous activity (neurosis), lose their ability to work. The calm reaction of most dogs to the sound of thunder and hunting dogs to gun shots is a habit developed in phylogenesis, that is, over the course of many generations.

In relation to fire, dogs do not have an instinctive fear, since in ontogenesis (in their life) they have no negative associations with fires. This circumstance does not make it easier to find them in the fire zone, but makes it more difficult, since burns to the paws and other parts of the body will be a cruel lesson for life. The usual caution of dogs towards the fire of a fire (from phylogeny) does not alleviate this issue, since it is not the fire itself that is dangerous, into which no dog will climb, but the unexpected fall of burning debris, fire tornadoes, hot gases, a hail of sparks, etc. The only thing that can and should be taught to dogs to avoid these dangers is to calmly follow next to the handler, both on a leash and without it.

Finding themselves in a smoke-filled fire for the first time in their lives, even seasoned, experienced dogs will refuse to work or will soon fail after ingesting smoke. Young and excitable - in the heat of the moment they will singe the fur, burn their paws, after which they will be afraid of the smell of smoke for a long time. The basis for accustoming dogs to a smoky area is the well-known principle of training - a gradual transition from easy to difficult, from simple to complex. At the beginning of training, smoke in the areas should be minimal, and, gradually increasing it, it is brought closer to the level of smoke in a “real situation” only after 2–3 months. Smoke from burning material containing toxic chemical compounds can poison not only the dog, but also the handler. Smoke, even without toxic impurities (wood, straw), is a strong distracting irritant for the dog, making it difficult to find the “victims”. For these reasons, training in a smoky area should be carried out in compliance with following rules:

1. When making fires to create smoke at the search site, use uncontaminated fuel - brushwood, straw, etc. When burning scraps of roofing felt and other waste in construction landfills, use indicators to determine the impurities of sulfur, phosphorus and other toxic substances in the smoke.

2. To avoid getting into the area of ​​thick smoke and getting burned, young, highly excitable dogs are taken on a leash for searching.

3. From the very first training, dogs should be taught to avoid strong streams of smoke, go around them and take the smell from the side or wait out the “smoke wave”.

4. If a dog gets into an area of ​​thick smoke and starts sneezing, it will not be able to detect even a strong source of the smell. To restore her sense of smell, she is taken out of the smoky area and walked in clean air.

The same respite and calm are given to the dog when it is overexcited by any strong stimuli - sound, light, etc. When a dog’s neuropsychic balance is disturbed, its sense of smell and search become noticeably weakened.

An injured bleeding victim will smell differently than a normal human, which can be confusing and confusing to a dog if it is meeting him for the first time. Dogs react to human blood in much the same way as to animal blood, so in classes it is quite possible to use blood taken, for example, from a slaughterhouse. During search sessions with this new scent for the dog, the assistant handler pins a rag soaked in the blood of pets to his clothing. It must be soaked at least 2 hours before classes in order for certain blood to occur, as in a real situation. chemical reactions. In these classes, the handler carefully observes the change in behavior of the dog that detects the scent of a person with blood. Under no circumstances should a dog be allowed to lick a rag with blood while there is a helper.

Mountain training

The quality of work of PSS dogs is significantly reduced on terrain that is unusual for them and in other unusual conditions. Therefore, training for dogs of classes “B” and “C” should also include mountain training. The simplest method of this training is for the dog to accompany the trainer on mountain routes of varying difficulty with strict adherence to the rules of movement in the mountains. On moderately difficult terrain, the dog chooses the best path itself. On difficult and dangerous ones, where a breakdown leads to a fall, she takes belay.

On rocky routes, the greatest danger is the ice formed on the surface, which the dog does not visually notice. Overcoming large rocky screes, the dog jumps from stone to stone without difficulty. On the small screes that “float” under their feet, many of them experience fear and hostility. The most unpleasant for both the handler and the dog are medium screes, with rocks swinging underfoot and cracks in which young and excitable dogs break their legs. An easier technique for practicing in such areas is the use of microburrows.

Melting porous firn and snow, even on steep slopes, present no difficulty for dogs. On steep ice slopes, dogs’ paws are not supported, and they are transported by guides along rope “railings” and in a backpack, as if through cracks. It is worthy of attention that old, experienced PSS dogs have, like many animals in the highlands, an amazing sense of detecting dangers “hidden” from humans - cracks dusted with snow, snow cornices ready to collapse, etc. This ability, not yet explained by science, should be given attention attention.

Dogs cross mountain streams waist-deep by swimming or jumping from rock to rock. Most dogs can swim from birth, but not all can swim for long periods of time. Training in water is usually done by repeatedly throwing retrieval objects into it. Dogs' dislike for water is always associated with negative emotions experienced in early age- usually, when in order to “teach swimming”, they were forcibly thrown into a pond. You can get rid of this shortcoming only through gradual training with food reinforcement and association with pleasant things - playing and swimming with the trainer, who must always swim so as to see the dog.

The negative influence of altitude above sea level due to decreased atmospheric pressure and lack of oxygen is overcome, as in humans, by gradual acclimatization and training at various altitudes. Behavior in high altitudes varies from dog to dog. Thus, one of our dogs, which was not distinguished by either strength or endurance below, freely climbed several times to the top of Elbrus (5633 m above sea level), while others, stronger ones, did not go higher than 4500 m. The critical altitude is 4000 m above sea level, above which most dogs lose their appetite, become lethargic or, conversely, excitable. With proper acclimatization - gradual adaptation of the body to new climatic conditions- dogs perform search and other techniques completely normally at an altitude of 5000 m.

Training

The purpose of the training is to consolidate and improve the skills developed during training. In its absence and rare official use, extinctive inhibition occurs in the dog’s cerebral cortex, as a result of which the developed skills are gradually lost. Therefore, the main task of training is to maintain working form and prevent the loss of developed skills. The second task is to further improve skills by increasing the depth of burying odor sources and complicating the conditions for their location. Physical training includes running, jumping, swimming and, of course, towing a skier.

A large number of, but irregular and unsystematic performance of any exercises not only does not improve the dog’s skill, but often causes a negative attitude towards both training and work.

Dog training should be carried out strictly according to plan, 2-3 times a week, with full training, but without overworking with long and monotonous exercises, which “discourage interest” and lead to diseases of the nervous system - neuroses. Burying a person in snow to a depth of more than 2 meters is carried out in deep trenches in an avalanche or snow drift. A specific aspect of search training is the dog’s love not only for its handler, but for people in general. good search dog Having found and unearthed a person unfamiliar to her, she squeals and jumps for joy. Such dog behavior as “good behavior” should be encouraged not only by exclamations of “Good!” and delicacy, but also the manifestation of the same joy by the conductor himself and his assistant.

In terms of training, training with “full equipment” is alternated with “incomplete”, “not full”, difficult - “preliminary burying” of objects - with easy ones with assistants. This alternation of loads makes the dog constantly look forward to the next activity with joy and impatience.

During rescue operations in difficult weather conditions, when the victim is at great depth, detection of his scent is difficult; dogs must be able to do, in addition to the “primary” search without a leash, a “thorough” search on a long leash using a “shuttle” or other methods. The advantage of the first type of search is the examination of a large area in a short time and the quick finding of a victim covered with a thin layer of snow or soil. The second type allows you to carefully examine the search area not only by the dog, but also by the handler, who can detect small, almost odorless objects (a coin, a button) on the surface that help find the victim. During a “thorough” search, the handler leads the dog to the boundaries of the marked area, which it cannot determine on its own. Training in this search is especially useful for young and excitable dogs. Performing the technique requires high skill from the handler: he must simultaneously visually examine the surface, keep the dog on a leash, guiding the search, and not restrict its freedom. Good learning result search work provides a preliminary study of various techniques in a “laboratory search”.

Classes should not be conducted in areas contaminated with sharp objects. However, in life you have to work in such conditions - pieces of glass and iron in the ruins of buildings, sharp stones in an avalanche runoff, etc. If dogs are not prepared for such work, then from the very first steps, having cut their paws, not only will they not be able to find the victim, but will generally be out of action for a long time. Therefore, several special training sessions should be carried out in these areas. In the curriculum, time is allocated for them when burying cannot be done - lack of snow, frozen ground. Construction dumps, areas of demolished buildings, etc. are used as a training ground. The sources of the smell are both people and various digs that are hidden under slabs, pieces of iron, and plywood. Dogs must work in durable shoe covers. Under no circumstances is the dog allowed to dig, for which purpose the handler, following it at the closest possible distance, always does this work himself when attempting to dig. Covered trenches with “wells” allow you to dig without the risk of injury. In them you can use the smell of blood, a corpse, previously collected on an adsorbent or in a container.

When the assistant is buried deep in the snow, an icy crust forms on the ceiling of the snow niche - the “air storage room”, blocking the release of the smell, which must be periodically scraped off.

The general rules will be:

1) the dog must first find living people, then corpses and, if necessary, certain things;

2) any specialization improves the quality of work. Therefore, it is advisable to specialize PSS dogs, dividing them into “avalanche” and “ruin” dogs.

This specialization begins with the first training sessions using various methods. Ruin dogs are trained to find only people, with minimal food reinforcement. Avalanche - standard digs, with food reinforcement. Training in conditions of strong sound and light stimuli is mandatory for dogs of both specializations.

Training dogs of any class is not limited to physical and technical exercises - mental training forms its organic whole. Search in “terrible” terrain areas; blizzard, rain, hurricane; thunder, lightning and fires; artillery shelling, the roar of destruction and the screams of victims - the dog must be accustomed to all this.

The rules of training and education are just the “ABC”, which each trainer supplements and uses taking into account the characteristics of his dog and the region where these classes take place.

Education and training rules:

1. Establish the strongest contact with the dog based on a thorough knowledge of all the features of its behavior, an individual approach, a friendly but demanding attitude. Be balanced with her, treat her kindly, communicate more. The trainer and the dog are an inseparable whole, a future “calculation”.

2. Engage only with completely healthy dog in working form. Feed her at least 2 hours before or after class.

3. Conditioned stimulus, that is, the command is always given 1–2 seconds before the unconditional - mechanical reinforcement (“shuttle” search, eyeliner). Food reinforcement, that is, a treat is given throughout the entire lesson, in equal portions (finding, digging, etc.).

4. Repeat each technique with the dog, depending on the complexity and its behavior, from 5 to 15 times a day, the intervals between them are 3–5 minutes. Give her rest, alternate performing “unloved” techniques with “favorite” ones.

6. Use not only unconditioned and conditioned reflexes, but also the rational activity of dogs. Be as attentive as possible to their search behavior - dogs can perform useful actions that they have not been trained to do. Excessive commands from the trainer make the dog lack initiative.

7. The merging (complexing) of the techniques “search - digging - casting a voice - eyeliner” should always and everywhere be carried out in a strictly defined sequence. Only in this way do individual techniques form a single chain and are performed by the dog automatically in unison after multiple repetitions.

8. Develop and constantly maintain the dog’s interest in finding the source of the smell. Searching on difficult terrain or in difficult weather conditions simply by following a command does not bring results.

Keep the dog in a cheerful, working state, but without overexcitation.

9. Systematically change the place of study, time of day, sources of smell, environment (snow, soil, etc.), meteorological and other conditions in which the search is carried out.

10. The search for the source of the smell always ends with finding it. At the same time, encourage the dog, in addition to treats, by exclaiming “Good!”, expressing joy, affection, and play.

The types and types of searches that are given below are very conventional and schematic. They are only the basis for a creative decision made in each specific situation of a real search, their combinations, but not a permanent template. With a PSS dog, you can perform 2 types of search: “primary” - always without a leash, and “thorough” - usually on a long leash or without it, keeping the dog at a distance of no more than 10 m. During rescue operations, through these types of search, a handler with a dog can do 4 types of area surveys, usually performed in the same sequence in which they are listed.

1. “Preliminary examination” is done by dogs of the “primary” type during reconnaissance, when the handlers only outline zones “A” and “B”, or the direction of the “corridors”. His goal is to survey the largest area in the shortest possible time. With it, the dog is given the command “Look!”, and the handler, while inspecting the surface, does not direct its search. The dog, taking advantage of complete freedom (freedom reflex), searches the area in the direction it desires. This type of examination is also used at crossings, when there is an assumption that victims may be on the route or there is no certainty at all where to look for them.

2. The “basic examination” is also carried out by the “primary” species, but the handler already leads the search, at the same time not hampering the dog’s initiative. It is usually used when the search is done over more certain area or the intended "corridor". “Basic examination” is the most common type of work performed by PSS dogs. The handler controls the search for the dog with the command “Search!” and a gesture of throwing out the hand in the right direction. It encourages the dog, taking into account the direction of the wind, to search in zigzags or along other lines.

3. “Detailed survey” is the most thorough of the types mentioned, which is always carried out by a “thorough” search along zigzag lines (shuttle) or other lines. His goal is to inspect the area so as to be sure that there are no casualties there. When working with young, excitable dogs, always use a long leash. For balanced, experienced dogs, class “B” and “C”, there is usually no need for this - the handler leads the search with the command “Look!” and a gesture of throwing out the hand. In suspicious places, he encourages the dog to dig with the command “Dig!” and sniff carefully. This type of survey is used in very specific areas - zones “A” and “B”, the boundaries of which are marked with red flags.

4. “Re-examination” is used when the “detailed” survey did not bring results, but there is reason to believe that there are victims in the given area. It happens that the dog searching here could not find them because the burial was too deep, difficult weather conditions, its individual characteristics, the handler’s mistakes and other reasons. In this most difficult type of examination, depending on the situation, all of the above types can be used in their various combinations. This work is performed by another, more experienced guide and best dog usually in a slightly modified direction of the previous search. A “re-examination” can be carried out by the same handler with the dog, passing the area they have already examined in the opposite direction.

Search technique

Regardless of how the dogs are delivered to the disaster site, they are given a 10-minute rest, during which a plan and tactics for search and rescue operations are outlined. The dogs are given a walk, plenty to drink and 100-200 g of meat or fish if they received food long before going out. During the search, the dog should not be hungry, but it should also not be fed to its fullest. The main feeding is done after work, in the evening. A small portion of food stimulates it nervous activity, puts the body into working shape. During this rest, the dog's airways are cleared of dust, exhaust fumes and other road odors. After this, they are put on harnesses and protective shoe covers on their paws. The conductors wear durable shoes that protect against burns and injuries, a protective helmet, and gloves.

In dogs of the choleric type, VND does not allow the dominance of the excitation process, which interferes with the work of the dogs themselves and their control. A skilled handler regulates the activity of the dog’s central nervous system with his expression of will and intonation.

The duration of work of PSS dogs without rest depends on many factors, including the fitness class and age of the dog, its working form and state of health at the moment, the complexity of the work performed (strength of smell, air movement, weather conditions, etc.), type of search, skill and the experience of the handler, etc. There are cases when dogs worked for 8 or more hours without rest. Usually, a break is required after every hour of work to clean the nose, paws and fur, get a drink, etc. When working in the ruins of residential buildings, dogs may adapt to household odors.

The famous climber and mountain rescuer of Czechoslovakia I. Galfi spoke about this side of the matter as follows: “The success of saving lives depends primarily not on the rescuers and not on their dogs, but on how quickly they reach the scene of the incident.”

That is why it seems especially relevant to train PSS dogs directly in areas prone to earthquakes and avalanches.

The main reasons for sluggish search by dogs are the following:

Poor health of the dog (general or olfactory organs);

Overfatigue during transportation and work;

“unwillingness” of the dog to work (psychogenic breakdown);

Unfavorable weather conditions (frost, heat);

Blocking odor from reaching the surface (wet snow, etc.);

Excessive smoke, air pollution with other harmful impurities;

Carrying away odor information by hurricane winds;

Excessive contamination of the surveyed area with distracting odors;

The depth at which the odor source is located is too great (subthreshold concentration).

Notes:

Durov V.L. Animal training. Psychological observations of animals trained according to my method (40 years of experience). M., 1924.

Pavlov I.P. Twenty years of experience in objectively studying the GNI of animals. M., 1923.

Another hunting name for this technique is “pork”. In service dog breeding, the official expression “to encourage” is used instead. The accurate, expressive language of hunters is very suitable for PSS, clearly expressing the subtleties of the dogs’ work: “restlessness, staying too long, viscosity, crawling,” etc.

Karpov V.K. Training of search dogs rescue service in Chimkent // Service Dog Breeding Club. M., 1991.

The name was adopted at the All-Union gatherings of rescue dog handlers to replace the previously used “rude”.

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. The anatomical structure of the eyes (the presence of a third eyelid), interdigital membranes on the paws and the special structure of the ears allows them to dive to depths of 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 is able to dig a large hole, so great is his strength and dexterity. 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 and not show aggression towards medical workers, human rescuers and other dogs who appear at her call;

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, as it will have to get through 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 In rescuing St. Bernards - large dogs with rather long hair, employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations are well aware of the story of the 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. Puppies that do not have a sufficient sense of smell or exhibit fear will not be accepted into rescue services. 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.

Story four: the legendary Barry
Many St. Bernards entered the history of the monastery by name: Turk, Jupiter, Drago. They account for more than a dozen lives saved. Probably the most famous dog in history was Barry. No dog in the world had such a halo of glory. Poems and stories were written about him, odes were dedicated to him. Barry was a very well-mannered, intelligent dog. He knew how to navigate exceptionally, was very hardy and was not afraid of frost. It happened more than once that he suddenly broke away from his resting place and ran away, and a few minutes later an avalanche hit this place. When he felt the approach of fog or a storm, he became restless and often went into the mountains himself to help travelers. His most famous act, which inspired poets, artists, and sculptors to create works about him, was the rescue of a little boy. Peasant Maria Vinzetti, despite warnings, set off with her son through the pass in winter, without anyone accompanying her. They were thrown into a crevice by an avalanche. Barry smelled them and rushed to help. When he found them, the mother used her last strength to tie the child to the dog’s back with her shawl. Barry brought the child to the monastery and thereby saved his life. In the spring, the abbot of the monastery descended from the pass and gave the boy to his relatives, who considered him dead.
His ascetic activity ended tragically. After the defeat of Napoleonic troops in Russia, the remnants of the army fled to their homeland in complete disorder. One of these warriors was buried in an avalanche on the pass. Barry found it and dug it out, after which he began to warm it with his body. Having come to his senses, the freezing man saw Barry’s huge head in front of him and, mistaking him for a wild animal, hit him with an ice ax. The stranger knew nothing about the dogs of the monastery of St. Bernard. The seriously wounded dog, leaving a wide bloody trail, crawled to the house, and along this terrible trail the monks found the unfortunate traveler. Barry's wound was treated and the bleeding was stopped. At this time, a passing merchant stopped at the monastery and persuaded the monks to give him the dog so that he could take it to an animal hospital in Bern. The dog was put in a sleigh, and all the inhabitants of the monastery came out to see it off. In Bern, they managed to treat Barry, but he never fully recovered, due to his advanced age. City honoring merit famous dog, fed and supported him until his death. When he died, Barry's effigy was installed in the museum, where it is carefully preserved to this day.
One of Barry's monuments is an ode by the 19th century poet Sheitlin dedicated to the legendary St. Bernard:
“The most excellent dog that we know was not the one that woke up the sentries of the Acropolis in Corinth; and not Betzerillo, who tore apart hundreds of red Indians; not the executioner’s dog who, on the orders of his master, led the cowardly traveler through a dark and dangerous section of the path; not Drydens the Dragon, who, at the nod of his master, attacked four robbers, of whom he killed some and thus saved the life of his master; not the same dog in Warsaw that threw itself from a bridge into the Vistula and saved a little girl from death; not Orbi, who, in the presence of the king, madly rushed at the murderer of his master and almost tore him to pieces; and also not Cellini Benvenuto, who immediately woke up the jeweler when they wanted to steal the jewels from the latter - BARRY is a sacred animal on St. Bernard, the greatest of dogs, the greatest of animals. You truly were the greatest and most intelligent of man's dogs, having an ardent love for the unfortunate. You saved more than 40 travelers. With a basket, bread and a bottle of sweet and refreshing drink around your neck, you set out from the shelter every day, among the blizzard and mud, looking for those covered in snow and buried in avalanches, you dug out the unfortunate ones, and if you didn’t succeed, then quickly ran home in order to call for help. the help of monks who, with the help of shovels, helped you find the dying man. In contrast to the gravedigger, you resurrected the dead! Like a sensitive and empathetic person, you were also gifted with the ability to instill in the unfortunate travelers your sympathy and compassion for them, since otherwise the boy you saved would probably never have decided to sit on your back in order to be taken to a hospitable monastery. Arriving at the monastery, you rang the bell at the sacred gates to convey your precious treasure to the compassionate brothers. And so, when the sweet burden was lifted, you immediately set off headlong on a new search.
You considered every success a reward for yourself; every success made you more and more joyful and compassionate. Yes, this is precisely the blessing of a good genius, constantly creating only kindness. Barry, in what ways did you communicate this to the travelers you found, and how did you manage to give them courage and comfort?
I would gift you with speech so that another person could learn all this from you. Yes, you never expected the message, you yourself always remembered your sacred duties, just like the pious and pleasant Master Man. As soon as you noticed from afar the approach of snowy weather or fog, you immediately went in search. What would become of you if you were human? You would probably become St. Vincent and the founder of a whole hundred orders and monastic charity. For 12 whole years you performed your service without demanding any gratitude for it.
I had the honor of meeting you at St. Bernard. With respect, as it should be, I take off my hat to you. At that moment you were playing with your friend, like the game of tigers. I wanted to make friends with you, but you... grumbled because you didn’t know me. I was already aware of both your fame and your name. If I were unhappy, you wouldn't grumble at me. Now you are already a stuffed animal in the Berne Museum. The city acted quite rightly that, after you grew old and became weak to save people, it fed you until your death. Everyone who sees your effigy in Bern should take off his hat, buy your portrait and hang it under glass in a frame on the wall, and also buy that picture of you with a little boy on your back as you stand with him at the gate monastery and ring the bell. Everyone who bought this painting should show it to children and schoolchildren and say this: go and do the same thing as this good Samaritan did, and throw away the portraits of Robespierre, Marat, Hannibal, Abellino, as well as other murderers and robbers. window - and all this so that the child’s soul learns from dogs what it has unlearned from people!”
Barry (1800–1814) - most famous dog St. Bernard breed lived at a monastery on the Italian-Swiss border, worked with Alpine rescuers, and saved 40 people over 10 years.
The story goes that Barry was mistakenly killed by the last of those he was saving. In fact, this is just a touching legend.
Barry's mummy is on display at the Natural History Museum in Bern, Switzerland. Additionally, his statue is located at the entrance to the dog cemetery at the Paris Pet Cemetery.
The name Barry actually has nothing to do with English name Barry, a comes from the Swiss-German "Bäri" (that is, bear), which, in Switzerland, is often given to black dogs. At the end of the 19th century, the name changed slightly in the English manner and became "Barry". This happened because the dog was almost a legend in the English-speaking world, which at that time became fascinated by the Alps. The legend of Barry, like the fairy tale "Heidi", are examples of quite clever advertising to attract tourists.
Often the legends clearly embellished reality: for example, the story that Barry had a small vial of liquid hanging on his collar to warm those rescued is a fiction.
The dogs used by the monks at St. Bernard's Gorge were very different in shape and color from those we call St. Bernards. After being accidentally killed most of dogs, the monks crossed the remaining ones with a mastiff, after which modern St. Bernards appeared. That is why Barry’s color was not the usual light one, but black.

In this article I will look at the best breeds of rescue dogs. I will tell you about the size and nature of each of the breeds, in what emergency situations they found their application.

Dogs - best friends, they protect territories, become companions to lonely people, and save lives.

Best Rescue Dog Breeds

Breeds of rescue dogs were bred specifically for search purposes and to protect people in extreme situations or natural disasters. Four-legged animals cope with assigned tasks faster, thanks to their sensitive sense of smell. The dog senses a person in trouble under a large thickness of snow, debris from natural disasters, and is rescued from the water. Let's take a closer look at the different breeds of rescue dogs.

Labrador

Large in size, height at the withers is 53-61 cm, weight 25-36 kg. They are friendly, playful, patient, reliable, require constant attention from the owner, and are easy to train. Not suitable for security, suitable for people with an active lifestyle.

Labrador training takes place in game form, they do all the exercises with pleasure.

The price of a puppy of this breed will be 20,000 – 40,000 rubles.

Retrievers often participate in rescue operations in water, their swimming speed is 5 km/h. They help rescue people from rubble after explosions, earthquakes, floods and other accidents. Can be used as guide dogs for people with disabilities. To help during disasters, special training and training is required: from simple obedience commands to acting out disaster scenarios.

Large in size, height at the withers is 66-71 cm, weight reaches 70 kg. Newfoundlands are patient, calm, obedient, loyal, easy to train, and suitable for families with children. Phlegmatic by nature, not prone to movement, but happy to go for a walk with the owner.

They are sensitive to comments, criticism and harshness of the owner, train them with affection, then the process will be more effective.

The price for a puppy of this breed will be 40,000 – 75,000 rubles.

They are used to rescue people on the water; it is not for nothing that they are called “divers”; they are distinguished by their friendliness, intelligence, and endurance. The Newfoundland does not freeze in water and is resistant to cold thanks to its water-repellent double coat. The animal has a special structure of ears, eyes, third eyelid, membranes between the fingers, which helps it swim long distances and dive deep under water. The survival instinct is inherent in nature; they rush into the water at the first sign of a person drowning.

Large in size, height at the withers 61-70 cm, weight 50-91 kg. They are distinguished by endurance, fearlessness, diligence and good learning ability. Saint Bernards are calm, kind, loyal, non-aggressive, have good physical strength, and do not like loneliness. Families who do not have time to spend with a pet and are good with children and look after them should not get one.

The price for a puppy of this breed will be 15,000 – 45,000 rubles.

Most often used to rescue people in the mountains, in avalanches and in water. Scientists have found that representatives of this breed sense a snowstorm 40 minutes before it begins. At a great distance they can smell people under thick snow, they can single-handedly dig a way to them, pull them to the surface and bring them to their senses.

Large in size, height at the withers 55-65 cm, body weight 22-40 kg. balanced, confident, has a good disposition, attentive, obedient, and has protective qualities. Suitable for people with a strong character; the animal requires constant physical activity, training and socialization are required.

The price of a German puppy will be 20,000 – 50,000 rubles.

Helping people is in the German Shepherd's blood; they are used to save people in the mountains, under landslides, earthquakes and explosions, and in reservoirs. Thanks to its instincts, the shepherd quickly finds the victims and pulls them out.

Large dog with developed muscles, height at the withers 63-72 cm, body weight 32-45 kg. intelligent, vigilant, obedient, self-confident, energetic, fearless, loyal, dexterous and resilient. They have a quick reaction and speed of completing tasks, while another dog is busy with one exercise, the Doberman will do five.

The price of a Doberman puppy will be 15,000 – 45,000 rubles.

Suitable for a self-confident owner with a strong character and an active lifestyle, who gets along well with children. This breed requires socialization and proper training; without this, it can grow up angry and unbalanced.

A keen sense of smell helps the Doberman to find people in extreme situations and pull them out of the rubble. This breed can be a guide to the blind.

German large breed of dog, height at the withers 65-80 cm, weight 45-78 kg. loyal, devoted, intelligent, calm, have protective qualities with a formidable appearance and a gentle character. They are non-aggressive, try to please the owner, strive to take the position of a subordinate in the family, and are easy to train. Suitable for a family with children, with whom he gets along well and allows him to do whatever he wants with him.

The price for a Leonberger puppy is 30,000 – 50,000 rubles.

The dog is an excellent swimmer and is used as a lifeguard on ponds. It takes a lot of effort and practice to quickly swim to a drowning person, save him and pull him to shore.

Or Malinois is a medium-sized dog, whose height at the withers is 58-62 cm, weight 20-30 kg. Cautious, responsible, energetic, does not show aggression, is always ready for action, and has watchdog qualities. Takes care of children, is not averse to playing with them, and is suitable for owners with an active lifestyle. Without physical activity, property will begin to deteriorate.

Price per puppy Belgian Shepherd will be 15,000 - 40,000 rubles.

Dogs learn through play; they respond well to training; all attention is focused on the owner.

Malinois work in the mountains, rescuing people from the depths of snow, just like St. Bernards. Thanks to their grace and dexterity, animals find people under rubble, which helps save their lives faster.

Dog large sizes, height at withers 57-68 cm, body weight 27-32 kg. By temperament they are balanced, manageable, courageous, fast, smart, loyal, with developed hunting instincts. The companion dog gets along well with children; commands are learned quickly in the form of a game.

The average price for a puppy will be 25,000 rubles.

Found its application in the coast guard to rescue drowning people from the water. They deftly and quickly reach, rescue and deliver to a safe place.

Four-legged rescuers must be obedient, flexible, intelligent, resilient, have a strong constitution and be well socialized in society. Every rescue dog has a natural sense of smell and stamina, but efficient work specialized training is required. The animal must find people in the ruins, give a voice, inform the guide, and then lead a rescue team to the place with the victims. Hard work requires quick completion, because human life depends on it.

By choosing one of the rescue dog breeds as a pet, you will find a faithful friend, a caring nanny for children and an active sports partner.

Newfoundland dogs are used in water rescue services. This breed got its name from the island of Newfoundland, where these dogs were first bred and used by humans.

Newfoundlands are excellent swimmers, endowed with the instinct to bring various floating objects to shore, as well as provide assistance to drowning people. That's why they have proven themselves to be excellent water rescuers.

It is known, for example, that during Napoleon's escape from the island of Elba, he fell into the sea and was saved by the ship's Newfoundland dog. Bob's Newfoundland has drowned many people in the UK, for which he was awarded a gold medal. In 1919, during a storm, the ship "Et" ran aground and was in distress. The captain sent a sailor ashore to report what had happened, but he was unable to swim and drowned. The last hope was the Newfoundland Tang. The dog swam to the shore, and the people in distress, including an infant, were saved.

In Väino Bay (Estonia), the Newfoundland Lados Bay (owner M. Mägi), trained to help people on the water, saved a 16-year-old girl. The wind carried her, unable to swim, on a rubber mattress into the open sea. Attempts to catch up with the girl and help her were unsuccessful. Then Lados Bey was sent by the “Save” team, and he did an excellent job with his responsible task.

Newfoundlands have long been used to carry various heavy loads. An engraving by Philip Rangely (1740-1833) shows a black and white Newfoundland pulling a loaded sleigh in the foreground among a group of other dogs. In 1837, a decree was issued in London prohibiting the use of dogs for transporting goods.

Newfoundlands were also used as guard dogs. And although this type of service is secondary for Newfoundlands, it should be borne in mind that, if necessary, despite its friendliness, the Newfoundland will offend its owner.

In our country, the first experiments on the use of Newfoundlands in water rescue services were carried out in the summer of 1975 in Estonia by the Water Rescue Society (OSVOD). In 1976, an experimental group of Newfoundland dogs was created, with which work was carried out using a specially developed methodology. Around the same time, similar work began in Leningrad and somewhat later in Norilsk and the Latvian SSR.

The main activity on the use of rescue dogs in Tallinn is carried out by the section of Newfoundland dog owners of the Estonian Republican Service Dog Club DOSAAF with the active participation of the Tallinn City OSVOD.

The city committees of DOSAAF and OSVOD approve and support all the section’s initiatives aimed at developing water rescue services using dogs. At the Tallinn OSVOD rescue station, the section built a small pier for three-four-seater boats, and a shed for storing sails and other property. A special sports and training ground has been equipped on the banks of the Pirita River. All this serves as the basis for conducting the necessary educational and training sessions with dog owners and their four-legged helpers.

The preparation of puppies, future rescuers of people on the water, begins with educational training, carried out according to the generally accepted method for all service dogs. Once the puppies reach 4-6 months of age, they are given classes in initial (preliminary) general puppy training. At the same time, we conduct short-term, usually monthly, training sessions twice a week for dog owners on the basics of keeping, raising, and training dogs.

One-year-old dogs are trained according to a general training course, according to the generally accepted DOSAAF methodology, but taking into account the purpose of dogs for water rescue service. Additionally, animals are trained to enter a boat and swim in it, and swim behind the boat up to 500 m.

Having mastered OKD, they begin special training of dogs. At the same time, their owners are trained in the methods and techniques of special training and, in addition, methods of providing assistance to drowning people: artificial respiration, massage, dressing wounds, assistance with fractures, bruises, etc. During this period, special attention is paid to developing the dogs’ skills to swim behind a boat up to 1000 m, find and carry out transportation items on the water, tow drowning people to the shore, etc.

When starting to train Newfoundlands, you need to know that the opinion that existed among dog breeders that Newfoundlands are stupid dogs and can only be trained from the age of two is wrong. Animals of this breed are perfectly trainable, you just need to have some experience with them good contact and correctly, taking into account their previous preparedness and individual characteristics, structure each lesson. We must strive to observe the principle of gradually introducing complications, not to overload the dogs, and always monitor their general condition. You need to learn to “read” a dog’s mood in its eyes. As soon as you notice indifference or “boredom” in them, you need to stop training, provide the dog with active rest (a short walk in a free state for the dog) and then continue training. You should not give commands, including repeated ones, too loudly or rudely. This does not help, but rather harms the training process. Moreover, this is unacceptable when performing patrol duty on the shore, in the presence of vacationers.

In our section, general training of dogs, as mentioned above, usually begins when they reach one year of age, and by two years the animal is completely ready for rescue service.

In the initial, educational training of puppies and young dogs - future water rescuers, special attention is paid to teaching them to swim, first near the shore, and then behind the boat. At first, swimming behind the boat is limited to 50-100 m and gradually increased to 1 km.

Special training also includes teaching the dog to calmly enter swimming facilities, sit, lie down, stand on them, swim and go ashore on command.

It is recommended to teach your dog these skills as follows. The trainer with the dog at his left leg makes a guiding gesture with his right hand and, at the same time giving the command “Forward” with his voice, directs the dog onto a boat or other watercraft and enters after it. On command “Sit”, “Lie down”, “Stand” forces the dog to take the appropriate place and position, which can periodically change on command. The dog must calmly, without leaving its place, swim on the watercraft and, upon the command “Forward” and a gesture, go ashore from it.

A dog is trained to fetch in water by giving the command “Fetch” in a voice and gesturing with the right hand in the direction of the thrown object with a slight tilt of the body forward. Classes are conducted without equipment.

The trainer with the dog at his left leg approaches the shore, sits it down, throws the retrieval object into the water (first near the shore, gradually further) and with the command “Retrieve” and sends the dog after the object with a gesture. The dog must swim to the object, float it to the shore to a depth when the animal’s paws reach the bottom. There is no need to take objects ashore, since when rescuing drowning people, the dog must deliver them through the water to the shore to a shallow place.

At the next stage of special training, the future rescue dog is taught to swim behind a boat. This is done by giving the voice command “Forward”, with a guiding gesture with a slight tilt of the body forward if the dog is sent after the boat by an assistant, or “Come to me” if the dog is called to the boat by the trainer sailing on it. When the dog is swimming behind the boat, you need to balance the speed of the boat with the physical capabilities and swimming experience of the dog. The dog's swimming distance increases gradually and is increased to 500 m.

All techniques are practiced without a leash, with the exception of the techniques “Prohibition of taking food scattered on the ground and given by a stranger” and “Stopping unwanted actions.” Here, at first, a short leash is used. For correct execution of commands (gestures), dogs are rewarded with the exclamation “Good” and a treat (the latter is used less often in sufficiently trained dogs).

For questions about posting articles, please contact: [email protected]