The search and rescue (SAR) dog team is a special unit. The SAR team, reacts to natural and man made emergencies locally or around the world. Normally the SAR team is “on call” 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. SAR teams are members of SAR groups, which are normally comprised of volunteers. Which means the work is the reward, and not monetary remuneration.

SAR members must have employment that allows for time off, with little or no advanced notice, not only for the actual searches, but for training. Some groups will arrange for group activities in other states, which gives the dog and handler experience in different terrain, climate, and other factors, not available in their home state.

SAR members must have the support of their family and friends. As with employment, the family must understand that mom or dad, could be called away on very short notice. That your attendance at family functions such as parties, outings, and other events is not guaranteed, and is subject to a group call out or activation. Family and friends must understand that in some cases your expected return date can be extended, with little or no notice.

SAR members must have financial freedom. Since most if not all SAR teams are volunteers, the team needs to have availability to funds. Many groups will provide transportation to and from the search area, provide lodging, and meals, but some don’t. You will need to cover expenses that are not covered by the group.

SAR equipment is not cheep, not only need the team outfit the dog, but the human handler as well. Camping gear, hiking gear, hard hats, repelling gear (dog and handler), harnesses, leashes, collars, vests, first aid kit, anti-venom, are just a few things you will need.

SAR team members must be physically fit. SAR often deals in life or death situations. A SAR group can not afford to hampered by a poorly conditioned handler or dog. A handler needs to be able to walk long distances, traverse streams, climb hills and mountainous regions. Have the ability to navigate on slippery, and unstable surfaces, such as moss covered rocks, thick underbrush, and loose gravel. The handler must be able to support his or her own weight plus the weight of their dog. The handler must be able to carry his or her dog for at least 1000 yards.

The human SAR team member must know both human and canine first aid. Many groups require certification by the American Red Cross in first responder, adult and child CPR, as a bear minimum, some require EMT ratings. You should know canine first aid and CPR incase your dog becomes ill or injured.

You need to know how to decontaminate your dog in case of contact with bodily fluids, although dogs can not contract HIV, they can carry it on their fur. The last thing a SAR handler wants to do is return home with a dog that has been in contact with HIV or Hepatitis and exposes their families and friends to it. Often it is just you and your dog, in a search area or grid, should your dog become ill or injured, veterinary care can be within minutes, or hours away. You may be the only chance your dog has for survival.

The human SAR team member must have training in map and compass, GPS, search techniques, lost person behavior, evidence recovery, care and control of evidence, wilderness survival, repelling, rope and knots, boating, preserving a crime scene, snake proofing, to name just a few.

Although any healthy dog can be taught to track for short distances, the SAR dog needs to be able to track for much longer periods. The SAR dog needs to be of medium to large breed. Labs, Golden's, German Shepherds, Malinois, Bloodhounds, and other such medium to large breeds, and mix of these breeds, make good SAR dogs. (NOTE: just because your dog is one of these breeds, don’t make him an ideal candidate for SAR).

The dog has to have a good nose, stamina to run and walk long distances, a friendly disposition to all dogs and humans, the ability to work in strange environments, the ability to work in stressed environments, without becoming distressed, a coat that can protect him or her from the environmental elements, where they will be working.

The dog and handler has to have attended and passed Scheurman's K9 Academy Basic Obedience as well as attended and passed our Intermediate Obedience Training with a minimum score of at least 180 points. The handler may find himself or herself in a situation where the dog needs to do a stay, stop walking, or hold a position because of potential danger to the dog, handler, or victim.

The dog must allow anyone to guide him out of the search location. Should the handler be injured or incapacitated, the dog must allow another person (other then it’s handler) to lead him out of the search area, and back to the base camp. The dog must allow handling (physical examination) by strangers. Should the handler become injured or incapacitated and the dog sustained an injury as well, the handler will not be able to render aid to the dog.

So you have the support of your employer, family, you have financial freedom, you have purchased your equipment and your dog’s equipment, you are in excellent physical health and condition, and you have the required first aid training, you are ready to go right, not so fast, we need to get the dog trained.

Scheurman's K9 Academy requires all civilian individuals interested in doing SAR with us to attend and pass Scheurman's K9 Academy Basic Obedience program as well as attended and passed our Intermediate Obedience Training program with a minimum score of at least 180 points.

Scheurman's K9 Academy will not offer SAR training to civilians who have not obtained their American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizens certificate on the dog that is to be entered in to the SAR program.

So what certification are you going for? Federal FEMA? State FEMA? Wilderness? Rural? What are the requirements for the group you plan to join? Once you have this information, and the above requirements met, your are ready to start your SAR dog training.

We are NOT the certifying authority for SAR dogs. We train individual teams to meet the standards of the agency / organization they are planning to certify with. That is why we ask the students what agency they plan to certify with. Each group may have its own requirements, above the basic requirements of FEMA, whether State or Federal. You will still have to test under their direction to be a certified member.