GSD lines/dog with high HUNT drive, suitable for SAR? - Page 1

IMO, the most important drive for Search & Rescue work is HUNT drive, along with prey, social, etc. Dogs or lines with high hunt drive, but not over-the-top prey (hectic) drive, are what I want to learn about. I know of a person in my area that may be looking for a GSD to do SAR, and this leads me to want to learn more about what dogs/lines have qualities that would make them good SAR dogs. So, what dogs/lines do you think would make a good SAR prospect? TIA

dont think there are lines especially suitable for that, on the other hand , there might be lines to avoid LOL,, but any well balanced litter should/could produce dogs for SAR

Good post from Duke.
Koots your 5 yo male is a good example of a dog with hunt drive that runs in the " family".

Every dog I have would make an exceptional s&r dog...including my two latest imports...8 months old and will pull you down following a track....these dogs all love to track more than anything.

One dog who is the exception with the desire to track, and to follow their nose like a hound when out loose in the woods, is Chekta. But ALL of her progeny from all three stud dogs, are tracking fools...

Duke - point taken, thanks. I guess dogs with high hunt but also social aggression would not be 'ideal' for SAR, I think one would want a dog that has good sociability. Search & Rescue vs. Search & Destroy, lol.

Joan - Thor has great hunt drive, but his sociability is less than ideal compared to what those handlers seek. Part of the training is for the 'lost person' to play with the SAR dog, usually with a tug or something, when the dog finds the person. So high hunt, along with good social attraction and desire to interact with people is desired.

I know about the social status of your dog. Isn't that what you wanted for living out in the wilderness like you do?
Anyway, I was talking about the family having hunt drive. Each pup in a family has different character that is molded by environment.

koots, I am very confused. you seem the perfect person to ask this question to.

Rik

One dog that I have came across that has high hunt drives and high prey with a good off switch that no one seems to talk about is Eron z Elbu. I have a grand daughter of his and it seems that Eron passed those traits down to his son and then on to my girl. From what I understand her litter mates have all been like this as well. Might be worth checking into.

We have dogs that have produced many tracking/ SAR, narc psd etc etc... (one from my last litter is training in SAR)

Natural scenting and hunt is something we do breed for. (My retired K9, at 9 weeks old, could run into a field and hunt for his ball. He would not return if he didn't find it) that natural ability is beautiful to watch. His daughter, Echo, is the same way. Her sister and brother are also (one working for a county SO )

Melissa

Joan - Thor is the type of dog that I asked you for, he is a great protector and watch/guard dog. I have no doubt that he would keep us and our property safe. He would be quite able to find a lost person, but not sure how he would interact after finding that person, unless of course I tell him to 'find Daddy', lol.

Rik - I do not know a lot of the 'modern' lines or dogs that produce high hunt drive. Hence the question, as I recently learned of someone in my area who wants to get a dog for SAR, and since he is a retired RCMP dog handler he is also a GSD enthusiast. Just want to help this person compile a list of breeders to talk to.

rakeshausky - thanks for the info.

Melba - thanks, breeders striving to produce strong hunt drive is the info that I am wanting to pass on.

i really wondering about people's love to make things more complex than they are.
what a heck a difference between "hunt" and "prey" if at the end is same outcome, whatever one call it?