Ideas pls - Page 1

Hey guys :)

Hope you all had a super Christmas!!

Now to the point.

 I know very little about SAR and my mom has been looking for something to do with shadow (the runt of my last litter.)   http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/541439.html

she  is fantastic with people. and she lives in Morecambe LANCS which is renowned for people going missing on the bay:(

Are there civilian handlers that can help out or do the dogs have to be titled? Are there handlers that use trained civilian dogs in emergencies? She has a fantastic nose (not trained her to track yet but she is using air scent) . Good drives and like her mom is eager to please and highly intelligent.

she has such potential but I am running out of ideas now, as my mom is getting on a bit now so certain things like agility and working trails etc. are not possible.but it would be a shame IMO if we didn't do anything with her, this is my moms first GSD and she has trained her in basic OB and a little PP.

Any Ideas??

Contact your local "search & rescue" guys, they should be able to point you in the right direction.  You would train with them (dummy situations etc) and the dogs have to be very fit and pretty obedient.  Not sure what the criteria is for dog or handler!

http://www.mesard.org/

The above link is from  my state,  I am sure all states differ in some ways, however the SAR requirements are pretty rigorous..............

good luck,

Would definately recommend contacting your local SAR group, remember you should never have to pay for SAR training! This is all done as a volunteer. My only concern would be the statement that your mom is getting on in age that she wouldn't be able to do agility/working trials SAR is very hard work for the handler so you have to be able to walk a good distance be able to go over unstable ground etc.  We do Wilderness and Cadaver with two of our Shepherds, you really need to be active and fit.  Just some things to think about! Also she could always train with the group, be willing to "get lost" for them etc and see if she likes it.  We have volunteers with our group and they just come out watch the dogs work and help where they can.  SAR is very rewarding and we have a great time training the dogs BUT most people come out with wrong ideas of it and end up not doing it.  Also most of the calls are at night, in the woods when its cold/raining/snowing.  Callouts in the 70 degree range and beautiful weather is few and far between. 

Good luck!

Amy 

http://www.sardaengland.org.uk/training.htm

Hope that helps

Thanks everyone

I will pass this info on to my mum.

What we were thinking of doing was training her up to the standards required  by the local SAR team (and if my mom cant handle the physical bit) letting a SAR handler use her.

my mom is pretty fit for an old bird (I will get a slap for that...lol)   

don't know if that's possible but I'm sure they wont mind me asking.

and anyway even if they don't make the grade it will be a fun experience, for them both, its worth a try.

Thanks again,

Tracie

Most teams won't allow a K9 to attend a real search unless it is certified and that mean's as a team (K9 and handler).  So the only person able to work her will someone who gets certified with her.  It' doesn't have to be the owner but it's a lot of work to put into the dog to turn it over to someone else. :o(

What about Cadaver work, the person is already passed so there is no hurry and you mom could work her dog at what ever pace she decides.  We have several older people on my team and they are very good.  

Teri 

thanks Teri :) cadaver work would be another thing to look into ...hadn't thought of that one, morecambe sands are one of the most dangerous places in the UK .

my mom just wants to feel like the dog is worked to her full potential so handing shadow over to a qualified handler  probably wouldn't be a problem, provided they looked after her well and had a good reputation and she lived with my mom 99% of the time.

Tracie

Has she thought about carting?  She would not have to be extremely active, in fact many carts are made for one rider/one dog.  I used my GSDs in a sleddog team, and they did superbly.  I also used a cart with them, and one had no problem tooling me about town, once taught how to do so.

I have looked at it for myself but (please don't take offence) all the GSDs look so miserable it kind of put me off the idea.

do yours enjoy it ?

It looks like fun:)