Types Of Searches

Wilderness or Large-Area Search

The search sector can range from a few acres to hundreds of acres. The size of the search area is determined by the terrain, the dog's ability, and the number of dogs available. The dog's job is to clear the area and to indicate on anything that has human scent in the area. He team will usually work in a grid pattern with the dog off lead. The handler should report his coverage, including the probability of detection, alerts, and articles found and their location. The handler is expected to recommend whether the area needs t be re-searcher or not.

Evidence or Small-Area Search

The dogs works meticulously in a very small area with his nose to the ground looking for evidence in a criminal case.

Cadaver Search

Air scent problem seeking a body or body parts. These may be buried or otherwise hidden from view. Dogs have been known to find buried bodies decades old. They are also able to locate the charred remains of people who were burned in fires.

Water Search

This is another air scent problem where the dog locates the bodies of drowning victims. Current and wind affect the scent location and the handler must mark the alerts the dog gives in order to determine the exact location of the body.

Avalanche Search

Air scent problem where the dog alerts at the point where the scent escapes from the snow. The dog must start to dig immediately rather than perform a re-find as time is of the essence in recovering someone alive. Most avalanche rescue is body recovery work as there is a window of 15 to 30 minutes after burial before death will occur.

Disaster Search

Disaster search refers to a wide variety of circumstance, covering all types of disasters both man-made and natural. Earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, explosions, mud slides, rock slides, collapsed structures, airplane and train crashes, are all disasters with different technical skills required. All have debris and general chaos with multiple victims either dead or alive. The dog must be able to handle all situations. Agility and off-lead control is required. The handler reports alerts and recommends where to focus rescue efforts.