Search Dog Research Paper

Picking the right dog for the job is important in Search and Rescue. It takes a dog as well as a person with special attributes to become a successful team. These special canines are very important to a community, their noses are far superior to our methods of trailing as humans, cutting the search time down. Search dogs can "find" in lots of different environments, from the woods to a burnt building. It may look easy for a puppy to simply smell out a missing person, the indication that he or she has found the person they are looking, for is the real challenge. Dogs together with handlers work for 2-4 years to become certified, during those years many tests are passed. To even take these tests the team has to fulfill the prerequisites, which …show more content…
The dog has gone through some training before taking this test. The first portion of this test is a stranger greets the owner, shake hands continuing a conversation. The second part is that same stranger petting the dog, who can show no aggression. A vet or a friend examines the dog, holding up its paws, examining the dog in the ears, with also no signs of aggression. The dog has to walk on a loose lead, not pulling the owner around. The next part of the test is a little more difficult, the dog has to walk through a crowd, the dog has to be able to handle chaos and people if it ever hopes to be a search dog. Sit and stay is the next command, the owner walks to the end of a 20 foot lead, the puppy has to stay there. Walking passed another dog might be difficult for some dog, a canine good citizen is a dog that gets along with all other dogs and people, this is an important test. The dog then must test on distraction, a person will run in front of the dog or some other distraction, this test is ideal to test their focus. The final portion of the good citizenship test is testing the dogs emotional state, the owner leaves the dog with a different person, whether that is a stranger or a family friend, the dog has to stay and not become stessed for three minutes until the owner returns. The team cannot fail any of these tests or they fail. (Alice’s Dog