008. Related testing
Description
This article is from the Working Dogs FAQ, posted to rec.pets.dogs newsgroup. Maintained by Cindy Tittle Moore with numerous contributions by others.
008. Related testing
Many SAR organizations will put together mock disaster sites and evaluate dogs sent over the sites. There are no standards or anything like that except within a particular organization.
For tracking and trailing, AKC and ABC (American Bloodhound Club) have a series of titles in tracking (TD, TDX) and trailing (MT, MTX). ABC is negotiating with the AKC to add the trailing titles to its standard set.
References
American Rescue Dog Association. _Search and Rescue Dogs_. Howell Book House, 1991. ISBN 0-87605-733-4.
ARDA outlines their philosophy and methods for SAR. This book is excellent for an understanding of the depths of committment and work to be a SAR volunteer. It is a compilation of notes made over a thirty year period; consequently some of the information is out of date. There are two main deficiencies in this book. The first is a bias toward the German Shepherd Dog, such that they actually refuse to use any other breed; the second is a seemingly cavalier disregard for the consequences of deliberately searching for cadavers with SAR dogs, when such dogs should always search for live scent (particularly for disaster work).
Bryson, Sandy. _Search Dog Training_. Third printing. Boxwood Press, 183 Ocean View Blvd., Pacific Grove, CA 93950. 1991 (c 1984). ISBN: 0-910286-94-9.
A well organized, comprehensive discussion of search dog training. Includes practical tips, discussion of search and rescue and the law and many other topics.
Davis, L. Wilson. _Go Find! Training Your Dog to Track_. Ninth printing, 1984. Howell Book House, Inc., New York. c1974. ISBN: 0-87605-550-1 (hardcover).
Blurb: "Major L. Wilson Davis is America's recognized authority on Tracking -- named in September 1973 to the Obedience Advisory Committee of the AKC as its official consultant on Tracking and scent training for dogs. This official status follows upon decades of recognized achievement in these phases of Obedience training. Following distinguished service with the K-9 Corps during WWII, he has been active in the Governmnent's program of using trained tracking dogs for the recovery of detonated missile parts in missile experimentation. Major Davis was an AKC licensed judge for all classes of Obedience. He is presently training director of the famous Oriole Dog Training Club of Baltimore. He organized and headed the Baltimor City K-9 Corps, one of the finest in the country, and is often asked to lecture and advise police departments on the use of tracking dogs in law enforcement. Major Davis is a recipient of the Quaker Oats Distinguished Service Award for his dedicated contributions to dog training."
Pearsall, Milo D. and Hugo Verbruggen, MD. _Scent: Training to Track, Search, and Rescue_. Alpine Publications, Inc., Colorado. 1982. ISBN: 0-931-866-11-1.
Blurb: "The authors first look at the scientific qualities of scent -- what and how dogs smell and how environmental factors affect the track. Then they use this background as a basis for training. Topics include the science of scent, kindergarden puppy tracking, tracking equipment, tracking tests, training to search, search and track, search and find, search and rescue, trail companion, scent and the law enforcement agency, first aid on the trail and much more."
Tolhurst, William D. with Lena F. Reed. _Manhunters! Hounds of the Big T_. Hound Dog Press, 10705 Woodland Avenue, Puyallup, WA 98373. 1984. ISBN: 0-9617723-0-1 (hardcover).
Tolhurst is a Search and Rescue volunteer in upstate New York. This book recounts his experiences using Bloodhounds in trailing. Many fascinating stories. Tolhurst includes a section on training a dog to locate dead bodies.
Continue to:
My Books
