Search dogs start training as pups

By Marty Metzger
Correspondent

People can lose their way in Colorado. Mountains, plains and prairie each have challenging terrain and weather systems that can obscure trail, cell phone reception and sense of direction. In northern Colorado, Larimer County Search and Rescue often means the difference between life and death for errant outdoors enthusiasts.

The all-volunteer group includes a four-legged branch of eager searchers known as SARDOC, Search and Rescue Dogs of Colorado.

Bill Young, SAR manager for the past 10 years, explained that these hard-working canines can be either air-scent or trailing dogs. Most are of the Working Group breeds - German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, for example. Young has, however, known of "dog pound mutts," some rescued within a day or two of euthanasia, that went on to become successful operational search dogs.

A SAR member for 20 years, Young is a wealth of information about SARDOC teams even though he personally doesn't work with a dog. Each team consists of one dog, its handler/owner and a navigator. The navigator's responsibility is to track, by monitoring clues and alerts via map or GPS, where the missing person has been and is heading.

Young stressed that the bond between dog and handler is the biggest key to success. All dogs are handler-owned. Most begin training as pups from 8 weeks of age and, on average, work two years to become operational by passing a series of tests. Operational dogs continue training regularly, preferably every weekend.

"All dogs can use their sense of smell," said Young. "We really train dog and handler to communicate that they're on the scent of the [missing] person."

Pups' training begins as mere play. They first look for their in-hiding owner, then eventually for a stranger. Praise for success, consistency and fun develop their hunting instincts. They're started on small problems trailing with a scent article, gradually go on to lengthened searches with added turns, then finally a long trail and a cold trail.

All dogs begin their learning experience wearing a 20- to 30-foot harness that helps keep them on track and decreases distractions, such as a meandering rabbit. A collar bell tells subjects it's not a wild animal approaching, and it helps the handler keep track of the dog's location. Some handlers use herding dog whistles to retrieve a too-far-ahead canine partner.

Handlers must go on actual searches prior to their dog completing training and also pass a physical fitness test. SARDOC requires each handler to become a fieldable member of a fielding agency before he or she can become an operational handler or support member.

All teams participate in nonsearch activities as well as fieldwork. For example, PSAR (Preventive Search and Rescue) conducts informational sessions for schools, scouts, church groups and service organizations. Children's interest particularly is piqued by the dogs and then extends to the handler's educational dialog.

Young emphasized that searches are always a group effort implementing combinations of dog teams, foot teams, helicopters and other vehicles.

One such example occurred in late summer 2006 when a Red Feather Lakes fisherman took a wrong turn. A witness showed SAR members where he'd last seen the man, who had wandered all over in his attempts to find his way out. Young used a map, followed clues such as footprints and sent a foot team on ahead of the dog team. Based on clues and experience, Young's educated guess led to a happy outcome.

Colorado search dogs are avalanche, water or ground (trailing or air) scenting. Tracking dogs, primarily used in the eastern United States, search by means of disturbed branches and soil. Young said that weather conditions, including heat and cold, can destroy a trail. No wind at all means an air scent dog can't track.

Searchers have noted that it's hard on a wilderness search dog to find the victim dead. The handler must remain upbeat and reward the dog even when it locates a deceased person.

Estelle Purvis of Estes Park has been a SAR member for 15 years. She grew up in Lake Tahoe where, in high school, she was acquainted with a lady who had a SAR dog. Purvis helped train it by hiding and said, "That was pretty cool."

She now works with her third SAR dog, Thunder, a 3-year-old female German Shepherd. As were her previous two, Thunder is an air scent dog. Purvis said all dogs begin as trailing prospects. It's the dog that decides if it wants to air scent.

Dan Fanning owns a trailing dog, Bear, a 10-year-old chocolate Lab that is "very sensitive and eager to please."

Fanning, who is the northern area director for SARDOC, coordinates trainings and disseminates information. He has been with SAR since 1982.

Like other members, he participates in PSAR and said, "Bear really likes to meet the public. He'll go out and bring the kids in to our booth at events like NewWestFest. He's terrific with kids, a very gentle, sweet dog."

In addition to Labs, Fanning named golden retrievers, blue and red heelers, and mutts as adept candidates for search work. He said anyone considering getting a dog and joining SAR should, in general, avoid sled dog breeds and spaniels, although there are always exceptions.

Off-trail searching is physically demanding. Dogs' joints take lots of pounding and arthritis is a prominent malady. Six years is a long time for an operational SAR dog, said Fanning, and most are retired by age 10. He has, therefore, started training Trace, a coming 3-year-old air scent yellow Lab that was donated by a Berthoud breeder. Fanning acquired the prospect as a 7-week-old that he selected from the litter based on Trace's curiosity, adventurousness and friendly but independent problem-solving demeanor.

New-member training for Larimer County SAR will begin around March 1. Anyone interested in joining should call Dave Hake at 498-0664, Larimer County SAR at 498-5312 (information line) or 498-5314. Information is also online at www.SARDOC.org.