CANINE SEARCH AND RESCUE

A NOSE FOR RESCUE

Canine Rescue Teams consist of highly trained dogs and their dedicated handlers. These teams are invaluable assets to search and rescue, utilizing the dogs' keen senses of smell over long distances, acute hearing of sounds not detectable by humans, and drive to please their handlers to locate individuals lost or missing in a variety of terrains and in adverse conditions.

El Dorado Search and Rescue's Canine Team consists of dedicated handlers who own dogs that are State Certified. Successful missions of the EDSAR Canine team have:

found missing persons, such as children, hikers, and hunters in the wilderness or swimmers and kayakers in the water
tracked persons with dementia who were reported missing from home or facilities
assisted El Dorado County Sheriff Officers to locate human remains on land and water

A trained El Dorado Search and Rescue handler and canine search team hang from El Dorado County Sheriff's helicopter Echo 1

An EDSAR trained Canine Search handler and dog team hang outside a rescue helicopter

Training for handlers covers the following topics, of which they must demonstrate a thorough understanding:

Scent Science: Deep knowledge and understanding of scent's physical properties, movement, and how it's influenced by terrain, environment, and other factors
Land Navigation: Proficiency in map reading, compass use, and navigating using applications like SARTopo.
Technical Rescue Skills: Utilization of rope techniques, litter handling, low-angle rescue, and patient packaging.
Crime Scene Awareness: Knowledge and adherence to proper crime scene protocols.
Aircraft Safety: Understanding of aircraft safety procedures and best practices.

The canines must demonstrate unwavering focus without being distracted by people, animals, or noises in their surroundings. Training includes:

Advanced Obedience and Agility: To ensure precise control and physical strength, endurance, and coordination.
Discipline-Specific Scent Detection Methods: To actively develop target scent identification and tracking abilities tailored to the canine's specific discipline.

EDSAR Canine Teams undergo a series of testing to become certified in their selected discipline. Ongoing training is required to maintain certification and assure the canines are duly responsible for carrying out the search function.

EDSAR Canine Team disciplines currently include:

Tracking/Trailing: Trailing dogs are trained to follow one specific scent trail for miles through forest or urban settings, where the scent is obtained from an article of clothing or last known location such as footprints or disturbed vegetation.
Air Scent: Known as Area dogs, these dogs use their keen sense of smell to detect human scent carried on air currents and are trained to cover 100+ acres searching for lost individuals, searching vast areas quickly and effectively which aid in their probability to find lost hikers.
Human Remains Detection: HRD dogs are trained to detect the scent of human remains, both fresh and decomposed, and are called upon to help with recovery operations, disasters, accidents, and criminal investigations. Land HRD dogs are trained to detect evidence from small amounts all the way up to a missing individual. Water HRD dogs are trained to locate individuals who have drowned.

El Dorado Search and Rescue Handler conducts consistent obedience training with positive reinforcement to maintain the canine search dog’s high motivation

Consistent obedience training with positive reinforcement maintains high motivation

El Dorado Search and Rescue Trailing dog tracks scent, directing handler along the identified scent path

Trailing dog track scent, directing handler along the identified scent path

HRD dog meticulously search for remains in the debris of wildfire-ravaged structures

Any highly driven canine with the right temperament can be trained to be a search dog with proper discipline, dedication and training. Training generally takes two to three years for initial certification and is rigorous – not for the faint at heart. The job is tough, but the rewards are great. We strive to bring your loved ones back to you and your family!

EDSAR's Canine Team undergo rigorous training to maintain their peak performance and ensure their readiness to respond to emergencies that save lives.

Your donations will help offset our Canine Team's ongoing costs of advanced training programs and certification fees, ensuring our canine heroes are always prepared for their next mission.

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