MOUNTAIN RESCUE SEARCH DOGS IN THE UK
How did it all begin?
SARDA (the Search and Rescue Dog Association) was founded about 40 years ago by the leader of a mountain rescue team
What does SARDA use search dogs for?
Today, SARDA uses dogs to look for lost walkers and climbers, for missing children and for victims of disasters and crime. They manage to find 50-100 people every year. It’s amazing!
Why do rescue teams use dogs for searches?
A dog’s sense of smell can be a million times better than a human’s! They know exactly where a smell is coming from, how old it is and many other things. Dogs can also work in the dark and in bad weather. One search dog is the same as about twenty human searchers!
What kind of dog makes a good search dog?
Good search dogs come in many shapes and sizes but they have to be intelligent, brave and strong. They also have to have very friendly personalities!
What about training?
It takes about 2 years to train a SARDA search dog. Their handlers have to develop a very close relationship with their dog and take training classes in first aid, helicopter safety and many other things.