The National Search And Rescue Dog Association
Maple Barn, Canterbury Road, Molash, Kent CT4 8HF
Trailing Search Dogs
These search dogs work on a long line. Having been given the scent article to thoroughly sniff, they first detect and indicate at the start of a trail. Once the start of the trail is confirmed the handler will ask the dog to follow the trail. The dog will follow the trail until they find the missing person they are looking for, or until the trail is lost. This can be for all manner of reasons such as the person being picked up by a vehicle. On the right you will see how the trailing dog teams work in a search scenario and the steps in the find sequence.
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Find Out MoreDownload GuideTrailing Search Dogs - Scent Specific or Scent Discriminating
These search dogs can discriminate scent and therefore know the person they are looking for. As such they will find, isolate and track their scent ignoring that of others !
Equipment Our Search Dogs wear a harness or jacket whilst they are searching and work on a long line. There are various types of harness or jacket used, which are brightly coloured, with hi-vis and may have lights and bells attached. The long line is often coloured and/or hi-vis as well. We often work in the dark so we need to be able to see our dogs. The harness is also a trigger for the dog to tell it when it is a 'search dog' as opposed to a 'pet dog'.
Scent Article The handler will locate to where the trail is believed to start. This is the place the missing person was last seen or known to have been. For example where their vehicle is parked or maybe where a personal belonging has been located. The handler will present a scent article to the trailing search dog. The scent article will ideally be an item of clothing belonging to the missing person or something they have regular contact with. The handler can create a scent swab from a contact point such as a car steering wheel, door handle and the like. The scent article must not be contaminated and will kept in a sealed bag that is only opened by the handler for the search dog to scent. The scent article will ideally have been collected by the dog handler or by Police and handled as if it were evidence at a crime scene, thus avoiding any cross contamination.
Finding the Scent Trail The handler will place the line on the collar and ask the trailing dog to find or locate that specific scent in that location. The dog is allowed to range around the area where the missing person was last seen. If the trailing dog finds the scent matching the article, they will indicate that by sitting or laying down. Scent discrimination is utilised so that the dog is always able to tell the handler that they have identified the missing person's scent.
Following the Scent Trail The handler will praise the trailing dog and now move the line from the collar to the harness. This is the trigger for the dog to know it is now going to follow the trail. The handler will now use their command to ask the dog to follow the scent trail. The trailing search dog will now follow the scent trail until it ideally arrives at the missing person or unfortunately loses the trail. The trail can be lost for various reasons but we found d the most common is when the person has been picked up by a vehicle or public transport. When this happens moved closer to where they might now be and/or we have ascertained a direction of travel.
Losing the Scent Trail
After years of training all dog handlers know how to read their trailing dog's posture, body language, tail position, speed, movements, the way they pull on the line etc., and will know when their dog is following or hunting for scent.
A trailing dog will start to hunt for the scent it is has been following and is no longer detecting. The dog is no longer pulling firmly on the line but ranging around attempting to relocate where the scent is.
The handler can return the line to the collar and repeat the above finding scent process, at any time, to help the dog re-acquire the scent trail.
Managing Junctions
The trailing search dog has to cope with junctions as this will always present multiple routes of potential travel.
As human scent travels with the wind, the trailing dog may have an obvious trail to follow or they may have to work the junction to establish the correct direction of travel.
The handler can follow the trail with the wind but is looking for the dog "running out". This means the scent has now been lost. In this situation the handler returns to the previous junction or a place where they believe the dog was on the scent trail.
At any time the handler can return the line to the collar and repeat the above finding scent process, to help the dog re-acquire the scent trail from any of the potential junction exit routes.
Locating a Missing Person When the trailing dog arrives at the missing person they will indicate to the handler that they have found the source of the scent they have been looking for. This may be by barking, sitting or laying down by the person. If the search dog cannot actually get to that person, due to a physical barrier preventing them, they will usually display behaviour let the handler know that the person they are looking for is there or in that direction.
Missing Person Located - Reward the Search Dog What an amazing job, our trailing search dog deserves a reward and loads of praise for finding the missing person. The Handler will 'Reward' their search dog. This involves lots and lots of praise and play with their favourite ball, rope, tuggy , special food or treats - whatever is very special to that dog.
This reward process is ingrained at the start of training and is always the same, whether in training or on a real search, every time the search dog makes a successful find. Qualified, operational dogs can undertake several searches one after the other and receive no reward if they have not had a find. This is normal and down to years of training. This will cause no harm but the next training session where they will find is likely only days away. This is why we only train very high drive dogs and certain breeds that are capable of this once they are qualified. In training we will always ensure they have a find.
Rescue the Missing Person As a Search & Rescue Dog Team we have completed the Search element. Now comes the Rescue element. Immediate treatment, first aid, observations and casualty care is the new priority. Also coordinating support of the Search & Rescue Team and getting the missing person to a Helicopter or Ambulance and on to a place of further specialist help and safety, or home back to their loved ones. Once that is done the job is complete, even though the search dog has already fulfilled their role.
Home to Rest or Back to Work ? The Search Dogs will now return to being a pet dog and be fully rested. Before long they will be ready to go again. Many handlers have a job and may have to return to their place of work, which they possibly abandoned a sometime earlier. Or they have been out much of the night and will get little or no sleep before heading to work. If they are lucky they can go home and rest. Being an NSARDA Dog Handler is NOT A PAID JOB. THEY ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS AND RECEIVE NO EXPENSES OR REWARD FOR WHAT THEY DO apart from the satisfaction of having made a difference to someone that was vulnerable and missing or their family and loved ones hoping for them to be found.
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