Rescue dogs – this is how the four-legged friends are trained and educated

Animals have many advantages over humans in many situations. No matter how hard humans try to train themselves to acquire these animal skills, they would never be able to match the performance of the animal world. It doesn't matter whether you take the gigantic climbing ability of a monkey as an example, or the enormous speed that leopards, jaguars, horses, etc. can reach. If humans tried to imitate this, they would most likely break all their legs, or just stare at the animals speeding past, dumbfounded and out of breath.

However, when humans and animals work together and handle situations hand in hand, the result is usually excellent, which in many scenarios can mean the difference between life and death. Rescue dogs and their handlers are a well-rehearsed team and are always called in when every second counts. In order for this superlative team to be able to act confidently in what can sometimes be hectic, dangerous and opaque situations, it requires demanding and time-consuming training. The four-legged friends in particular become real lifesavers during training.

When do rescue dogs help

Densely overgrown, deserted and opaque forests - all of this possibly even at night or in foggy conditions. There is hardly anything that is more difficult for a person than to quickly assess such a situation. Car accidents with people who are perhaps even in a state of shock and, traumatized by the event, run away and get lost. Confused or sick people who have lost their way and can no longer find their own home on their own.

The list of possible uses is long and reflects in an admirable way what intelligent creatures dogs actually are when they can usually face these challenges with flying colors. Explosions, landslides and even earthquakes usually knock those affected down in just a few seconds and become insurmountable obstacles for them. It is usually not possible to rescue them on their own. Movement is too restricted, and feelings of fear and injuries often come into play, which put a stop to any rescue attempt. The precise olfactory tool of a rescue dog can filter out such critical situations precisely and track down those in need of help even at great depths.

Effectiveness in Perfection

Dogs can impress with their unique olfactory talents in many different situations. People buried and trapped by avalanches or rubble can be easily detected by them up to a depth of around 9m. Some types of dog can detect human scents from up to 200m away and lead the dog handlers quickly and precisely to the source of the scent. Areas the size of a football field would be an insurmountable hurdle for each and every one of us at night, and one that could only be surveyed with plenty of support and/or suitable lamps.

Rescue dogs can track the scent of kidnapped or missing people for up to 48 hours and so-called water search dogs can even locate bodies in water depths of up to 50 m. An indispensable and outstanding animal partner for human search teams.

Which tests are relevant?

Only when the numerous and extremely demanding tests have been successfully completed can the dog and handler call themselves a rescue team. On the human side, it is imperative that the handler completes specified first aid courses and also acquires knowledge of how to navigate in the field. Various exercises and tests in these areas are an integral part of the training. The use of radio is also taught so that flawless communication is always guaranteed. In addition, the dog handler must become a master of operational strategies so that all conceivable scenarios can be assessed quickly and skillfully.

The dog, on the other hand, must show that it listens to its owner's every word so that instructions can be carried out efficiently when every second counts. In the training areas of " areas and rubble ", it must also take a separate test and prove its ability. In the area task, the animal rescue professional must search for people in a total area of ​​around 25,000 square meters and manage to find them within 25 minutes. The dog is also required to give its all when searching in the rubble. Here, it must be able to indicate quickly and clearly when a person is buried beneath it.

Since only a functioning and trained rescue team can perform successfully and consistently, their skills are put to the test once a year. Only through these recurring annual tests can the rescuers be sure that injured people will receive sufficient help if the worst happens.

It is a long and rocky road to the first deployment. It takes an average of 2 to 3 years for a rescue team to have the necessary maturity to be able to survive in an operational area.

Which dogs are suitable?

All dogs that are open-minded and willing to perform and are under 3 years old when they start training are generally suitable for a rescue career. It is important that the dogs are on the ball and always want to learn something new. The dogs should also be in perfect health so that they can cope with stressful and strenuous missions. All of these characteristics are also important so that the playful dog training can be completed successfully.

It is also self-explanatory that the animal must not show any aggression towards people. The dog handler and dog must become a close and trusting team, with no room for a sheet of paper between them.