From Lost Kids to Earthquakes: Search Dogs Train for Real Life Emergencies

(L to R) CARDA training at SDF training site; Nala & Ed Chea train on the ladder; Mattis & Nick Medina open train on difficult terrain; Nose work training at SDF. photos by Dane Mehl

Search dogs help save lives every day all across our country, but have you ever wondered how these remarkable animals learn to do what they do? Or whether your working dog organization could benefit from similar training? Meet the Search Dog Foundation (SDF).

In addition to preparing canine search teams for disasters, the foundation's National Training Center serves as a vital training ground for diverse emergency response teams, preparing them for real-life scenarios in a safe and controlled environment. One recent training was the annual Mobilization Exercise held by California Regional Task Force 2 through the California Office of Emergency Services. The event was held on the anniversary of the 1994 Northridge earthquake, with memories of the 6.7 shaker underscoring the importance of collaboration in a large-scale, post-earthquake response. 

But the Search Dog Foundation isn't limited to urban emergency exercises. The California Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) has also found a regular home at SDF, using the campus's various environments to train in a wide variety of search scenarios. 

CARDA handlers, who are all volunteers, are frequently deployed by sheriffs departments to search for missing persons, mainly in wilderness environments, and are trained in search disciplines that include wide-area search, trailing, and human remains detection. These dedicated individuals and their canine partners come from all across the state to participate in training that helps hone their skills, build teamwork, and solve problems effectively in immersive, real-world situations. Last December and January, 31 CARDA search teams trained over two weekend visits to SDF, using most of the SDF campus to conduct exercises for all three search disciplines simultaneously. 

SDF's own staff member, Jenn Mueller, is also a trailing handler with CARDA and took part in the recent training with her dog, Mira. As Jenn recounts, "The SDF training was an amazing opportunity for my dog and me to train with handlers from CARDA who we don't have a chance to work with regularly. The SDF National Training Center provided several creative props that we were able to use for our dogs, which many handlers normally would not have access to.  We set up some great trailing scenarios, which was so much fun.  I am deeply grateful to SDF for providing these opportunities to the SAR community!" 

With the success of training sessions like these, the Search Dog Foundation is exploring more future collaborations to enhance other response teams’ abilities to effectively respond to emergencies when needed most. With its safe and realistic training environment, the SDF National Training Center provides an outstanding resource for the working dog community, whose dedication may someday save lives.

The Search Dog Foundation welcomes working dog organizations of all disciplines to train at its campus. For more information on the types of training offered or to book your organization's visit to the National Training Center, visit www.searchdogfoundation.org/training-opportunities/.