Introduction to K9 Detection Methods
The search and rescue of victims in natural or man caused disasters are handled by specialized teams integrated by handlers and their dogs who have endured together a long, difficult and very specific training for acquiring the necessary abilities that allow them to find and save the lives of those in peril.
But not only collapsed buildings are the scenario of such searches, adults and mostly children, when displaced or on the run from disasters, may get lost in areas where their survival depends on becoming found in time.
Even when there are no catastrophic events, people may wander by diverse reasons and get lost or hurt in wilderness or inhabited areas.
In all cases, the help will come in the form of a very active, very well trained dog with a perfectly tuned sense of smell accompanied by an expert supportive handler.
Contrary to what you may think, the handler may lead the dog to the search area, but is the dog who leads the search. The task they accomplish together is one of the most delicate and difficult roles in an intervention area. One of the most important factors in such task is the pressure of time running against the odds for survival of the victims, this makes evident that the good training and capacities of a canine team is a vital piece for saving lives.
In a search, the key factor is time, a well prepared team is the one that is able to .locate victims most rapidly and with 100% accuracy, therefore, the right training and the right technique of operation are of paramount importance.
There are many diverse systems of training and methods of operation worldwide, they coincide in some points and diverge in others but all are aimed to the same final result, a highly capable handler supporting a highly rapid and accurate detection dog.
Worldwide Disaster Aid, with the pledged support of other organizations has created on July 2010 a Project Coordination Office for Canine Rescue Development (PCO-CRD)
This Office will have as main task to provide an analysis of all existing methods for Canine Detection Training and Intervention in present use around the world. Specialized personnel will research, analyze and evaluate all existing methods and their results, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. The results will be made freely available to all Canine Detection Units worldwide through their operational and/or instruction chiefs as a reference and consultation tool that may help to optimize the teams under their command.
