| Despite all the technological and scientific | | | | activities. That's why toy breeds are not common |
| advances, such as GPS, satellite images and | | | | choices for such tasks. |
| robots, dogs are still one of the best tools of any | | | | On the other hand, these dogs must not be so |
| search and rescue (SAR) team. | | | | big that its size makes the rescue task even |
| While the victim of a disaster undergoes an | | | | more difficult. A very big dog can become an |
| almost eternal nightmare hoping that somebody | | | | additional difficulty when the team has to rappel |
| finds him, SAR dogs are... just playing a fun game. | | | | down mountainsides or while traveling in small |
| These game-obsessed dogs live to play the | | | | helicopters and boats. |
| "fetch the human" game. Their reward is a funny | | | | That's the reason why giant breeds are |
| tug'o war game. Being alive is the victim's reward. | | | | uncommon in SAR teams. Nevertheless, the |
| SAR dogs are capable to save hundreds of | | | | exception to this rule occurs when the dogs are |
| human lives because of their powerful sense of | | | | required to pull people out of water. In this case, |
| smell, their exceptional hearing, a rigorous training | | | | giant breeds like the Newfoundland are very |
| and the amazing bond between them and their | | | | useful. |
| handlers. | | | | In addition, SAR dogs must be exceptionally |
| However, not everything is joy in the world of | | | | motivated to search during long time periods |
| SAR dogs. Although these canine specialists are | | | | under the most unfavorable conditions. Therefore, |
| trained by means of games and rewards, they | | | | dogs with high prey drive are preferred because |
| could be retired before time because of physical | | | | they get obsessed with the "fetch the human" |
| fatigue and damages caused during their noble | | | | game. |
| task. | | | | Last, but not least, SAR dogs must be perfectly |
| In tragic situations, like the one happened on | | | | socialized to people and other animals. In addition, |
| September 11, 2001, both the dogs and their | | | | they must be accustomed to work (or play) |
| guides got to undergo emotional problems | | | | under stressful situations such as among crowds |
| because they were unable to find people alive. In | | | | of people, when other animals are present, while |
| the middle of death and desolation, dogs do not | | | | there are strange and loud sounds, etc. |
| only feel bad because there's no reward, but they | | | | Summarizing, any dog can be used for search and |
| feel the pain, frustration and sadness of their | | | | rescue if the previous requirements are fulfilled |
| guides and other members of the rescue team. | | | | and the dog has received specialized training. |
| There are other situations, nevertheless, when | | | | SAR dog specialties |
| the goal does not consist in finding people alive, | | | | Current SAR dogs can be classified in different |
| but people who have passed away. These are | | | | groups according to their specialties. The two main |
| the right situations to use cadaver dogs; dogs | | | | groups are tracking dogs and air scent dogs. |
| trained to find human remains. Although these | | | | Tracking dogs follow a victim's path from point A |
| dogs can't bring back a son to his mother, their | | | | to point B. These dogs need a starting search |
| work helps to solve crimes and to give honorable | | | | point and an article with the victim's scent on it. |
| burials to those who had the misfortune to perish | | | | They are used to find lost people. |
| in a disaster. | | | | Air scent dogs don't follow a victim's path. |
| SAR dog characteristics | | | | Instead, they smell the air seeking for human |
| Although any healthy dog has well developed | | | | scent. These dogs are used to find people buried |
| senses of smell and hearing, a SAR dog must fulfill | | | | under rubble, people buried by landslides, people |
| some additional requirements. | | | | buried by avalanches, corpses of drowned people, |
| SAR dogs must be agile and resistant enough to | | | | evidence in crime scenes, etc. |
| deal with typical difficulties of search and rescue | | | | |