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Chilliwack
Canada
244 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2002 : 10:56 PM
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Has anyone taken their dog to an avalanche course or trained their dog for tracking? I've spoken to NSS in Ottawa (HQ for Search and Rescue) and BC is the only province that is against tracking dogs. I am still training her for tracking regardless but would also like to train her as an independant avalanche dog as well. Any suggestions?
Deb
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52 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2002 : 10:43 AM
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I know you can get your training covered by volunteering with your local search and rescue. I know they offer dog tracking training but for avalanche rescue you would probably have to be in an area where they might do that kind of search? For instance the area I was in had alot of lakes so their were alot of water rescue courses that they would be eager to send people on.
I wonder why BC is against training tracking dogs for search and rescue?
Edited by - Ranger on 09/04/2002 10:46:05 AM
Edited by - Ranger on 09/04/2002 10:48:15 AM |
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Chilliwack
Canada
244 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2002 : 07:26 AM
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Well, its official. I've been training Ryka for the past couple months with Search and Rescue. She's still young and impressionable but doing awesome. I hope to have her validated by next spring/summer (pending) I've started a program where my job in law enforcement works inconjunction with SAR and the dog training. Its a great experience ( and very time consuming but worth it). 
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2 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2002 : 10:50 AM
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I am not sure who gave you the information that BC is not interested in tracking dogs, as they are incorrect. Land and inland water sar in BC is the responsibility of the local police in many cases this is the RCMP. Police in BC utilize volunteer sar groups that are trained and supported by the provincial emergency program.
There are aprox 77 sar teams in BC and before you can consider having your dog trained for tracking, you must be a volunteer with a local sar team. After you have completed the basic ground sar course, the team you are volunteering with would need to work with their local police rep to get you and your dog trained. (RCMP E division dog section would be able to inform you as to what the tracking dog requirements are).
If you are interested in avalanche response you should visit the Canadian Avalance Rescue Dog Assocsiation web site.
For more informaiton on ground sar in BC you can check out:
www.coquitlam-sar.bc.ca
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north vancouver, BC
Canada
3 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2002 : 10:05 PM
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quote:
Has anyone taken their dog to an avalanche course or trained their dog for tracking? I've spoken to NSS in Ottawa (HQ for Search and Rescue) and BC is the only province that is against tracking dogs. I am still training her for tracking regardless but would also like to train her as an independant avalanche dog as well. Any suggestions?
Deb
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north vancouver, BC
Canada
3 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2002 : 10:12 PM
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quote:
Has anyone taken their dog to an avalanche course or trained their dog for tracking? I've spoken to NSS in Ottawa (HQ for Search and Rescue) and BC is the only province that is against tracking dogs. I am still training her for tracking regardless but would also like to train her as an independant avalanche dog as well. Any suggestions?
Deb
You may want to contact CARDA in Whistler, they do a certification fo avalanch rescue dogs, and it makes the most sense if you are ski patrol, either volunteer or paid patrol. There are several levels of certification, I believe the whole cert. takes about two years. It is very rigourous, and the dog must have a strong retreiving urge. I wanted to train my dog for avy rescue, but he had no retrieving urge (Malamute x) so we did tracking and searching with a private outfit called Human Dog Leadership in the Lover Mainland. It was a really good bonding exercise, and he did really well at it, but it is not sufficient for SAR. Heather
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Chilliwack
Canada
244 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2002 : 08:58 AM
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I am currently just training Ryk's as a ground search dog. I have been involved in assisting in validating dogs for CARDA and will be working in Whistler in January as a quarry for CARDA. Ryk's has shown she has a strong drive and is a great retriever. (keep my fingers crossed) I feel, as well as the instructors I train with, that she has a strong future in SAR. I am lucky to have the opportunity to train with a number of skilled dog handlers that have assisted me greatly.
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 Big pack hiker who sleeps with bears in tent and falls on slippery logs
Langley, BC
Canada
7677 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2002 : 09:36 AM
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Sounds like you're undertaking quite the process. Very admirable! Hope Ryka makes the cut. 
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NORTH VANCOUVER, BC
Canada
21 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2003 : 7:27 PM
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Hi Deb,
BC is not against tracking dogs. The more preferred and favorable approach to a SAR incident is to have a dog trained/validated in the Search Profile. I wrote an article (somewhere within this site - which I'm still getting used to) on TRACKING TRAINING (I'll try to transfer it over to this page). Having a dog that can track as well as search is a big bonus. Take into consideration that you've got to make sure that your dog is TRACK SURE before starting Search training.
THE TRACKWIZARD
I know you can get your training covered by volunteering with your local search and rescue. I know they offer dog tracking training but for avalanche rescue you would probably have to be in an area where they might do that kind of search? For instance the area I was in had alot of lakes so their were alot of water rescue courses that they would be eager to send people on.
I wonder why BC is against training tracking dogs for search and rescue?
Edited by - Ranger on 09/04/2002 10:46:05 AM
Edited by - Ranger on 09/04/2002 10:48:15 AM
[/quote]
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NORTH VANCOUVER, BC
Canada
21 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2003 : 7:38 PM
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quote:
I have been training my two German Shepherd Dogs in the PEP Course Training Standard (CTS) for four years (Tracking & Search profiles). I have been fortunate to have been able to train with both the current and former RCMP Directors of PDS E-Div. and with a few PEP civilian SAR Dog handlers.
A dog trained in both tracking and search work has its advantages. It is extremely difficult to pick up a track of a lost person/s from the LKP / LPS even with a scent article of the lost person/s. The area is usually so contaminated from people/searchers/family members etc. already out in the search area/s.
In A Nutshell and this is very generalized:
Suppose there is more than one person lost e.g. two people. Put in a PEP SAR handler/team, certified/validated in both tracking and search. The handler would more than likely want to work his/her dog in the search profile in the area (assigned) with his/her dog. It would also be appropriate to have one or two PEP SAR team members assist the handler with maps/navigation, radio, recording of dog alerts, help search and attend to the lost person/s should they be found in the area assigned. This allows the handler to work his/her dog more effectively and expeditiously.
Suppose the dog finds one of the missing people but, their companion has wandered off (but in which direction?) The handler can now utilize the dog's tracking capabilities by harnessing the dog, attach the long line and commence circling the dog in ever increasing circles from where the first lost person was found (larger and larger if need be) until the track of the lost person is picked up.
It can be done in reverse as well e.g. track to the lost person and then search for the other person. It's a judgement call that the handler has to make.
For those of you who are aspiring to train a dog for SAR/Operational work...it is exactly that...a lot of hard dedicated work. You must maintain a log of all of your training (helpful in trouble shooting problems and/or in litigation). When time comes to go for validation the Director of PDS or his assigned designate will ask to see your log. So it's very important to maintain it (neatly) and faithfully.
Finding live quarries is probably one of the most difficult tasks. Try asking someone to go and sit deep in the woods (area 600 x 600 metres) for a few long hours in the rain, fog, snow, cold and damp...while you're down at T H's having a coffee (waiting for the scent to age etc.) before setting out to do your search.
I've quarried and laid tracks many times. I've quarried for the C.A.R.D.A. in Whistler. Being concealed (horizontally and the entrance sealed off)) in dark cramped snow caves with a radio and a PEEPs can be an interesting experience. You sort of get used to it after a week of a steady daily routine between the hours of 08:00 - 15:30 Hrs. The last day, I was buried under two feet of snow three times for 20 min. ea.! Just enough room to breathe in. You really have to want to do this with all your heart.
I have been lucky to have found a few people who are interested in supporting me as quarries and tracklayers.
Tracking is probably one of the most demanding and exacting tasks you'll ever encounter. Finding good track layers/quarries are also difficult to find. Try not to use family members or people the dog knows well too often. Try not to use food to train your dog to track. The entry level validation track is only 45 - 60 minutes old and about 1.5 miles long. Try asking your tracklayer/quarry to sit it out for that much time and if you're working your dog up to greater challenges - four to five hours and possibly a longer track up to three miles long through forest, across farm fields, over barbed wire fences, ditches and roads with various types of surfaces and weather conditions! It is very important to have the tracklayer/quarry at the end of the track as often as possible.
You should try and find person/s who understand fully what operational tracking is and, comprehends exactly what you want and need. If you're working an unknown track, it's sometimes good to have a knowledgeable person go with you (trail). By this I mean someone who knows where and how the the track was laid. This is helpful especially if you're working an inexperienced dog and may have trouble negotiating the track e.g. turns, back tracks, articles etc. This person can assist the handler by keeping him/her in the general area of the track so he/she can work their dog to refind the track.
Good quality FRS radios or commercial band radios (rentals if you don't own them) are extremely beneficial. You can keep in touch with the quarry/s or the track layer.
Finding a Police Dog Handler to come and help you in your training is another extremely difficult task.
The province has a newly formed Association for SAR Dog Handlers (British Columbia Search Dog Association BCSDA). You can join as a non-voting member, voting associate member (MIT w/dog), voting full member PEP SAR Certified/Validated and must be a member of a PEP SAR team. To learn more about this you can contact Mr. Ray Sullivan (Director & Membership) <raysullivan@shaw.ca>
If you want to learn more about tracking. The TRACKWIZARDS are conducting a tracking seminar on March 15'th & 16'th, 2003. The instructors are: RCMP S/Sgt. Tom Haworth Director of PDS E-Div. RCMP S/Sgt. Roy Fawcett (retired - former Director of PDS) and civilian handler/trainer John Stelfox who is qualified in both sport tracking and operational Tracking and Search work.
For information you can e-mail <TRACKWIZARDS@shaw.ca>
There is a great deal to know and learn about SAR Dog Operations. Combine this training with your SAR team training and call-outs...well, you get the picture!
PEP has a SAR Dog Manual you can get from their library. There are some really good books on tracking and search as well - some authors to include Milo Pearsall, Lue Button, John Rice, Sandy Bryson, William Syrotuck to name a few.
Hope this has been of some help.
TRACKWIZARD
TRACKWIZARD
Starting Member
9 Posts Posted - 01/22/2003 : 2:32:58 PM
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CORRECTION NOTICE
The e-mail address for The TRACKWIZARDS TRACKING SEMINAR March 15'th & 16'th 2003 is:
TRACKWIZARD@shaw.ca
TRACKWIZARD
Has anyone taken their dog to an avalanche course or trained their dog for tracking? I've spoken to NSS in Ottawa (HQ for Search and Rescue) and BC is the only province that is against tracking dogs. I am still training her for tracking regardless but would also like to train her as an independant avalanche dog as well. Any suggestions?
Deb
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avalanche and tracking dogs
