Ah but Vince, if one is really serious about SAR, then money IS a concern! I don't know of any SAR teams that will pay your expenses for you! Proper clothing and equipment, and mileage to and from training sites, as well as lost time from work when out on a real search, all take a big bite out of the pocktebook. Plus, being volunteer work, SAR doesn't pay the bills.
But, I suppose there may be some people out there who have enough money to throw around. That's not a slam on Ed's tapes, just the reality of doing SAR work. That's why I recommend using resources that apply to SAR specifically, as you are more likely to get your money's worth, rather than trying to apply principles for bitework or other types of training, when that might not be appropriate.

No offense, Vince. I respect your opinion. Just can't pass up an opportunity to express mine!

Ok, I'll be blunt: I will be very surprised if you can find a Dobe who has the stuff for SAR. Under the best of circumstances, the breed is not great for scent work. Before I put on my asbestos, yes I know there are Dobes who can still work, but they are getting really few and far between and I've not seen them really excel in scent work.
Any working Dobe folks here using Dobes for SAR? It would be interesting to find out who is producing them.

Yeah, I'd like to hear if anyone else has dobes. I can believe what you are saying after talking to several breeders. They can't say enough about confirmation but can't seem to tell me what lines to look for in a working dog. Hope someone else has an opinion on this or can give me the name of a good breeder that sells working dobes.

I'd be interested in working Dobes as well. I'm definitely not very knowledgeable about the breed. Tho, I do get the impression that scent work is not their speciality, even when bred from working lines.

Funny thing is if you look in the catalog for videos, they show a Dobe with its nose to the ground tracking. Its on the page on competition & forced tracking training.

Blondie,
Before settling on a breed, you should also consider size. In my opinion, it doesn't matter if you're doing urban or wilderness SAR, you'll need to be able to physically carry your dog if s/he gets injured. Now for the disclaimer: I'm a bit hypocritical here. My lab is 82 pounds, and there is no way I could carry him out of the mountains if he got hurt. My next SAR dog will definitely be under 40 pounds, though. I started this with my Lab without thinking about the size consideration, which is why I want to throw that in for you as something to think about.

I don't know how much you are capable of carrying, but the smaller BCs would probably be better than any size Dobe. Someone also mentioned the English Shepherd, AKA Farm Collie to me. I have looked into the breed, and like what I see, as it applies to SAR work.

There is a breeder somewhere in the South that breeds smaller Labs for working ability, though I have never seen his dogs in person. I gotta say that I love my Lab for his enjoyment of the work, and his sweet personality. Labs are also good because they do well in the yuckier weather with their water repellent coats, and generally have very good noses.

I guess I'm not to keen on using a Dobe for SAR. I'd certainly like to hear from anyone who is using one successfully, though!

Good point, J. Yes, BCs are getting very popular for SAR, they certainly have the drive/energy for work.
I'd also wonder how handlers deal w/that Dobe dog aggression, I've not seen too many who can ignore other dogs easily.

The ones we have had we have never had a problem with except killing chickens. Ours did well with other dogs, cats, etc. Found a place on the internet that guarantees their Dobes temperament for its lifetime. Not sure if that is the route I would like to go. That was a good point about packing out your dog. My husband says I better get a Chihuahua if that is the deciding factor.

A *lifetime guarantee* of temperament???? Hummmmmmm . . . So, no matter what the new owner does, they are willing to guarantee their dogs will always be stable, trustworthy, trainable, etc????

I wouldn't trust a lifetime guarantee, to be blunt, unless we're talking about appliances or something; but a living being is a different story, whether we're talking dog or hamster.

Joy, good point about dog aggression as an issue as well. Should the dogs all need to ride in the same vehicle together, you'll have a problem if your dog doesn't get along well enough with other dogs to tolerate that. Different breeds have different characteristics in that area, though breed alone doesn't guarantee how your dog will develop in that area.

blondie, your husband sounds like a wise guy! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ....kind of like mine! Another reason size is important, is, say you're taking your dog on a boat or in a helicopter, and s/he doesn't like it, and s/he's too strong for you to hold if s/he tries to bail out....could get ugly. Hopefully that won't be an issue, and you'll get a dog with solid enough nerves and enough trust in you that she or he will go anywhere with you.

Picking the right puppy for SAR is no easy task, is it? A lot to consider.....Joy, can you think of anything else? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />