Wow!!!

Max looks fantastic, I think I just fell in love... what a dog!
Seriously, how do you keep a hold of that thing when it's tracking in drive?

Does he ever lack endurance because of his size when compared to the other dogs? He looks incredibly fit - I agree with the others, it's not often that I see a dog his size look so athletic and in shape.

Great-looking pack, Carol! Love the puppies, and that pic of Jesea snuggling up to you is so sweet. She must be a nice lap dog

Just curious, when you're called out for a search, what factors do you take into account to decide which dog to use?

What made you pick that big hunky bloodhound for that fugitive search?

Your dogs are lucky to have such exciting working lives with you, that's for sure. Best of luck with the babies, I'm sure they'll have their own stories of glory when they're bigger! lol

Thanks for sharing the photos.

Max is only 90# and he is short and thick. When I first got him, he was so used to running balls out on a trail, I questioned whether I really wanted to run a hound or not.
I then started slowing him down as I learned more and also because it is not really that safe to run behind a dog in my area nor is it all that possible to run through the woods in the other areas we train in either.
Slowing him down also helped me learn how to read him better, be able to spot tracks and clues or evidence and he has become a lot more methodical in his searching, therefore raising his percentage of completing a successful trail.
When he hits "hot" scent he does run and pull, but that is fine with me since I know it means we are "in scent" and close.

Endurance with him is great since I exercise him with the four wheeler every other day and we concentrate on hills and distance.
Bloodhounds will actually go until they drop, so as a handler, I am the one that has to watch for the signs that he is tired or hot and I stop and we rest. Sometimes I re-scent him and sometimes he does not need it. It depends on what he is telling me through body language.

The thing I worry a bit about is having to carry him out of somewhere if he gets injured or sick (bloat). He weighs only 40# less than I do.
I carry a small vet kit pack with I.V. supplies, injectable anti-inflammatories, a tube and lube in case I see signs of bloat, K-9 Re-Start for water if he will not take regular water, K-9 power bars, Duramaxx, a surgical staple gun and first aid supplies and a few other little tricks of the trade. I also have a granola bar and a bottle of water for me in there.

I choose dogs by the details I get on the initial call-out. Most of the time I take more than one dog, it just depends on the search. If Max gets tired, but I know we are close, I can have someone bring in my Air Scent dog or give Max a break, or if it is decided that it may be a possible suicide, accident or homicide, then I can bring in the HRD dog. Max hates cadaver and will shy away from the area if he scents it. This behavior is an indication to me that something is not right and people need to be deployed into that section to check it out and they usually will do a hasty search until the cadaver dog gets there.
It works really well since I train for these situations.

Suspect searches, I like my hound since he is on lead and it is easier for my back up to keep up.
I run/jog with my air scent Dutchie, he ranges well and I try to keep up to stay in his sight because I do not want him to get into the habit of coming back to check and see where I am at. He is also "bark" alert so I need to make sure I can hear him. Not my choice of alert but he was trained to FEMA Disaster standards and I am plugging in a new discipling right now.

As far as drive goes, Max is always in drive to work, that is what the BH was originally bred for and it has stayed that way throughout time.

WHEW!!!!! I hope that makes sense.....

Carol, you are an amazing person...just had to be said. And I love reading your knowledge of SAR.

The pics of your dogs were so great to see. They're all wonderful. How you manage to train and work them all in such a wonderful field is beyond me. Those 2 GSD pups you got are lucky to be with you.

 Quote: sandy moore

Carol, you are an amazing person...just had to be said. And I love reading your knowledge of SAR.

The pics of your dogs were so great to see. They're all wonderful. How you manage to train and work them all in such a wonderful field is beyond me. Those 2 GSD pups you got are lucky to be with you.

Wow, thank you for such a great compliment. I really do not think of myself as amazing, this is just something that I found that I love to do. I am very "mission" minded and my dogs NEED to work effectively. Therefore I try to get dogs that have the necessary drives and attitudes to work and then I build on that.

My dogs get worked every day, whether it be search training or conditioning or play time. I take one or two of them at a time with me to work for socialization.
I am lucky in the fact that I can do all this and also be available 24/7 for call-outs. Hubby is VERY supportive and the Fire Department guys are great about helping. It helps when you have the support. I am the only dog handler within 120 miles so I travel quite a bit to train with my teammates and I also host several workshops and one or two big seminars a year.
I am also lucky enough to have found three reputable, knowledgable trainers, one of whom I privately contract with and also have entered into her trainers apprentice program. I want to be someone that can get the job done for the missing person that needs to be found.
Search dogs have been looked down upon due to all the yahoos out there that do not have a clue, it is my goal to help change that mindset, therefore I work hard at having good working dogs.

Holy crap

I feel super busy with one workin' dog. Can't even imagine the amount of time, money, effort and emotional commitment that goes into training your crew. Wow. Please tell me you don't have kids and a full time job too! I hate those people who can just do it all Kidding of course. Amazing.

Cheers,

Major congrats to you and Max. You must be a spunky lady to be willing to do a fugitive search

Yes I have a full time job, my daughter is 16 and lives with her Dad as she is a "city" girl and the country does not trip her trigger. That is okay, she does great in school and is a very responsible gal.

I work at my husbands contracting company doing payroll, am a FF and EMT and a reserve LE officer. I do go out and fight fire when I am not on ambulance call if I am needed. I concentrate on the dogs as a resource for the FD.
If I am called out or need time off for training, workshops or seminars, I am allowed to do that. I make sure my work is caught up at the office.
This is why I say I am lucky, most who do this are good with one or two dogs and that is great. I think 6 will be my limit for awhile but I will still take in dogs that need work on other issues. I am set up for 12. And my kennel help when I need it is GREAT!!
Initial expense to start the program was spendy, but when you get everything you need, the kennels are up and the dogs are in place, cost goes way down. The most money I spend now is on raw. But that is even less than when on kibble.


Please know that I do have those days where my dogs do get a day or two off and I go and do something fun with hubby, go shopping (for dog stuff...hee hee ), or just kick back watch TV and snooze because I just feel like it.

I just knew you were an over-achiever

Cheers,

 Quote: Carol Boche

I really do not think of myself as amazing

Me neither.....I think you're a total BAD ASS! Your community is lucky to have you around. After this thread and hearing about your work your sig line really fits.

P.S. I love Tombstone. I lost track of how many times I've watched it.