Okay this might not be the best place to post this, but here goes. I currently have a GSD 6 year old female who is cadevar and trailing cert for SAR. I grew up with GSD and GSD Mixes and adore them. One of my favorite dogs ever was our GSD / Border collie mix. I am thinking of getting another dog (puppy) for SAR work within a year or so, so when my Ana is ready to retire I'll be ready to let her live the life as a companion dog and let somebody else do the heavy lifting. So my question is... Opinions on Border Collies in SAR? How about detection work, such as cadever?

Any comments would be welcome.

Hi Jake,

I have seen some great BC's in the SAR field.

I think that they are great. Willing to work and please their handlers. I know from discussing dogs with handlers that they are not the dog for me, due to them being much more sensitive than a good working GSD,Mal, Dutch or even a Bloodhound.

I worked with a gal and her BC and she got upset with the dog for not performing correctly (which she should not have done, it was her fault, not the dogs) and the dog completely shut down and would not work for the rest of the day.

I guess it depends on what kind of handler you yourself are.

My dogs are pretty forgiving, but I work hard to be a fair and balanced handler. If I give an unfair correction, my dogs will let me know about it, but they will keep working, and forgive my mistakes.

A friend of mine raises and trains BC's for herding work and she also does great with trials. Working with her and around her, I see the differences between temperaments and also see that these dogs would not fit my handling.

I think that is one of the main thing that you have to look at in regards to finding the right dog for you and the dog you want them to be.

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Working with her and around her, I see the differences between temperaments and also see that these dogs would not fit my handling.

I would love to hear this expanded on. I think of you being able to handle any dog

I concur with much of what you have written on the subject. I do know some hard BC's though. Temperments in the BC vary widely IMHO. I think of a BC like many other smart drivey breeds...better be careful what you are teaching, because they are always learning

I have seen GSDs shut down under unfair corrections/hard handler, or even because the handler was fuming inside and the dog could sense it. You can ruin a dog of any breed with bad handling. That said, we do all make mistakes as handlers A dog that can forgive them is nice

I also know some great SAR BC's. The only thing those BC's have in common is that they have great handlers!

I do work with them once in a while, however I know that I would not own one since I tend to be on the hard side, so I really have to pay attention when I am working with a dog that is "softer" than any of mine.

I am working on my "softer side" and getting better...

They are smart, willing and loving dogs that thrive with work and I love to watch them work.