I have no experience in testing/training dogs for detection work but am interested in learning. An officer that I recently talked to said the dog they are using is not doing an adequate job. They rent the dog out on a daily basis from a lady in the area to search the local high schools for drugs. We touched on this training in school but that was many years ago. I do not know anyone in my area with this type of expertise/training experience. Where would you suggest I look to find someone with this experience? (Police Dept, Kennel club?, etc.) Are there any books/trainers or videos on the market that would help further educate me on the selection and training of these dogs? There are no SAR groups in my immediate area. Where does one begin to learn about this type of training? What traits would you look for in an older dog to be used for scent detection or SAR? I wasn't sure what subject to post this under, sorry!

http://leerburg.com/scentid.htm

Randy Hare is a wonderful odor detection dog trainer and instructor. We are bringing him here to South Dakota for the Labor Day Weekend 2009.

http://www.randyhare.com

The thing with "renting" a dog is that you cannot be sure of the training and continued training the dog is receiving. Also, does the dog stay with who handles him for that department or does the dog go back tot he owner?

Does the lady that owns him, handle the dog or does anyone handle him?

It is really difficult sometimes for a dog to work for a different handler that the dog is not used to. Any difference in the way the dog is handled may cause the dog to not work effectively.

My Mal, who is cadaver/human remains detection, who is very handler orientated, will work for my hubby IF I am not around. If I am in sight, she just comes to me and then I have to tell her to get to work.
With that said, if I ever thought about placing her (which I wouldn't) OR for some tragic reason, I absolutely had to place her with another handler, it would require "bonding" time with the new handler AND the handler learning how to work her as well as read her body language in order for them to become a reliable working team.

So, it may not be that the dog is unreliable in this case, it may be that the dog works fine, but with different handlers or a handler that does not know how to properly deploy and read the dog that is causing the issues.

Carole,

I am considering attending the course in South Dakota. Need more info. I will call Alpha to get more info on the course. Do you think this seminar is over my head for a beginner?

Absolutely not over your head. We have two instructors, Randy Hare and Janet Wilts from High Country K9.

I can e-mail you a flyer if you like, and if you send Randy an email just let him know you talked to me already.

Please email me a flyer when you get a chance.
Thanks!