Training for Search and Rescue
by Dr. Gabriella Kőrösi
Tami is getting Joey ready for a scent Gnat creek July 2021
Getting lost can happen to anyone. It is great to know that there are resources to help find people when they are lost. One of those resources is a furry member of the search and rescue team who is currently in training. Joey is a medium sized puppy; his body is covered with multicolored fur. He is fun and joy with all the expertise of his 11 months. He was rescued about 2 months ago from a shelter by his trainer. Joey has been training hard to be able to rescue others. He has been in training for about the last 2 months. He enjoys string cheese as a reward when finding someone. The last two weekends we been helping out with his training. The first weekend we did a getting lost session in Astoria Oregon by the Riverwalk. The second weekend we got lost at Gnat creek fishery and trails. It has been a wonderful experience.
Joey is getting a scent from a small gauze pad Gnat Creek July 2021
Joey first gets a special small west on and that how he knows now he is working. Then his trainer Tami walks him around a circle in an area where they will start the search then provides him with a scent. You can see this in the picture. This picture amazingly captured the intense moment of Joey getting the scent. In reality it took about one second. It is truly amazing how in such a short time he can get a scent and find that person based on that one second. We tried multiple techniques. One person leaving and hiding. Two people leaving than going into different direction. Joey had to find one or the other and not be distracted by the other person he knows in the process. Two people leaving than he first had to find one person than get the scent of the second person and find them. Finding people in a busy city area as well as out in the woods. He did amazingly well. There was one time when he was a little uncertain and what his trainer did to walk him back and go over the scent again and he did fine. It is truly amazing what this young puppy can do. I admire the time and energy and patience that his trainer spends with him.
In the picture above Tami is getting ready to give Joey his reward. Joey is sitting on the person he found. Waiting.
Once Joey gets a scent, he goes pretty quick to find the person. He pulls to a point that there were times that I had to run after him and Tami, his trainer when they were following a scent and I was already found. He occasionally checks out other directions because the wind blows the scent into other ways yet ultimately, he finds his person. When he found me, he would stop and put his paws up on me and that is when he gets his reward of a sting cheese. He is very excited about his reward and ready to go again after a short break.
Joey getting his string cheese reward Gnat creek July 2021
I got lost and found a handful of times and it is very exciting to be found. Although I know where I am there was still this hope hanging on, I kept thinking: “I hope he finds me”. It brought joy when he did. Waiting to be found was interesting. Even though I know where I was, and that Joey will come it was hard to wait. It really anchored in the feeling how difficult must be for people when they do get lost or lost and injured and having to wait to be found. Once Joey find the people lost there is also a quick hide and find where he gets another treat. I did one of those and it was a lot of fun. I just show him the cheese run around the corner, and he comes and finds me and gets another treat. He loved it and I loved it as well.
I am truly grateful for Joey being trained for a search and rescue dog.
I am grateful for the current search and rescue team and Deco, his trainer Tami for being there and finding and rescuing people when needed.
Joey after we finished the training in Gnat creek July 2021
If you are interested in Volunteering as a SAR team member there are applications in the link below.
Clatsop County Search and Rescue
https://www.co.clatsop.or.us/sheriff/page/search-and-rescue
https://gkorosi75.medium.com/got-lost-to-be-found-on-purpose-5a049291c5ac
