For The Dog

A Search and rescue dog is expected to be friendly and non-aggressive toward people and other animals. Any deviation from expected friendly behaviour is a poor reflection of all-volunteer search and rescue dog teams, and us in general.

A dog curling it's lip at a person, barking at a person(s), or a dog jumping another dog means only one thing in the eyes of the public That’s an "aggressive", "mean" dog. Even the most laid back friendly dog can be aroused or startled for reasons unfathomable to the handler.

Your state of mind, anxiousness, irritation, frustration, or anger; is transmitted "right down the lead" to your dog who does not know the reason for your state of mind. It only knows you are "uptight" and will alert accordingly and not necessarily the way or when you expect it! be careful.

The best correction in dog training is the ANTICIPATED one, one that is given before or just as the undesired action begins. In training sessions we are to always:

• Introduce our dogs to as many situations as we conceivably can in a controlled environment.
• Expose our dogs to off-lead play at training.
• Use training sessions as the place to retrain, correct, or discipline dogs with behaviour problems, and not out in the public eye.
• Create situations in which a dog that has displayed unwanted social behaviour can be corrected, so that it learns acceptable social behaviour, but use your common sense.
• Train our dogs to come immediately when called from a distance when off lead or to drop at distance, and wait for the handler.

The handler has the right to not want to continue with the assessment period if he/she feels the dog is in undue stress, uncomfortable or if it is just all" too much" for both to handle.

The handler MUST keep his/her dog under effective control, ie: no pulling the handler, no lunging at other dogs/animals/people etc.

The handler must correct/praise/voice/pat/reward, in the right order at the appropriate time.

The handler should be in a good frame of mind prior to the assessment, remember this is not a test it's just the assessment.

Handlers are responsible for the behaviour of their dogs at all times.

Repeated acts of non-social behaviour by a dog, that is not immediately corrected by the handler, will not be tolerated by the unit at all.

Handlers will use regular training sessions as the opportunity to correct behaviour problems.

Each of us will notify a handler, if in the handler's absence, they observe inappropriate behaviour by that person's dog.

At non-training sessions, dogs will be kept on a leash, held at a sufficient length so the dog is under control, until you are confident that your dog is relaxed and others do not mind your dog off lead.

At mock and real searches, dogs must be on leash when arriving and leaving search area. This includes returning from assignment or search debriefings.

Dogs will be on leash or in handler's vehicle when people are eating.

1. Repeated incidents of non-social behaviour by a dog or its handler will ne called to the attention of the other unit members. The members will then sit down and discuss the individuals problem with the handler. In severe or repeated cases, if the handler, after it has been called to his / her attention, fails to recognise or acknowledge a problem exists; the offending dog and handler will be asked top leave the unit; or in the case of an operational team, be taken off the call out roster until the problem is corrected.

2. N.S.W. Search and Rescue dogs reserve the right to dismiss anyone, anytime for any true legitimate reason, which either, endangers our dogs, you, or us as volunteers in any way, or form, and without repercussions from any third party ie: unfair dismissal tribune, solicitor's Lawyers, anti discrimination boards etc. Also Members (handlers) may be dismissed for non-commitment or loss of interest in SAR work.

Also if the offending member has any equipment loaned, gifted or borrowed, it WILL BE returned by that individual upon leaving the unit within seven (7) working days

Along with our basic obedience skill test and handlers attitude, this chart should give a clear indication to see if the assessed dog has what it takes to be a SAR dog. There is no pass or fail just a level of either Very good, good, fair, or unsatisfactory. That's all. Only you the handler will know the pass or fail.

The director will be looking for a number of required essentials; these are not in any chronological order, and will include the handler's attitude as well:

DRIVES - Subconscious impulses to react to stimuli. V.G. G. F. U
TEMPERAMENT - Attitude towards life. V.G. G. F. U
COURAGE - Absence of fear towards objects or situations. V.G. G. F. U
HARDNESS - Resiliency toward unpleasant experiences. V.G. G. F. U
SOFTNESS - Remembering unpleasant experiences. V.G. G. F. U
SHARPNESS - Tendency to react aggressively to stimuli. V.G. G. F. U
SENSORY THRESHOLD - high / low amount of stimulus to obtain a reaction. V.G. G. F. U
HUNT DRIVE - To pursue objects. (Out of sight, etc.) V.G. G. F. U
TRACKING DRIVE - To follow ground disturbance odours. ( animal or human Tracks) V.G. G. F. U
AIR SCENT DRIVE - To follow wind born scents. V.G. G. F. U
RETRIEVE DRIVE - Drive to bring back prey (objects) to handler. (pack leader) V.G. G. F. U
PREY DRIVE - Drive to bite and kill prey. ( refusal to release when playing tug of war, or when bite happy) V.G. G. F. U
FIGHT DRIVE Drive to measure physical prowess with rivals. (same as rowdy human) V.G. G.F.U
GUARD DRIVE - Drive to warn intruders by barking, growling, or biting to stay out of territory. (yard or car, in lay terms, defence) V.G. G. F. U
PROTECTION DRIVE - Drive to defend the pack. ( family or handler) V.G. G. F. U
RANK DRIVE - To achieve higher rank in the pack. (Biting or growling at handler while under stress.) V.G. G. F. U
TRAINABILITY - Drive to please the desires of the pack leader. V.G. G. F. U
SURVIVAL / FLIGHT DRIVE - Drive to flee from real or imagined danger. V.G. G. F. U
HOMING DRIVE - Drive to return to territory, or pack. ( handler) V.G. G. F. U
PLAY DRIVE - Drive for physical contact with pack members. V.G. G. F. U
ACTIVITY DRIVE - Drive to move and act. ( digging, chewing, running fence's, etc.) V.G. G. F. U
PACK DRIVE - Drive for emotional contact with pack members. V.G. G. F. U

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