Auntie Liela's...
Beginning Search Dog Information
Hi Interested Party:
Your request for SAR Dog information was forwarded to us from the CARDA
Responder Net. I hope the following will provide you with the information
you need and we hope to train with you one day soon.
I'm sending you my standard search dog information letter we send to all interested parties who wish to become involved in this pursuit.
In the Los Angeles area ours is the only SAR dog group I know of that meets on a regular schedule for weekly training. Our regular training is on Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm but my unofficial training is on Saturday (it used to be Wed. or Thurs. but I changed it to Saturdays instead) and is usually held at Eaton Canyon in Altadena which is 10 minutes from my home. I try to train every Saturday if someone desires a training session and calls me by Thursday evening so my husband can post the training on the voice mail by Friday. If there is no interest any given week, of course the voice mail will say "Due to lack of response there will be no Saturday training tomorrow." Usually there is a Saturday training at least twice a month.
My husband and I have been involved with dog SAR for the past 30 or more years...my husband was first a member of the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team for 13 years as a bloodhound handler, and we've both been members of CARDA (California Rescue Dog Association) for 16 years, and are two of the original members of Los Angeles Search Dogs (LASD) and respond to over 90 searches per year for one or the other SAR team. The best way to learn first hand about SAR dog training is to actually join us at one of our weekly training sessions. We train every Sunday all day some where in the L.A., Orange, Ventura, Riverside or San Bernardino Counties. We ask interested parties to come the first four times without their dogs as this time is dedicated to their orientation, getting acquainted with the two basic disciplines, area search and trailing. Then you may bring you dog to start basics in my beginner class that I call my "Puppy Class". Your dog may be as young as three months or as old as 3 years...but since it takes about one and one half years to certify a dog and handler the younger the dog the better to ensure it has at least four or five good search years. Also, the dog (unless it's just a young puppy) should have all its basic obedience commands down pat...the most important being to come immediately on command.
There is no charge whatsoever for any handler/dog training at any CARDA or
LASD training. The expense to the handler comes from your time and mileage
to and from training, from the gradual accumulation of all your SAR gear...and
the on going expense of gear maintenance. When eventually you and your dog
are a certified dog SAR team you will still absorb the ongoing expense of travel
cost to and from training as well as responding and returning from
searches....but, trust me, if dog SAR is something that you find you really want
to pursue it's all worth it. Any form of search and rescue offers a great
feeling of personal gratification knowing your efforts are part of a search plan
to save a life or offer
closure to those bereaved.
You may call us any time at home for more information at: (626) 798-7616 or call any Friday evening for voice mail info about that week's training. The voice mail number is: (626) 798-2879. The voice mail will give location, driving instructions and information in detail about that week end's training which is usually on Sunday...all day starting at l0:00 am and ending at 5:00 to 6:00 pm. After training any that wish to caravan with us to any local coffee shop for supper or refreshments are welcome, especially new people as this is an extended way to get further acquainted.
I'll look forward to meeting and working with you and your dog one day soon. Males and females canines do equally well at trailing or area search . I've known and worked with lots dogs over the years, many breeds...pure bred and mixed. The dogs best suited generally for dog SAR are first the herding breeds, next the sporting, then working breeds, then the nonsporting, most of the hound group and many mixed breeds. But all have exhibited the most important trait... a strong play or prey drive, or both in any varying degree. Search and Rescue has been blessed with many a German Shepherd, Bouvier des Flandres, all variations of the Belgium Sheep Dogs, Australian Kelpies, Heelers, Shepherds (Aussies), hunting dogs... like all the retrievers, nearly all the hound groups and many, many mixed breeds. I, needless to say, love them all. For those who don't have a dog at this time, our training is a great place to help them decide on a type or breed. If they only want dog SAR involvement but don't wish to work a dog, there is a category called "Support" where one can become mission ready and serve as a helper for a dog team in the field. There is plenty for everyone to participate in at our training with or without a canine.
Do come and join us soon.
Sincerely,
Liela Newcomb
CARDA 143
LASD VK915
P.S. Sometimes our weekly official training is on a Saturday instead of
the usual Sunday. Most of the time our official training is open to
all but sometimes, it is only open to LASD Members (Los Angeles Search
Dogs). If you remember to check the voice mail each Friday night you will
be able to tell if the training is open that week end to all or restricted.
As I mentioned before, most of the time the training is open to all.
If you have any questions, you can easily email be by clicking the link at the top of this page.