Air scenting dogs as a rule do not track a person, they react to a human scent being blown towards them by the wind or air currents. This means that as long as the dog is searching downwind of a casualty, it should find them. Racing back to the handler, the dog indicates that he has made a find by barking or jumping up then takes the handler to the victim. These dogs are especially effective in dense brush, high grass, in the woods and at night – wherever visual searching is difficult. Air scenting dogs and their handlers cover large search sectors effectively and quickly. One dog/handler team can be equivalent to many foot searchers.

Tracking Dogs are trained to follow a person 'step-by-step'. Tracking dogs follow the direct path taken by the victim by scenting the disturbed soil and crushed vegetation caused by the person’s footsteps. They work with their heads down sniffing the ground. The dog is worked on lead with the handler following behind. They also detect the scent left on the path and surrounding foliage by the victim.

Trailing Dogs are trained to follow a specific human scent. To start trailing a specific individual, our dogs need a scent article that the person has directly handled or preferably worn. The dog is then started on the trail at the point where the person was last seen (PLS). Trailing dogs will follow the route of scent deposited on the ground as a person moves through an area. A trained trailing dog can follow the steps of someone who passed by several days earlier, discriminate between it and another's trail, and follow it over hills and through marshland.

Dogs can even trail people in cars, from the scent that blows out of the window or through the vents of the car, and have proven most beneficial in recent searches.

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Water Dogs are trained to detect the gases given off when a body decays underwater. A trained water dog can locate a body on land, in water, and under snow. We have some very experienced land and water search dog/handler teams. These dogs employ the technique of air scenting to locate drowning victims by indicating where subjects' scent rises to the surface of the water. Similarly, the dogs can pinpoint human scent percolating up through rubble or snow.

The Irish Search Dogs can provide free demonstrations of our capabilities upon request by any public safety group or interested community group. This could include outdoor demonstrations or instructional classes by experienced Irish Search Dogs members on search strategy, use of search dogs and other topics related to search and rescue.

FOR CALLOUT CONTACT THE UNIT 24/7

Call-out coordinator;

Joanne Horgan 086-8780911

Interested in the field of K-9 SAR? Like more information? Have stories you would like to share? please get in touch.

Support us, to help others by donating funds, equipment, or your spare time to our organisation.

100% of the funds go toward training, equipment and maintenance purchases.

info@irishsearchdogs.com