Did you know that there are a lot of private owners of search and rescue dogs? Well there are. Many people find they need to do something during catastrophes and because they love dogs they decide to adopt and have a dog trained for search and rescue. If you are interested in adopting a search and rescue dog or just in knowing how to care for one you will want to read the below article.
Search and rescue dogs are very hard working heroes. They can work in earthquake aftermaths, hurricane rescues, and even as water rescue dogs. They are very loyal, lovable, and determined dogs. They also require special training, handling and care above other dogs. You will find that most often a search and rescue dog will go through training on a daily basis to make sure they have not forgotten any skills and to keep the dog's minds active. In some cases new training is added. As a private owner of a search and rescue dog you have to keep them in tune. This means you need to go through the class with them, and provide as much support and skill to the session as they do. You should also know that a search and rescue dog usually thinks of the training and actual rescue situations as play. This means that if they aren't having a little fun, and being useful they will want to quite- in other words it is too much like work.
There are certain dogs that work really well as search and rescue dogs. First the dog have to be a good tracker, hunter, hound, and good swimmers. Since dogs often have to smell for blood, or human scent they have to have great noses. This means that bloodhounds, Labradors, German shepherds, Old English sheepdogs, and St. Bernard's are usually the best. Golden retrievers are also really great at working as search and rescue dogs. Keep in mind that the dog thinks it is a game; for the owners you have to be sure you can handle the issues you will be dealing with. Most people are great in rescue situations, but some individuals may have lasting problems of the death and destruction they have had to deal with. So it is not just find a dog to go with the owner, but making sure the owner can handle the job required as well.
Most of the time search and rescue handlers are volunteers, like the private dog owners we have been discussing. This means they show up when they can and must also be physically fit. They are going to be training with the dogs, working a lot of hours at a seen, and of course need to have a handle on rescue criteria for survival as well.
Training as mentioned above is very important. You can not just watch a video and say ?I have a search and rescue dog.? In fact what you need is a training facility that will help you learn how to be a handler as well as how to train the dog. You must have certification as well as rescue equipment. Training will last for the dog's lifetime in the service. This means that you must keep up with the training on a daily basis and be extremely committed. Search and rescue dogs are heroes and so are their handlers, but remember you should be fully prepared for the tasks at hand.
You can find dogs everywhere. There are so many dogs out there that are left without a home and end up being displaced at a shelter for several reasons. If you are seriously thinking about helping any of these homeless dogs but aren't sure what to do, the best way to improve the lives of any shelter dogs is to adopt one.
Giving any of these dogs a good home is the single most important thing that you can do. But if adopting a dog is just not an option for you right now, then there are several other things that you can do to help better the lives of many shelter dogs. Below are seven suggestions to keep in mind if you are interested in doing this.
1. First, visit your local animal shelter and spend as much time as you can with the dogs. Donating some of your time to simply hang out and play with these canine residents can make a huge difference in their lives. A lot of the time, the shelter staff are very busy with their regular work and simply don't have the extra time to play with any of the dogs. Shelter employees can always use the help of others to come and play and socialize with these animals. Shelter workers will be more than happy to show you around the shelter and help you figure out what you can do to help.
As a volunteer, you can give them a little extra pampering by brushing their coats, taking the dogs for a walk around the block or just being there to hang out with them. Overall, shelter dogs get very little attention and socialization, and a short visit with them does a lot to improve their well-being.
2. You can also volunteer to be a doggie foster parent and keep a rescued dog at your home until he or she finds a permanent, full-time home. This also goes a great way in helping the dog to adjust to family life. The overall socialization just can't be beat!
3. You can also volunteer to take these dogs to an obedience class that will better their chances for a possible adoption. Behavior problems are the #1 reason many dogs are given up in the first place - a trained dog will be much easier to adopt out.
4. Sponsor fund raising parties for the shelter and donate all the cash to your local rescue organization. You may also ask for donations of items that you can bring to the shelter such as: blankets, food and treats, collars, leashes, toys, kennels, etc.
5. Help wash and groom the dogs and then bring them to adoption fairs.
6. Inform people about all upcoming dog adoptions and fairs and by being a shelter volunteer try placing an ad in your local paper or putting up flyers on bulletin boards and at dog parks.
7. Last but not the least, keep in mind that the best way to prevent dog shelter overcrowding in the first place is to spay or neuter your pets and to spread the word about the benefits of getting these house pets fixed.
Just following any of these methods can go a long way in helping the overcrowded situations in shelters all over the world. A little bit of your time can go a long way in any shelter dogs life.
Both Gerry Ronson & Debbie Ray are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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