The Search Dog Foundation is recognized as the nation’s leader in producing Disaster Canine Search Teams.  We provide 40% of the nation’s Advanced Certified teams, and 83% of the Advanced teams in California (a higher percentage than any other group). 

Prior to SDF’s program, only around 15% of the dogs that were trained ever achieved certification by FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  We have raised this success rate to 85%. 

What makes our search teams unique in the country?  Our field-tested program of recruitment, training and long-term care, which includes: 

• Recruitment of donated or rescued dogs according to specific criteria
• Placing the dog with a Canine Prep Home family for socialization and basic obedience training
• Six months of professional training for the dog
• Partneringsearch dog and handler andproviding training for the team before they begin their new life in the handler’s hometown
• Ongoing training in the handler’s hometown in preparation for FEMA Certification
• Guaranteeing the Lifetime Care of every dog accepted into the program.  

1. Canine Recruitment

The Search Dog Foundation recruits dogs from shelters and breed rescue groups throughout the country.  We are always on the lookout for bold, strong, outgoing dogs with a tremendous “prey-drive” (they’ll go to extraordinary lengths to find their toy).  Only a special few have just what it takes to make it through the rigorous training program and the demands of deployment. 

 “It’s a real challenge for a dog to get all the way through our training program and join the ranks of the America’s most highly-trained search dogs.  Success depends on recruitment—finding dogs that need a home, and that are a perfect fit and will thrive in this line of work.” 

-- Miki Klocke, SDF Program Manager.

2. Canine Prep Homes

Our Prep Home families open their homes and their hearts to these special dogs for two months up to a year.  In addition to love and care, the families provide basic obedience training and socialization to prepare the dog for formal training.  The homes need to be close enough to Ojai to attend weekly SDF training sessions with the Foundation and to rely on each other for support.

 “Formal training will be done by professionals.  But what you will be doing as a Prep Home family is no less important. You will be teaching the candidate how to be a close companion and to trust its future handler.” 

-- Bo Harper, Canine Prep Home

3. Canine Training Program

When the Prep Home stay is over, the dog travels to the training facility in Gilroy, California for six months of daily training.  Here the dogs learn advanced obedience and disaster search skills.  They also acquire the confidence and trust essential to bonding with their handler.  We owe much of our success in producing the nation’s most skilled search dogs to trainers Pluis Davern and Kate Davern. 

At the same time, the dogs' future handlers are at an intensive five-day training course.  At the end of the course, Pluis partners each dog with a handler, making certain they are a perfect match and that there is real chemistry between them.  The handlers spend six more days training with their new canine partners.  (Out of state handlers receive four additional days of training.) 

“It’s our job to instill confidence, to teach an entire network of skills, and to cultivate a truly fine bark alert.  It's got to be a game for the dogs.  The dog isn’t thinking: ‘I’m going to rescue humanity!’ It’s thinking, ‘Somebody out there has a toy for me!’” 

-- Pluis Davern, Head Trainer

4. Partnering Search Dog and Handler

You might think that once the dog and handler graduate from the training program our involvement lessens.  Not so!  Graduation is only the beginning of an SDF training program that lasts throughout the working life of a dog.  After graduation each dog goes home with its handler and starts a new life with the handler’s family and the firehouse crew.  Twice a week the teams train with their own Training Groups. The bond between dog and handler is intense and rewarding for both—sharing work, play, and the satisfaction of saving lives.

“Zack and I train two or three times a week with other Bay Area SDF firefighters. We now practice really challenging search skills: night searches and difficult “high finds” when the dog can’t physically get near the victim and must locate them by a scent trail.  This intensive training will go on throughout Zack’s lifetime. It’s what’s required to be ready when disaster strikes.” 

-- Jeff Place, SDF Firefighter-Handler –Fremont CA

5. Ongoing Training

After graduation, an SDF field representative visits the out of state teams once a month for the first six months to ensure that the training is on track.  The California teams return to SDF’s training facility for training “tune-ups.”

The rigorous training program prepares the search team for certification by FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  (Disaster search dogs are the only dogs in public service that must attain this certification to do their jobs.)   After attaining Basic and Advanced Certification, the teams need to be re-certified every other year to be in compliance with FEMA regulations. These stringent requirements ensure that the teams will have the skills needed for extremely demanding, often dangerous deployments.

“In addition to the intense initial training, the requirement for additional follow-up work with your trainers indicates the seriousness of your program and keen concern for the welfare of the dogs. The fact that you have been able to shorten the time to FEMA certification while maintaining such a high degree of excellence is a testament to your organization.” 

-- James A. Burns - New York State Fire Commissioner

6. Lifetime Care

SDF makes a Lifetime Care Commitment to each dog accepted into our program: Once rescued, these dogs will never need to be rescued again.  If a dog is accepted by SDF but does not complete the training program, it is placed in a Lifetime Care home.  The adoption works beautifully for both dog and adoptive family.  We closely monitor the needs of all Lifetime Care families and their dogs.  If at any time these families are not able to care for the dog, we see that they are placed in another loving home. 

Normally, an SDF dog remains with its handler throughout its lifetime.  Should this not be possible, this dog also becomes part of the Lifetime Care program.

”What attracts me to SDF is that they not only give new lives to rescued dogs, but they are committed to the dog's welfare for its entire life." 

-- Amy Lubeck, Vice President of the Golden Retriever Rescue of Wisconsin