What makes a Disaster Search Dog different from your pet?

Workaholics
Sleeping on the furniture, chasing a cat, playing endlessly with the kids and eating table scraps is the “good life” for a pet.  None of these are allowed for Disaster Search Dogs.  Consistent routine, strict diet and an exercise program are all required for our hero.  Training—whether in Obedience, Agility or Search—is the highlight of the Disaster Search Dog’s day.  They LOVE it; they THRIVE on it!

24/7
Disaster Search Dogs are with their handlers close to 24 hours a day, every day: at home, on the job, on vacation, wherever the handler needs to be. Few pets can claim that!

The Nose Knows
Disaster Search Dogs are trained to focus on one scent: live humans buried under rubble.  In order to find the victim as quickly as possible, the dog learns to ignore all other scents and noises, even tempting traces of other animals, food, or people involved in the search.

Magic Paws
The dogs are able to negotiate (and enjoy!) unstable, slippery and uneven surfaces while keeping absolutely focused on the job at hand: saving lives..

What makes Disaster Search Dogs different from other working dogs?

Treacherous Terrain
Disaster Search Dogs work in an environment different from other working dogs.  Collapsed structures are filled with dust, rebar, splintered wood, broken glass, sharp metal and broken plumbing.  There are beams to fall from and holes to fall into.  In other words, the job site is a place no sensible dog would get near!  Search dogs need to have the agility and daring to work in the most uninviting situations.

High Energy
Guide Dogs and Canine Companion Dogs have a calm and gentle personality.  Disaster Search Dogs are asked to perform amazing feats of courage, strength and tenacity, requiring high energy and bold abandon!

Public Relations
When Guide Dogs and Canine Companion Dogs are working, the public is asked not to pet them, lest their focus be taken away from their job.  Not so for Disaster Search Dogs, who need to be Public Relations experts!  Dog and handler teams help the public understand disaster response.  They participate in frequent public demonstrations at schools and community events.  Our dogs need to have an outgoing personality.

Toy-Crazy
Guide Dogs and Canine Companion Dogs are taught to ignore a toy and concentrate on the job at hand.  Disaster Search Dogs are CRAZY about their toys: it’s another job requirement!   The dogs are rewarded with a toy for work well done and will go to ANY length to earn it: climbing ladders, walking over jagged debris and tunneling into deep narrow cervices.

Searching Off Leash 
Almost all other dogs in public service—bomb dogs, drug dogs, and guide dogs–work on a leash.  By contrast, disaster search dogs are off-leash, enabling the dog to navigate terrain the handler can’t get to.

Federal Certification
Disaster Search Dogs are the only dogs in public service that need certification by the U.S. Government to do their job.  This is due to the extremely high level of training required in disaster search operations.