Participate in the K9 training

Training K9s for this work requires a lot of resources and a lot of hours. If you are interested in helping, we would like to hear from you. Hiders and trail setters are the subjects that our k9s are out to find. Age of the scent trail or scent pattern and distance from the starting point are key factors, as well and the environment surrounding the training location (weather, vegetation, moisture, scent contamination, traffic, or other distractions from people and animals). Search K9s develop confidence as they encounter new situations and learn to navigate them successfully. 

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People from all walks of life, young and old, can be helpful. Young children can participate with the assistance of an adult. Kids often enjoy talking on the radios and trying to find hiding places that will fool the dogs.  People can help in several ways such as:

1. Trail setter or hider

2. Flanker (this person follows the handler and helps with radio communications and navigation using a map or GPS device)

3. Photographer

4. Driver to transport trail setters and hiders to and from hiding locations

 

These training days can run 2-6 hours, with up to 2 hours of drive time. We have had as many as six k9 teams training together with just as many helpers involved to make the day successful.  We train in locations from every corner of NE Oregon/SW Washington.  We usually ask people to bring a collection of items to help the day along:

• a scent article, something you use or have worn (not anything that has been recently washed) that will have your scent on it (ex: hat, glove, hair brush, handkerchief); 

• a 2-way FRS radio if you have one; 

• a book or cell phone to pass the time if you are a subject that gets to wait for a long period of time at your hiding spot;

• weather appropriate clothing and footwear;

• food and water to get you through the day;

• GPS device, can be cell phone or handheld Garmin, and know how to use it

  • If you are using a cell phone, we may ask that you download either the Avenza app, Gaia GPS app, or the Mantrailing app, all of these apps allow you to track your trails.​

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If you would like to participate in a k9 training please contact any of the handlers from the Meet the Teams page.  We will gladly bring you on board as a volunteer, let you see how the dogs work, and give you a sense of the work.  If you think you'd like to become an official SAR K9 handler, you will need to fill out an application for SAR membership from your county's Sheriff's Office SAR Department.  New SAR members are always welcome!  Each county has a process to approve new members, often starting with a new members training course which will get you state certified.  After you are an official SAR member, you are welcome to expand into any of the focus SAR areas, including k9s.

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