Mal's as a SAR dog?

lish91883 · 03-05-2009, 08:42 AM

Can a Mal be used as a SAR dog?

southerncharm · 03-05-2009, 08:56 AM

Of course

lish91883 · 03-05-2009, 08:58 AM

What are some traits that would indicate that he would make a good SAR dog?

southerncharm · 03-05-2009, 09:02 AM

Uh well...they have tons of stamina and drive, and they're commonly used for scent detection...so why wouldn't they make a good SAR dog?

lish91883 · 03-05-2009, 09:07 AM

I dunno, thats why I asked.

I'm interested in trying to get into SAR w/ my Mal Zeus.

I'm not sure where to start, or if he even has the traits that one would need.

southerncharm · 03-05-2009, 09:17 AM

I would suggest Googling tracking clubs in your area. That's usually a good place to start. Or you can try googling trainers that are experienced with tracking.

If you're a trainer and are interested in learning how to teach scent detection and tracking, you may want to look for classes or seminars, etc. that are especially for trainers. I went to a school that taught scent detection and tracking, but that was in addition to obedience, puppy development, behavioral modification, support dog training, retrieval, personal protection, police K9, etc.. So I'm not sure how easy it is to find a course that focuses strictly on scent work & tracking.

ahlamarana · 03-05-2009, 09:20 AM

I have read several times that a SAR dog needs good "hunt" drive. If you throw a ball into tall grass, they will look for it forever. I don't know if that's any help to you or not.

Mals tend to be a nice size for SAR, too.

**Chris Wild** · 03-05-2009, 10:08 AM

Mals definitely have the drive for SAR. Unfortunately many do not have the environmental soundness/nerves to do it, especially USAR. Of course, most GSDs don't either, but this sort of environmental sensitivity tends to be more common in Mals.

But it never hurts to try. Find a group, have him evaluated and give it a shot.

**jocoyn** · 03-05-2009, 10:45 AM

There are a lot of Mals in SAR work - as Chris suggested - get him evaluated

Best thing would be for your to find a SAR team and find out if SAR is right for YOU. There are teams in the NJ area. Jennifer on this board is on a NJ team. The dog is only a part of it.

Many teams are going to make you come to training without the dog for awhile before they invest any time in your dog because the people who decide they will only do SAR if the dog works out don't usually "stick". Typically if SAR is for you and the dog does not work out, you would get another dog or do something else to support the team.

Catu · 03-05-2009, 11:40 AM

Some of the best SAR dogs I know are Malis, but in experienced hands, if this is going to be your first dog for SAR, I'd stick with the labs.

03-05-2009, 08:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
lish91883 Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lumberton, NJ Posts: 1,173	Mal's as a SAR dog? Can a Mal be used as a SAR dog? __________________ Mom to: Barron, 14 yr Min Pin Sierra, 8 yr rescued GSD Stryker, 4 yr rescued GSD Blue, 3 yr rescued GSD Sheena, 1 yr rescued Mix Volunteer for: GSGSR GSR-SP Trainer: Obedient K9 Dog Trainer

03-05-2009, 08:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
southerncharm Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: High Point, NC Posts: 80	Re: Mal's as a SAR dog? Of course __________________ ~Rachel, CPT http://www.southerncharmdogtraining.com

03-05-2009, 08:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
lish91883 Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lumberton, NJ Posts: 1,173	Re: Mal's as a SAR dog? What are some traits that would indicate that he would make a good SAR dog? __________________ Mom to: Barron, 14 yr Min Pin Sierra, 8 yr rescued GSD Stryker, 4 yr rescued GSD Blue, 3 yr rescued GSD Sheena, 1 yr rescued Mix Volunteer for: GSGSR GSR-SP Trainer: Obedient K9 Dog Trainer

03-05-2009, 09:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
southerncharm Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: High Point, NC Posts: 80	Re: Mal's as a SAR dog? Uh well...they have tons of stamina and drive, and they're commonly used for scent detection...so why wouldn't they make a good SAR dog? __________________ ~Rachel, CPT http://www.southerncharmdogtraining.com

03-05-2009, 09:07 AM	#5 (permalink)
lish91883 Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lumberton, NJ Posts: 1,173	Re: Mal's as a SAR dog? I dunno, thats why I asked. I'm interested in trying to get into SAR w/ my Mal Zeus. I'm not sure where to start, or if he even has the traits that one would need. __________________ Mom to: Barron, 14 yr Min Pin Sierra, 8 yr rescued GSD Stryker, 4 yr rescued GSD Blue, 3 yr rescued GSD Sheena, 1 yr rescued Mix Volunteer for: GSGSR GSR-SP Trainer: Obedient K9 Dog Trainer

03-05-2009, 09:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
southerncharm Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: High Point, NC Posts: 80	Re: Mal's as a SAR dog? I would suggest Googling tracking clubs in your area. That's usually a good place to start. Or you can try googling trainers that are experienced with tracking. If you're a trainer and are interested in learning how to teach scent detection and tracking, you may want to look for classes or seminars, etc. that are especially for trainers. I went to a school that taught scent detection and tracking, but that was in addition to obedience, puppy development, behavioral modification, support dog training, retrieval, personal protection, police K9, etc.. So I'm not sure how easy it is to find a course that focuses strictly on scent work & tracking. __________________ ~Rachel, CPT http://www.southerncharmdogtraining.com

03-05-2009, 09:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
ahlamarana Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: South Dakota Posts: 287	Re: Mal's as a SAR dog? I have read several times that a SAR dog needs good "hunt" drive. If you throw a ball into tall grass, they will look for it forever. I don't know if that's any help to you or not. Mals tend to be a nice size for SAR, too. __________________ -Sarah Amara CGC Dutch CGC

03-05-2009, 10:08 AM	#8 (permalink)
Chris Wild Administrator & Alpha Bitch of the Wild Bunch Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 12,604	Re: Mal's as a SAR dog? Mals definitely have the drive for SAR. Unfortunately many do not have the environmental soundness/nerves to do it, especially USAR. Of course, most GSDs don't either, but this sort of environmental sensitivity tends to be more common in Mals. But it never hurts to try. Find a group, have him evaluated and give it a shot. __________________ *Wildhaus Kennels* Kaiser ~ SchH3 CGC TDI (HOT) Raven ~ SchH3 AWD2 PD1 P1 PA T1 UCD URO2 CGC TT (B/HOT) Della ~ SchHA TR1 PD1 P1 PA T1 URO2 CGC TT (B/HOT) Wulf ~ SchH1 PD1 P1 T1 URO2 CGC TT (B/HOT) Heidi ~ BH CD UCD RN URO1 (B/HOT) Jazz ~ Superpup In Training

03-05-2009, 10:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
jocoyn Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8,052	Re: Mal's as a SAR dog? There are a lot of Mals in SAR work - as Chris suggested - get him evaluated Best thing would be for your to find a SAR team and find out if SAR is right for YOU. There are teams in the NJ area. Jennifer on this board is on a NJ team. The dog is only a part of it. Many teams are going to make you come to training without the dog for awhile before they invest any time in your dog because the people who decide they will only do SAR if the dog works out don't usually "stick". Typically if SAR is for you and the dog does not work out, you would get another dog or do something else to support the team. __________________ Nancy www.scsarda.org Grim (Grimmy Bear) & Beau (Bo-dee man) Waiting at the Bridge: Cyra, Toby, Rainbow, Linus, Oscar, Arlo & Waggles

03-05-2009, 11:40 AM	#10 (permalink)
Catu Crowned Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Valdivia, Chile Posts: 4,276	Re: Mal's as a SAR dog? Some of the best SAR dogs I know are Malis, but in experienced hands, if this is going to be your first dog for SAR, I'd stick with the labs. __________________ "The dog does not need to be deranked so much as the people need to learn to act like people worth listening to" Suzanne Clothier. Diabla, my Daemon; SchH A, RH-T A Akela, my Direwolf; Work in Progress Bagheera, Long term puppy host

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