When is a dog too old....

[kaiservbismarck]

I know my subject is just that.....subjective...but i was wondering when is a dog considered to be past his or her prime to begin SAR training. My male GSD is 8 months.

[Amaruq]

Eight months is a GREAT time to start SAR training. My guys started when they were 8 to 12 weeks of age. Many people purchase a dog that is 6 months to a couple years old to start training.

[jocoyn]

Not at all too old. A great age. Actually keep some things lightweight until his growth plates close. Jumping and running through the woods tooooomuch can be hard on the joints.

[kaiservbismarck]

Thanks, this really encourages me. i was worried that i was starting too late. i've contacted my local SAR group and waiting to hear back.

Does anyone have any recommendations as to what i should be doing first? i ordered the book "tracking from the ground up" and was going to start teaching him to track. Good? bad?

[jocoyn]

You need to be prepared ............ I know my own SAR group is not even letting prospects check out our team until next Fall at the earliest [and that is not all that uncommon].

Most teams are going to have some sort of probationary period to demonstrate you are interested enough in SAR that if the dog is not suitable you will either stay and get a new dog or stay and function in some other capacity. The dog is just a tool, nothing more nothing less.

For the dog, we advise folks to make sure the dog is comfortable around people of all kinds, dog neutral, can handle all kinds of environmental disturbances, has some very basic [not too much] obedience. If woods, it would be good to make sure your dog is real comfortable in the woods, has a solid recall, and won't chase game.

Some of what you do depends on whether you are talking wilderness or disaster SAR as well. I would not start doing any scent training until you talk with the team. Different teams have different approaches to training and there are many ways to succesfully skin a cat.

[kaiservbismarck]

I just heard back from my local SAR group. They "already have their dog". A police officer who is also a part of their group has a police trained dog to do the SAR. They're not willing to take on another dog....very unfortunate.

Oh well...i'll train him on my own if they don't want the extra help!!

[jocoyn]

You may find another group within a few hours.

You really don't want to be "on your own" in this endeavor. Sometimes you have to start with what is local, and if you have the passion to do this you will make it happen but it may not be with this dog. Dedication, patience, and desire........and a willingness to learn.

They may not be willing to take on another dog but now, how about another SAR person? There is an awful lot to learn that has nothing to do with the dogs.

Seriously, some of our best folks did not even have a dog when they joined and did much better at focusing on the prelminary training without the dog...........remember it is not about the dog; it is about locating missing persons.

If nothing else, our team spends several thousand dollars a year for workmens comp and liablity insurance and you do NOT want to be out with your dog without liability. And you have to have a good relationship with the local law enforcement to get the calls anyway.

[Amaruq]

I agree with Nancy, SAR is not really something you do "just yourself". This is especially true if you have never been involved in training a dog for real work or even sport tracking. Check and see if there are other SAR teams in the area. Some teams do not use dogs some do.

If SAR is not something you can perhaps find a dog training group in the area that trains for tracking. Definitely not the same as SAR but it is something fun to do with your dog.