Here's a question for you SARers...

Well, I wouldn't say that you're crazy, just reaching a bit

From what I understand, and you've acknowledged it yourself in your post, beagles are VERY easily distracted by the scents of small animals. They were bred to hunt, so this isn't surprising. Of course, I'm sure that within the breed you'll find some beagles who are more interested in "hunting" than others (just like I have one working GSD and one couch potato GSD) but in general I would say no, beagles wouldn't be suited to serious search work.

Now, if you're just looking for something fun to do with your dog on weekends, then by all means go for it! But if you're looking to get heavily and seriously involved in real-life SAR work, I would choose a breed already proven to possess the qualities needed for such a task.

A beagle may have the physical ability to search, but the police officers and detectives aren't going to like it very much when he or she runs off in the middle of a search for a missing Boy Scout to chase a squirrel

I sure do get a kick out of the mental image though!

I, too, know of some beagles that are legitimate SAR dogs. I also know of a dachshund (sp?) that is on a SAR team and used in Rhododendron thickets etc. [Kids, Altzheimers]

If the unit has experience working hounds, then you might be able to pull it off, but working any kind of hound is different [more exasperating] than working the herding breeds for sure. I think number one is the beagle is NEVER allowed to chase critters starting from now, its only "game" is humans [I imagine this will be a food driven dog]

Is your "trainer" on a SAR team? If not many dog trainers don't EVEN have a clue. Does your county WANT volunteer dogs? Whose perception is it that they are needed?

I agree with the original suggestion of find out what the team requirements [is there a team] are. A lot of people want to bring "different" "challenging" breeds into this and the old "tried and true" breeds or comparable mixes are easier to get up and operational more quickly.

Another consideration if there is not a team - our LE often ask to see our insurance coverage [liability] because dogs = liability and they don't cover us on a search. Now a beagle may not be something to be concerned about but you mess up on a search and you could get sued. Once you get specialized training the "good samaritan" stuff changes.

I definitely would not risk your Service dog.

Thanks for the info, and the great video.

Yes, my trainer is on a SAR team. She used to volunteer for one county, now is on the adjacent county's team (I think she moved...). So she's not just some lady that thinks she knows what she's doing in terms of tracking but doesn't have a clue what's going on in the real world. We live right near the county line. She indicated there is a need. I spoke to a woman in my obedience class who had gone through the process (but her dog washed out, failing the test the maximum amount of times) who indicated that there's a need in one of the counties, and there's a whole application process website as well. So, I'm guessing there's a need. Obviously, we didn't want to call anyone and pursue this if beagles would cause them to .

And I do understand the idea of a team, which is why I don't like at all the idea of Dh and my GSD doing SAR work, even if I were willing to risk him. My GSD and *I* are a team, as he's MY service dog. Teams are dog/one person teams as far as I'm concerned, and I understand that concept well.

With regard to insurance, is there special insurance for SAR work? We have tons of liability insurance (homeowners and an umbrella). But I know that, for example, therapy dog organizations want (and provide) their own insurance on top of that.

Having a working dog of my own, I'm not one of those people who thinks that every dog I have is perfectly capable of any task that I put in front of him. I do understand that most dogs are bred to be wonderful pets, or perhaps beautiful show dogs, but nothing more. But if there's a need, and if my dog has a great nose, and if she can be trained, and since my Dh has the time and he does have the wilderness skills. Well, still, that's a lot of Ifs.

That's why I came to you...because I trust that you'd steer me straight, and give me the good information. When I looked at the dog I met in my obedience class, he could barely hold a stay, and I wondered if the owner just kind of wasted a couple years on training a dog that wasn't the right material for SAR work. I'd rather not waste everyone's time if this isn't a good idea, and do something more constructive with her, or at least, something fun like agility, and not waste other people's time. But if she can do good in the world, well, that would be really nice.

So...thanks... I appreciate your insight.

Originally Posted By: Nancy JI made the comment about asking whether or not she was on a team because I HAVE met a number of dog trainers who really do have no idea yet talk to people about search and rescue.

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My working dog has far different requirements of him than most dogs. But many alleged "professional" trainers don't get that at all. So I completely understand what you're saying.

Again, thanks for your insight and help.