sweet_ceana Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 What do you look for in a dog that has potential for training? I am asking because my new foster uses his nose more than any other border collie I have ever encountered. Does "nosiness," even matter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maralynn Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 Using the nose is good, but just about every dog has a nose that is capable of SAR work. It's the rest of his drives/temperment that also need to be factored into the picture. I'd look more for hunt and prey drive and focus - if you throw that ball into a patch of high grass, is he going to stay focused hunting for the ball, or is he going to get side tracked with other smells? Now if he is the type of dog that loves games using his nose and stays focused on the game at hand, then that points toward potential as a SAR/detcetion dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Reichard Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 It has been over a decade since I was a certified member of any SAR unit, but the dogs can't have changed that much. If I was looking for a dog to do area search, ball drive would be my top prioity. If I was looking for a USAR dog, then tugging would be the top consideration. In both cases, I would want a dog that would play until it's pads gave out and then keep on going. Drive is everything in these dogs. The nose takes care of itself. Regarding liabilities in the breed, my biggest concern would be noise sensitivity, especially if I wanted the dog for any kind of urban work. In any case, though, a successful SAR candidate requires a number of skills, some difficult to find combined in a single dog: the dog must be well socialized, tolerant of other dogs, new people, and relaxed in strange and overwhelming situations. It must have a tremendous work ethic, the ability to take extensive training, and the ability to work under pressure. It must be obedient but also able to work independently, at some distance and out of sight from its handler. It must be sound, healthy, and relatively young, as the working lives are so short that it makes little sense to start with an older dog. In short, it has to be able to become the "whole package." Dogs like this can be surprisingly hard to find, and if you have a good candidate, some SAR handler wil be grateful to get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweet_ceana Posted July 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 If I was looking for a dog to do area search, ball drive would be my top prioity. If I was looking for a USAR dog, then tugging would be the top consideration. In both cases, I would want a dog that would play until it's pads gave out and then keep on going. Drive is everything in these dogs. He is definetly all of the above! He is very obedient, and loves other dogs. He was found on the streets 10 months ago and is about two years old now. The street history and lack of going out and about with the people who found him have given him slight seperation anxiety and he is a little wary of strangers. Neither of those two issues seem very extream. Strangers and being alone are just very new to him and he doesn't quite know how to act properly in either situation. DH and I have been working with him on both (We will have had him for a week Tuesday) and we are seeing improvement. Besides the nose, I have never had a foster who was so dedicated to his handler. I.E. My dog Poke loves to please, but Poke loves to please anyone. (show off.) This dog is different, he will do what others ask very well but he has decided that DH is HIS guy. If I said jump Pappy would say "ok." If DH said jump Pappy would say "How high, far and how many time? SIR." Another reason I was thinking a SAR handler might like him is the fact that Pappy LOVES kids, even toddlers. I will have to try some nose games with him and see how he does. I am not sure how he would do under pressure yet, he does take correction well and doesn't shrink away from a firm verbal correction. He is a fairly hearty built dog, aussie bone structure and head, border collie coat and ears. Does size factor in? He is about 45lbs ish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maralynn Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 He sounds like a nice size, but the seperation anxiety and wariness towards strangers would be a red flag for me in selecting a SAR dog. If I am selecting a dog for SAR I want a dog who takes life in stride. The fact that he loves toddlers/kids is great, but he needs to be comfortable with *all* types of people. And that may happen yet, but it's still an unknown. A person I know got a young adult lab to train for USAR work. He came from WA state I believe, flew to FL, then up to IN. She got him to her house and went out in her back yard (which was full of scents from her other 3 dogs) and he was totally focused on playing ball with her. If I were evaluating an adult dog for SAR work, I'd take the dog to 2 or 3 new areas, get him and his ball out and see what he would do for it. I'd see if he would really hunt for it if I threw it in a patch of tall weeds. I'd see if he'd play with strangers and bring it back to them to throw again. I'd be watching his body language for any negative reactions. I'd also want to see how he reacted to loud noises and sudden movements. Handle dedication is another fine line issue. I want a dog who is dedicated to me and willing to go the extra mile for me, but not a dog who is so reliant on me that it distracts from their work, if that makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweet_ceana Posted July 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Just kidding! We went to the dog park and he forgot all about his focus and just wanted to play with the other dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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