Winter of 2005: This winter, 9 KSARDA K9 handlers and their K9s that are qualified to train in
disaster search, have been beginning their disaster training. The team always begins the training
sessions reinforcing obedience commands, implementing disaster commands, teaching the dogs
directional control, and focusing the dog in on the handler. The initial training sessions begin
with getting the dogs and handlers acclimated to the rubble, walking on leash slowly over the rubble
to improve footing and confidence, and reinforcing the disaster commands that the handlers will be using.
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| The K9s and handlers work on "down stays". | K9 Solo and Tracer get introduced to the rubble. |
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| K9 Ruby awaits further commands from Sherryl. | Sherryl takes K9 Ruby on the rubble pile. |
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| "Ruby, check it! Good girl!" | K9 Solo barks and digs for his treat. |
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The dogs are also taught to "penetrate" through the rubble with digging and bark alerts, using treats and
toys in the early sessions before victims are introduced later on. The K9s also had a chance to find
victims hidden in some nearby culverts, localizing the scent, and giving the strong "disaster alerts".
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| Ruby walks on the culverts searching for the victim. | K9 Tracer says, "Hey, Mom, I found the victim!" |
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| K9 Bailey searches for her victim's scent. | K9 Bailey gets her reward for finding the victim. |
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| K9 Solo locates his "culvert victim". | K9 R.C. gives her find alert. |
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| K9 Skye trails his victim's scent in the dirt. | "Way to go, Skye, you saved me!" |
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| Victim Vicki gets ready to hide for the disaster trainees. | K9 R.C. locates her victim "hidden in the rubble". |
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| K9 Tracer also locates his "victim". | K9 Solo is praised by his victim for locating her in rubble. |
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| Vicki and K9 Solo take time out to pose for a photo. | K9 Tracer and Inga rest with the rubble piles near by. |
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| The team hid a victim for the dogs amongst a pile of culverts. | K9 Scout and Joe locate their victim. "Good job, Scout!" |
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| Scout and Joe work a second search for another victim. | K9 Solo finds his victim in the culverts. |
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| Solo gives Vicki a "bark alert" that he found the victim. | Tracer and Inga begin their search of the culverts. |
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| K9 Tracer localizes the scent and says "hi" to the victim. | R.C. works her search pattern and successfully locates the person. |
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We look forward to watching the K9s and handlers progress through their training!
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For More Information About KSARDA, Please Contact: info@ksarda.org |
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Jennifer Thill,
Deputy
Director
Southern Region |
Annette
Gaston,
Director
|
Mary Meek,
Deputy
Director
Northern Region |
| E-Mail: jthill3@cox.net | E-Mail: bngsar@earthlink.net | E-Mail: marysar@cox.net |
|
Cell:
316-706-6226 |
Home:
913-592-2985 |
Home: 785-286-3397 |
| Pager: 316-577-0301 | Cell: 913-484-9291 | Cell: 785-249-7127 |
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