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K9 and MOUNTED SEARCH & RESCUE OF SOUTH FLORIDA, INC.

CANINE TRAINING

Members that join as canine handlers must first have their dog be tested
using a Temperament Test. This is to determine if the dog is suitable for
search & rescue work and to determine if the dog is agressive in any way
towards the handler, other members and other canines. It is a standard rule
that any dog for search & rescue work MUST be friendly and non-agressive.
If at any time during training the dog becomes agressive towards people,
the dog is washed out of the training program.

Once the dog is considered as a candidate for training, there are several
levels of training to go through and they are: Socialization, Obedience,
and agility.

Socialization consists of exposing the dog to all kinds of people, both young
and old, walking the dog around areas with loud noises like airports,
construction sites, fly on fixed wing aircraft and helicopters, etc. This
training consists of introducing your dog to different situations. Taking
the dog out wherever you go to get him out among people and other animals
(dogs, cows, etc.). It is important for the dog's to get use to and accept
strangers petting them. Exposing the dog's to different sights and smell
include heavy equipment, farm equipment, livestock and wild animals. The
dog must be able to walk in wilderness areas without hesitation through
water, ravines, vegetation. The purpose of this training is to create a
level of confidence in the dog and to do away with unwanted behavior on a
real search.

Obedience training can start as early as 3 months old and is ongoing for the
dogs life in SAR work. This training is necessary so the handler has
conrtol of the dog when the dog is working off-lead. The training consists
of Sit, Down, Stay, Heel, Here, as well as Long Sits, Long Downs, and
Long Stays. This training is important when working a disaster search in the
event the dog gets into trouble, the handler can easily recall the dog.

Agility training is a requirement necessary to develope and sharped the
canines level of physical and mental fitness. The canine's are exposed to
walking on uneven surfaces, rubbble plies, A-frame, dog walk, teeter-totter,
and tunnels. It is not competition agility we strive for here,. Our only
goal is to get the dogs familiar with surfaces that simulate uneven footing
in a real search setting.

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