Qualifications: SAR Field Techs, Dog Handlers & Dogs
SARDAA maintains a schedule of weekly team training throughout the year. Field techs, dogs and handlers progress through training one level at a time, advancing only when prepared for the next level.
Using a wide range of acquired skills, SARDAA’s teams provide professional, effective support to the local rescue agencies. Training for members is comprehensive.
There are several search profiles the dogs can qualify for which build on their basic search capabilities. Basic skills for SAR dogs include obedience and agility training; as well as either proficiency in locating a hidden person and in locating small articles, or proficiency in locating a deceased person or sources. Expanded profiles include water search and disaster search.
Each SARDAA team listed as ‘Active’ has been tested using specific criteria detailed in our Standards document, and validated by our qualification team including tasking agency representatives.
Field Techs & Dog Handlers
Using a wide range of acquired skills, SARDAA’s teams provide professional, effective support to the local official agencies.
Following is a list of some of the training received by our members:
- Search & Rescue Basics
- SAR Fundamentals
- Civil Emergency Response
- Evidence Preservation & Courtroom Procedures
- Land Navigation
- Map and Compass / GPS
- Radio Communications
- Wilderness Survival
- First Aid / CPR
- K9 First Aid
- Critical Incident Stress Management
- Lost Person Behaviour
- Scent Theory
- Search Theory
- Disaster Search Safety & Awareness
- Swift Water Awareness
The Dogs
SARDAA’s search dogs are specially trained to locate human scent in a wide variety of situations. Human scent particles can be carried by the wind for great distances or can cling to footsteps or articles a person touches.
SARDAA’s dogs are trained in the following areas:
- Obedience
- Agility
- Person search
- Article search
Some of our teams are also qualified in the following areas:
- Human Remains search
- Water search
- Disaster search