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