Our Search and Rescue Dog Training
Our SAR dog training methods are progressive and taught by active search and rescue dog handlers. Our dogs have been trained in some of the most rigorous environments on the east coast. Some of these dogs have proven themselves during natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, as well as man-made disasters across the country.
At Highland Canine Training, LLC, we understand that the majority of Search and Rescue handlers and teams across the country operate on a volunteer basis. Therefore, we offer affordable dogs and training to meet the needs of most SAR teams. All of our Search and Rescue training programs come with a comprehensive handler course. Our goal is to provide each team with the necessary tools and knowledge to be a productive Search and Rescue team.
Our instructors are volunteer Search and Rescue K-9 handlers and certified SARTECHs by the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR). As such, we can provide you with full trained Search and Rescue dogs in a variety of breeds. Our Search and Rescue courses and certification programs are perfect for those interested in becoming a trainer for their team, training their own SAR dog, or pursuing a career in training Search and Rescue dogs themselves. Our School for Dog Trainers offers a variety of programs to teach you how to train Search and Rescue dogs.
If you already own a dog that you are considering for Search and Rescue training, give us a call and we will be happy to assist you in evaluating your dog. Our evaluation fee is $100, and we will be happy to give you advice and training options for your potential SAR dog. We often train Search and Rescue dogs for private individuals, in addition to members of fire, police and sheriff’s departments. Some of our SAR trainers across the country also offer foundational Search and Rescue group training classes.
If you already have a SAR K-9, we offer in-service training, problem solving, American Red Cross Pet CPR and First Aid certification, Search and Rescue seminars and a comprehensive handler course.
Contact us today to discuss your individual or team needs!
Tracking and Trailing dogs are capable of following human odor over great distances. Tracking and Trailing dogs are, by far, the most utilized of all search and rescue dogs.
These dogs are trained to track/trail on various terrains such as grass, gravel, concrete, asphalt, sand and wooded areas – otherwise known as VST or Variable Surface Tracking. Tracking/Trailing dogs are a valuable asset in locating missing children, Alzheimer’s patients and other missing people.
They can also be taught to conduct scent line-ups and suspect identifications.
Our Tracking and Trailing handler course typically lasts for two weeks and provides training on equipment types and proper use, proper handling skills, understanding negative indications, understanding and managing training variables, basic and advanced scent theory, record keeping and report writing, proper maintenance training, as well as K9 first aid and CPR. Our handler schools also provide the handler with ample hands-on training with a variety of dogs to ensure that they are capable of reading and understanding tracking and trailing dogs.
Bringing closure to families affected by tragedy
Recovering deceased victims at accidents, natural disasters, crime scenes or at scenes of terrorism is always a difficult and challenging task. It is however, an important part of helping to bring closure to those families affected by tragedy.
We offer cadaver dogs that are impeccably trained to work independently in a variety of demanding field environments to ensure that they can reliably identify and locate any human remains present and reduce the work of human searchers. Our cadaver dogs can be trained to locate human remains in vehicles, buildings, wooded areas and even in water. We also offer first class educational programs and training for cadaver dog handlers.
We can provide German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers as well as other breeds upon request. Cadaver dogs, HRD, or Human Remains Detection dogs are trained to locate various types and amounts of human remains to include; flesh, hair, bone (dry and wet), blood, teeth, etc. Cadaver dogs are also trained to indicate on human remains in varying states of decomposition. Cadaver dogs can be trained to indicate with a passive (sit) or active (scratch) alert.
All of our cadaver dogs are trained to locate human remains on land, whether it is at ground level, suspended or buried. For and additional fee, we can also train cadaver dogs to locate human remains in aquatic environments such as, lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, etc. In addition to human remains detection, our cadaver dog training also covers obedience and practical agility. Cadaver dogs are trained to nationally recognized standards.
During our Cadaver Dog Handler Training Courses we ensure that our dog teams are completely confident and well trained in handling and maintaining their cadaver dog. In addition to learning the necessary skills to be an effective canine handler, we also cover human decomposition, obtaining and maintaining training aids, and crime scene management.
Our Cadaver Dog Handler Course is a comprehensive course taught by current and former law enforcement K9 handlers and supervisors that teaches beginner handlers all they need to know to be safe and effective in the field. For experienced handlers, our handler courses can be customized to assist them in honing their existing skills. Listed below are some of the topics covered during our Cadaver Dog Handler Courses:
Basic Odor TheoryHuman DecompositionProper Handling TechniquesCanine Case LawRecord Keeping & Report WritingCanine First Aid & CPRProper Detection Training Aid Handling and StorageCadaver Dogs in Aquatic EnvironmentsObtaining and Maintaining Training Aids
We offer a two-year health guarantee and include x-rays on all of our cadaver dogs. The purchase of a human remains detection dog also includes a 3-week Police K9 Handler Course of instruction, lodging at our dog training center, certification, course materials and free in-service training and annual re-certification. Refresher training is available for as long as you own the dog.
For more information on our cadaver dog sales and training, feel free to contact us locally at 704.498.7907, toll free at 800.406.3243 or you can email us at [email protected]
LOUISVILLE, Ky. â As part of the FBIâs latest search of a property in Nelson County related to the disappearance of Crystal Rogers, human remains detection dogs, often called cadaver dogs, have been brought in to aid the search. But what goes into training those dogs and how are they used in investigations?