HUNT ON FOR MORE SEARCH DOGS
Only two dogs certified in Lethbridge
When someone goes missing, every moment is vital. That’s why search groups often rely on trained dogs to help cover large areas of ground in a hurry.
Southern Alberta needs more of those dogs and their owners for volunteer search and rescue operations.
Bogdan Gorny is a dog trainer who runs Bogdan’s Dog Training Centre and Boarding Kennel west of Lethbridge. He offers training for dogs to take part in Southern Alberta Dog Search and Rescue volunteer opportunities.
Gorny said the number of available search dogs is currently very low for the area.
“In Lethbridge, we have two certified dogs only,” he said. “We really just need more.”
The program is for medium or large dogs and their owners. Small dogs are not suitable due to some of the training requirements — the dogs will need to be able to jump onto a one-metre high obstacle, for example.
“For little dogs, it’s just not possible,” Gorny said.
Dogs should be in the eightto-10-week age range because it makes them easier to train. Gorny said herding dogs, such as German shepherds, sheep dogs, labs or retrievers are usually ideal candidates to become SAR dogs.
“Generally, we look for dogs with a very strong retrieving drive,” he said. “If you throw something, they will bring it back very fast. They like to play, and they are physically fit.”
Dog owners must also have a level of physical fitness, as they must pass a physical test.
The first stage of the process involves evaluations for the dog.
“We are testing every dog,” Gorny said. “We’ll just tell owners if their dog is able to do it or not.”
The dogs are primarily used to take part in area searches for lost people. Some are trained in tracking. Others have more specialized training, such as water or cadaver search training.
“They can be trained with different specialties,” said Gorny.
The area they cover includes everything south of Nanton to the U.S. border, and across the province.
“This is a huge area,” said Gorny, noting there are currently fewer than five dogs available — one of them being a police dog. Others are located in Pincher Creek and Medicine Hat.
“With more dogs, we have a better chance (of finding someone),” said Gorny.
“It’s much easier to cover an area with 10 dogs than just two dogs.”
And while there is a lot of training for the dogs to become part of the SAR team, their owners should not feel left out. There is plenty of training for them, as well.
“There’s a bunch of courses they have to take,” Gorny said. ‘They have to take a SAR fundamentals course. They have to be trained in CPR and First Aid.”
Other courses could include training for attending court, handling evidence, and other important skills. “These are free courses provided by us, so (dog owners) don’t pay anything,” Gorny said.
“It’s something different. It’s just really selective, because it isn’t like agility training, or some other type of fun training where you compete with other dogs, and when something goes wrong, it’s no big deal.
“We cannot say ‘good try.’ We have to be successful.”
Anyone interested in more information is asked to call 403380-8305 and ask for Bogdan Gorny.