search and rescue?
 

Ok, the other day i ran in to a lady who trains for search and rescue. She also hs her own search and rescue dogs. Well i was talking too her and i asked her if she has ever trained a bully breed for search and rescue. she said no.So we were talking about training indy and i been thinking ever since if i should get indica into it. What do you guys think...is it a good or bad idea? I've never done it before and I'm just looking for some advice with it and if i should or shouldn't do it thanks!

You should totally give it a shot. Pit bulls are supposed to be the great at search and rescue because of their drive to please and need to work.

Depends on the dog. Some dogs aren't that into tracking and searching for smell regardless of breed. If your dog likes sniffing a LOT and wants to do the work it couldn't hurt to have an eval done and give it a try.

http://www.forpitssake.org/sar.html

Kris Crawford's SAR dogs are Pit Bulls http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png

Just like any other breed of dog, some dogs have what it takes to train for SAR and some don't. It's not just a matter of training the various skills such as tracking and trailing, but a SAR dog has to be solid, confident, and be strong psychologically. You can't teach a dog to be strong psychologically, and some dogs just can't handle it (like I said...that's with any breed.)

If you want to learn more about SAR, you can go to the NASAR website (http://www.nasar.org) Many times, people romanticize SAR, and they don't take into account that it's not all glory, and it is sometimes a lot of guts. It can take a toll on a person and a dog physically and emotionally especially when Search and Rescue becomes Search and Recovery. On the other hand, if you're rugged, like getting down and dirty and having a close working relationship and bond with your dog, it can be rewarding http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png

My best advice would be if someone was interested in SAR to find a group in your area and volunteer with them. When I started in SAR many moons ago, I volunteered to be the "victim" for their training sessions, etc. Best thing I could have done. I haven't actively searched since 2002, but I still help out others on occasion as far as testing and training http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png