Being A Dog Handler

Search Dogs need highly dedicated, professional handlers.  It takes a great deal of dedication and persistence with training to get a dog up to assessment standard.

Before becoming a trainee dog handler all handlers will have been volunteering as a 'dogsbody' for at least 4-6 months before beginning to train their dog.  This is necessary to gain a better understanding of the training and to get to know the rest of the team.

The entry requirements for becoming a dog handler vary slightly from association to association acording to whether you will be working in a Mountain or Lowland Area.

Mountain Areas

In general to become a trainee dog handler in mountainous areas you must be proposed and supported by a Mountain Rescue Team and have been a full time member of that Mountain Rescue Team for more than 12 months. This is because during training and upon qualification you will be expected to be familiar with MR techniques, and operate in potentially severe and dangerous environments. The MR Team trains you in these techniques, where the association covers the dog training.

Lowland Areas

In general there is no pre-requisite to become a trainee dog handler in lowland areas as exists in the mounain situation.  Ideally a trainee dog handler will have been a member of an ALSAR unit and a qualified search technician or team leader and will have been a full time member of that ALSAR Unit for more than 12 months.  This is because during training and upon qualification you will be expected to be familiar with lowland search techniques. The ALSAR Unit trains you in these techniques, where the association covers the dog training.

This may appear as really restrictive requirements, but peoples lives depend on the provision of a demonstrably high quality service, and it really is all worth it in the end.

Ideally a handler would not get their dog for training until they actually starts training.  It is much better to start off on the right foot with your new dog training rather than setting off doing one thing on your own and then try to change it later.

It takes a minimum of 2 Years to become a dog handler.

Member associations are always happy to hear from experienced search and rescue personnel, who are interested in training a search dog.  If you don't have search and rescue experience, but would still like to become a dog handler or would like to be a Dog Support / Navigator or Dogsbody, do get in touch.

For more information contact your nearest member association using the contact details on theire team page.