Search and Rescue Dogs and Handlers will work anywhere in Britain, often travelling long distances to respond to call-outs.

Search and Rescue Dogs come under the operational control of several different organisations. Primarily Search Dogs, as do all Mountain Rescue services, work for the Police. In practice handlers and dogs respond to requests from Police forces across the UK to assist in a wide variety of duties.

Search Dogs are employed in a wide range of incidents from lost walkers and climbers to missing children and possible victims of crime. When operating under the control of a Mountain Rescue search co-ordinator the handler and dog will follow instructions and integrate their abilities with that of other searchers.

In more and more incidents the handlers and dogs are responding to situations which do not involve other Mountain Rescue elements. In particular when searching with police officers for possible crime victims, in these circumstances the dog handler will rely strongly on their own skills and resources to fullfil the demands of the work.