TYPES OF SEARCH AND RESCUE DOGS
Wilderness Dogs are dogs trained to work in large wilderness areas. These dogs are predominantly “air scenting dogs”, meaning that they work with their noses up in the air.
Scent specific wilderness dogs are trained to work with a scent article and only locate that particular individual.
Non-scent specific wilderness dogs will locate and indicate to the handler that it has located a person.
Trailing Dogs use their nose to the ground to locate the scent of the person and follow the scent along the ground.
Area Search or Missing Persons Response Dogs are generally cross trained to locate live victims, deceased individuals and articles or evidence.
Cadaver Dogs are dogs trained to locate deceased individuals or sources that have actively decomposing tissue.
Land Cadaver Dogs locate human remains on land.
Water Cadaver Dogs locate human remains under the water or ice.
Human Remains Detection Dogs are dogs that are trained to locate human remains that have no actively decomposing human tissue.
Archeological Working Dogs are trained to locate human remains and artifacts with human DNA on them. These dogs have been known to locate remains and artifacts dating back to several hundred years ago.
Avalanche Dogs locate victims under deep snow.