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Search + Detection
Dogs
Let’s look at a very specialised area of search dogs, Victim Recovery, sometimes called human remains detection dogs, Cadaver dogs or ‘body dogs’.
Several Police forces have in house Human Remains Detection Dogs (HRD Dogs) alongside several Fire Services.
In the voluntary Search & Rescue / Recovery sector there’s only a very small number of organisation’s focusing only on this discipline.
SEARCH + DETECTION DOGS are one of these few agencies. They are a nationwide organisation, not for profit, focusing solely on HRD Dogs.
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Search + Detection Dogs aren’t a training organisation; they are an operational search asset working alongside the Police (or other calling authority) under a Memorandum of Understandings (MOU).
Training is undertaken alongside current and retired Police Search Dog handlers and assessment of the dogs is externally verified and dog & handler CPD records are maintained to make sure calling authorities fully understand the equivalence of the Search + Detection Dog assessment with the NPCC standard.
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The team are self-funding & fully insured. Each handler is supported by a qualified search technician overseen by a small team of search managers. Operationally the search team is supported by a qualified commercial Drone team to help maintain handler and search safety and to enhance field craft abilities.
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The team are equipped with VHF radio communications, mapping software as well as their own and dog PPE & medical training.
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Here’s a look at four of their dogs:
Kit is a Belgian Malinois from the Avonwolf Kennel. She qualified as a human remains detection dog at just 15 months old in November 2023. Kit works with pace and purpose and can cover large areas with unwaning enthusiasm. Despite her pace, she still can locate very small articles in a calm and determined way and she is rewarded for all her finds with anything meaty.
Neve is also a Belgian Malinois, having been imported from Poland by the Avonwolf Kennel.
She searches in a very calm and confident way, which isn`t easily overtaken by drive and despite her young age, she makes good decisions and thoroughly enjoys her search work.
Ria is a Clumber Spaniel. She is a silent worker with an excellent nose. She is slow and methodical. She has a lay and bark indication and determined nature to only alerting when the source scent is strong. She is driven by a food reward. Ria qualified as a human remains detection dog (land) in July 2023 when she was 2 years old
Rami is also a Clumber Spaniel, and he has a natural aptitude in his searching patterns, methodical nature, and strong alert indication. He is a quick and industrious worker.
He is a true Clumber with great heart and like Ria, is highly intelligent with a determined attitude which enhances his natural ability.
He is a hard-working dog with his bark indication along with a sit and hold. Rami is driven by a ball reward.
The whole team is made up of people who have or are still serving members of the Police, Fire or UKSAR organisation.For more information here’s the website & contact details enquiries@searchanddetectiondogs.co.uk
searchanddetectiondogs.co.uk
