Konnie Hein

Recently I came across an ad for a dog that just rubbed me the wrong way. Two things about it had my feathers ruffled:

1. People who label a dog as "good for SAR" when they've never trained a dog for SAR and know nothing about what characteristics a dog needs to possess for SAR work.

2. People who think that a low to medium drive dog can do SAR work. Is this the type of dog they want going out to find their loved one? A dog that might just give up or lose drive and focus or get distracted in the middle of a search? SAR dogs need to be HIGH DRIVE and PERSISTENT to work independently and for long periods of time.

Every time I think SAR has moved beyond the two points listed above, I read another description of a dog for sale or for free that includes "good for SAR" following a description of (IMO) a pet temperament dog. Those dogs are then typically sold or given to unsuspecting SAR newbies. Then I have to do the dirty work of telling the newbie that their dog isn't suitable for the work. Ugggghhh!!!!

Sorry, just had to vent.

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