[Bob Scott]

With SAR, I've always started with myself as the victim, with both the runaway and the method you've described on the forum.
My thought would be that the dog would be more apt to respond to finding it's owner/handler then a stranger.
That's just an opinion based on little expierience training with a stranger.
Same thing with FST. Have you seen any differences between using yourself and a stranger?

 

[Bob Scott]

Phil, my own uneducated guess is if the dog has the drive for the work, it's just a matter of the dog understanding what you want.
It is an interesting thought though. Hope you get a few more responses.