SAR Dog Training?

Just curious if anyone has or is currently training a SAR dog. I'm leaning towards going through the Minnasarda program in the next couple years, all depends on when I have to replace my current dog, hopefully a long way off.

My current girl is my best buddy and we did the hunting/field trial stuff but with limited hunting land, I'm thinking that with the next dog I would follow my interests in public service and train with the SAR program here in MN. I would just like to hear some first hand experience, I think it would be incredibly rewarding and a year round activity with a dog.

Thanks in advance for stories and advice.

Jay

Search.....

there was a detailed thread last year... Sounds like the authoritative book on th subject in Search Dog Training by Sandy Bryson(?) I'll have to check when I get home...

Former gf had 2 GSD's, both SAR trained. I ended up helping out quite often, but wasn't the primary handler, so don't have great advice to offer. But a few thoughts. I was along on 3 finds, unfortunately not live finds, and one dog had one or two live ones also, can't quite remember. It is really inspiring to have a tool to offer that can make such a difference...finding an avi victim, finding a lost kid, finding a wandering elderly person. And of course to the dog it's all a game, it's their totally favoritist playtime. [big powday for pups...]. And i'm sure you know that's one of the requirements for the best sar dogs, that they have a very high play drive.

It's a lot of work, a lot of practice. A ton of work on obedience obviously. And for best results you start really early...
It's a blast, just a lot of work. But there's that old saying about getting out of something what you put in to it...