06/12/2026
Wanna know the really awesome, yet intricate part about an area search dog: they not only have to find their source (a living or deceased person) but because we're usually searching in the woods, often times out-of-sight, the dog then has to find me/handler to let me know she's found what she's looking for and THEN refind target odor again until she gets me to the subject. There are a TON of moving pieces, segments, patterns and understandings to make sure are in exactly the right place to make the whole thing work. And then on top of all that we teach the dog to work through not only environmental pressure/stress, but pictures of different handler positions, different subject positions and challenging locations and air movement and so, so much more. Notice in clip not only does she have to move items to get into tunnel to touch source, but I'm walking away from her filming over my shoulder with my back to her. I'm teaching her to come around to the front of me to stop me with her indication and take me back to source. There are so many instances where this would happen in the field and I need the dog to be strong and persistent with an indication if she knows she's right. I also need her to get as close to source as possible even if it means obstacles could be in her way.
