Printable sheet
Search and rescue dog in a work harness, standing on mountain rocks and alert to every sound. A detailed printable for kids and adults; free PDF.
Printable sheet
Free for personal and educational use
Download PDFPrintA German shepherd in a work harness standing on large rocks with upright ears, shrubs and mountains behind.
Make the harness red or orange, the colors rescue teams use.
Talk about what to do if you get lost on a hike and how to call for help.
Canine rescue teams train for years before they are ready for real emergencies.
A search and rescue dog can find a person lost in the wilderness or trapped under rubble far faster than a big team of people. In this picture, a German shepherd wearing its work harness looks out from the rocks, ready to start searching.
Many of these dogs are air-scent dogs. Instead of following one specific person's trail, they search for any human scent drifting on the breeze. They sweep the area with their noses high, and when they find someone, they alert their handler with steady barking. They work day or night, in fog, snow or rain.
Some rescue dogs specialize in wilderness searches, others in avalanches, collapsed buildings after earthquakes or water recovery. In the United States, many teams are made up of volunteers who train on weekends and respond with sheriff's offices and fire departments. Common breeds include German shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Labradors and golden retrievers.
Training starts in puppyhood and is always built around play. To the dog, finding a person is the best game ever, because the reward is its favorite toy. Handler and dog become a team that trusts each other completely.
