Disaster dogs work much in the same way as an area search dog, but they are specifically trained to find live human scent within the context of a disaster (such as collapsed structures, debris piles, mudslides, etc…).

Disaster dogs are trained to ignore all other odor except for that of live human scent and must be very comfortable working on uneven surfaces, dangerous debris piles, and around a great deal of noise and distraction during emergency response to a disaster. They are frequently used to help locate victims after tornados, hurricanes, mudslides, or man-made disasters such as 9-11 or the Oklahoma City Bombing. All of the disaster dog teams with Illinois Search Dogs train and certify to FEMA standards, which is a nationally-recognized federal standard that is very rigorous. Only the most qualified dogs and handlers will achieve this certification.

How They Are Trained

Disaster dogs go through some of the most rigorous and extensive training of all the search dog disciplines. Disaster dogs are required to have a sustained bark indication, meaning they must stay and bark at the source of live human scent for a minimum of 30 seconds. A bark barrel or bark box is used to first teach the K-9 the trained final response of sustained barks at the source of live human scent. The K-9 is also trained in extensive agility and directionals, to facilitate their safe movement over unstable and often extensive debris piles of concrete, wire, metal, and other such materials. Once the K-9 has mastered the indication, agility, and directionals, they are finally taught to search for the live human scent in scenarios that mimic real disasters. Due to the inherent danger in any disaster situation, the K-9 must be able to work independently from the handler while the handler remains in a safe position at the edge of the disaster debris pile. This is another reason that the sustained bark indication is so vital, because the handler will often be at some distance from the K-9 while they are working.

Qualifications:

See K-9 Standards with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Urban Search and Rescue

Some Uses of a Disaster Dog:

• Location of live victims in debris from a tornado, hurricane, earthquake, or mudslide.
• Location of live victims in debris from a terrorist attack.
• Location of live victims in debris from a construction accident.