We recently had the opportunity to teach a three day search and rescue seminar in Meridian, MS. The three day course covered practical hands-on training as well as lecture on an Overview of Search Dogs, Training and Handling Search and Rescue Dogs, Basic Cadaver Training, Water Cadaver Training and Advanced Human Decomposition for Cadaver Dog Handlers. The three day seminar was a huge success with a great number of teams, handlers and states represented.

The training was hosted and sponsored by Lauderdale County Emergency Management and The Office of Homeland Security. A great thanks goes out to David Sharp, Director of LEMA, for all of his hard work in planning and organizing the event. David spent a great deal of time and effort making sure that the seminar was a success.

Everyone learned alot during the three day class and many of the handlers had questions about training and other areas. We will attempt to answer alot of questions and concerns with our blog in the near future. We will be posting training materials and other tips, so check back often. Below is an article about the seminar with a link to a local news video.

Nearly 50 dogs are in Meridian this weekend staying up to date on the skills needed for working with law enforcement. Officials say training is critical to saving lives.

If two heads are better than one, then four legs are definitely better than two. At least that’s the approach used by K-9 handlers when it comes to search and rescue operations.

“It’s been proven that one properly trained Search and Rescue dog can do the work of up to 20-30 human searchers,” said Jason Purgason - Instructor, Highland Canine Training.

The keen senses of a canine give it the ability to cover ground more quickly than person, but being able to see, smell and hear better than their handlers is just one of the advantages held by the dog.

“Their speed, their size, their agility does allow them to check in places that are, number one, unsafe for humans and also inaccessible for humans,” said Purgason.

Throughout the three-day seminar, instructors are teaching the handlers new ideas and concepts that have been learned from disasters in the last ten years. Master Sergeant Bob McFadden has been working with dogs for 35 years and knows just how important it is for dogs to never stop training.

“I’ve seen it progress to a stage that we never would’ve dreamed in those years as far as it has come. And that’s the detection capability of the dog,” said M/Sgt Bob McFadden - Mississippi Highway Patrol.

Search and Rescue Dog Seminar Video