NSDA Annual Meeting

NSDA members are invited to attend the annual membership meeting which will be held at Camp Atterbury on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 7:00 PM.

Camp Atterbury is located west of Lincoln, Indiana, and approximately 45 minutes south of Indianapolis.

Even though the annual meeting is being held during the conference, you do not have to attend the conference to attend the meeting. For further information or questions please contact Norma Snelling at snelling@olypen.com.

SAR Dog Finds Home

Kellie Finch, a member of Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs in Salt Lake City, Utah, unexpectedly passed away on Friday, July 11th.  Her family asked Mindy Badovinatz to find a good home for Kellie's SAR dog, "Sydney". They felt that Sydney would be happier if she could continue to work as a SAR dog.  They also felt that Kellie would have wanted it that way.

Mindy sent out e-mails with this information:  Sydney is a 4 y/o Labrador Retriever.  She is a very light yellow (almost white) and has a pink nose.  Size-wise she is on the smaller side and I would guesstimate her to weigh around 70lbs.  She LOVES the attention of people.  Sydney is an EXCELLENT trailing dog and has passed both of Jeff's Level 1 and Level 2 tests at his seminars.

Due to Mindy’s efforts, this sad story has a happy ending.  Sydney was placed with a new handler in the SAR K-9 unit of the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.

2009 Conference(s)

Planning ahead is essential to having a successful training conference. NSDA is looking for two locations, one in the Western part of the country and one in the East, for 2009. Local units will host the seminar but NSDA will manage the overall process. This means that the local individuals would do most of the leg work and NSDA would oversee the process.

To that end, NSDA has developed a questionnaire which is attached to this newsletter and will be on the website. Included are questions to help a local unit decide if they can commit to hosting the conference and to help NSDA determine if the location is appropriate. Please feel free to download the form and e-mail it before 9/15/08, to JAN.L.MEYER@USBANK.COM

HERNANDEZ CANINE SPONSORSHIP DEADLINE

August 31 is the application deadline for the Hernandez Canine Sponsorship. The funding levels are up to $1,000.00 for the purchase of a new dog or puppy along with medical/vet bills for the first year; up to $100.00 during the first year and $200.00 the second year for training classes or seminars.

An application is attached to this newsletter and is also on the NSDA website.

Further information regarding the Sponsorship is at www.n-sda.org

While at Canine Center El Paso, BORSTAR K-9 teams are taught how to rappel with their K-9’s and receive training in various environmental elements including snow, desert, pine forest and mountains. In addition, selected BORSTAR K-9 teams go on to receive Human Remains Detection training.

Currently, BORSTAR has twenty-two K-9 teams deployed along the southwest border. Three teams are cadaver certified.

Since its inception, BORSTAR K-9 teams have proven invaluable. One feature which sets BORSTAR K-9 teams apart from other K-9 teams is their ability to follow tracks up to twenty-four hours old. In addition, BORSTAR K-9 teams can follow these tracks backward to the point of origin. This skill, known as back tracking, has proven invaluable in saving countless lives.

By necessity, back tracking has become the mainstay of BORSTAR operations. A typical BORSTAR mission begins with one or two people from a group of undocumented immigrants reporting missing and/or injured people in their group. A BORSTAR K-9 team is deployed to follow the trail of the reporting party backward to its point of origin to locate the individuals in need. By calling out their coordinates along the way, BORSTAR K-9 teams are able to direct medical personnel and other resources to the patients. The BORSTAR K-9’s have a high success rate utilizing back tracking in locating and rescuing people in need.

The success and effectiveness of the BORSTAR K-9 Program has made the BORSTAR K-9 teams and their instructors a highly sought after commodity. Currently, BORSTAR has six fully trained BORSTAR K-9 Instructors. These instructors not only have the unique skills of BORSTAR and the experience of conducting BORSTAR operations but they also possess the knowledge and expertise of K-9 training techniques learned through attending Canine Center El Paso (CCEP).

Currently, BORSTAR Instructors have the ability and authority to train and certify canines for the United States Border Patrol, North American Police Work Dog Association and National Association of Search and Rescue. This enables the BORSTAR K-9 Instructors to provide assistance for their own agencies as well as serving as a valuable resource to other agencies and programs on a national level. In addition, BORSTAR K-9 Instructors have not only assisted in training and certifying canines in other agencies but are invited to teach and present at national conferences.

The BORSTAR K-9 Program is a multifaceted entity which serves as an invaluable resource for BORSTAR, the United States Border Patrol and the nation at-large. It is clear BORSTAR K-9s have served to save countless lives and support and strengthen the overall mission of the BORSTAR Program.

About the author: Robert Noziska is on the NSDA Advisory Board. He was the first USBP SAR canine instructor and has trained or assisted in training all of the SAR canines for the US Border Patrol. He also certifies for HRD and instructed their first K-9s in rappelling as part of work assignments.

There are more than 8,000 miles of United States borders. Border Patrol agents are the ones that keep them secure from terrorists, WMDs, drugs, criminals and illegal entrants.

The border near Tucson, Ariz., remains the most treacherous area, keeping BORSTAR teams busy. Deaths of undocumented immigrants crossing the border are up in Arizona but down in West Texas and New Mexico, since fewer people are crossing through this desert borderland.

FIND A SAR DOG; SAVE A LIFE

By Annalisa Berns

While many K-9 handlers go to a breeder who has been recommended by senior handlers, there are alternatives for finding a new K-9 partner and saving a dog’s life at the same time.

If a handler wants a purebred dog, breed rescue groups are a great resource. Many of these are dogs turned in by their owners for a variety of reasons. Some are a death in the family, losing a job, having a baby and, especially right now, home foreclosure. Some of these surrendered dogs have papers and proof of vet care. Keep in mind when looking for a dog from a breed rescue, that patience and work are key to finding an animal with such a background

For example, the German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County in California has a purebred German shepherd named Doc. Doc’s owner changed careers and turned Doc into the rescue along with his complete medical history, agility and obedience training records. He also provided proof that Doc is AKC registered from German working lines and trained with German commands. Doc isn’t the only dog turned with an impressive history that has been turned into a rescue organization. Currently this one purebred dog rescue has four papered German shepherds awaiting space at the rescue. Purebred puppies are also surrendered to dog rescues.

Many dogs in shelters are purebred and are desperately looking for homes. According to the Dog Adoption Network, it is estimated that more than half of the dogs found in Texas rescue shelters are purebreds. Estimates predict that only one third of those dogs will make it out of the shelters alive.

An interesting point to contemplate is the use of mixed breed dogs for Search and Rescue. The first mission ready trailing dog in Northern California was a mixed breed dog from the Redding, California, pound. The dog worked cases until the age of 13.5, totaling a ten year working life. The dog lived until 15 years of age. The same K-9 handler is currently working a mixed breed dog from the Oakland SPCA. The dog was certified at 1.5 years and is still working at the age of 14 with approximately 125-150 searches to date. Mixed breed dogs are also used by police departments and are perfectly capable of performing the duties of SAR.

Some may be concerned that a dog from the shelter might have unknown health problems such as cancer in their lineage or hip dysphasia. There is no research that shows that shelter dogs have more or less health problems than dogs from breeders. In other words, connecting shelter animals with health problems is like being afraid to go for a hike in the mountains because of the possibility of being attacked by a bear.

‘Hybrid vigor’ is something to take into consideration when deciding on a purebred or mixed breed dog. Hybrid vigor is a basic principle of genetics that hybrids in any species tend to be healthier and have fewer inherited diseases. While humans select animals to breed for desirable traits, the inbreeding that is required to increase size, develop specific body forms, increase speed, etc. tends to also concentrate genes that eventually have a negative effect on the

overall health and stamina in the population. This is true of many species including: dogs, horses, pigs, chickens, cattle, sheep, goats, and turkeys.

A respected veterinarian, Eric W. Davis, suggested an interesting option for SAR handlers to consider. “If somebody wanted healthy dogs that were going to live a long time, the first place I'd go would be a reservation. These dogs called ‘rez dogs’ have undergone serious natural selection for stamina and intelligence. If you want bad hips, go get a big purebred dog! You won't find dysplastic dogs running around the dumpster behind "Big Bat's" at Pine Ridge, South Dakota. They may need to have their mange and bite wounds treated but their parents didn't survive to breed by having inherited health problems.”

Dr. Davis continues to comment, “The only thing that improves a breeder’s animal’s chances of living longer (and healthier) is its improved care and preventative medical history (one hopes...). But if those things are equalized, there is no reason to think the breeder produced dog would be healthier and no research to show that it lives longer than a mixed breed or shelter dog.”

When selecting a dog from a dog rescue or shelter, a simple visit to the vet with a Search and Rescue K-9 candidate can help alleviate many concerns. Modern science can also help with blood tests and even advanced DNA testing.

In the end, any selection of an individual dog whether from a breeder, shelter, rescue group or foster home is "playing the odds". Handlers can hope to improve the odds through selection methods but there's no "sure thing". An educated SAR K-9 handler can improve the odds by doing research to make the best choice possible. A dog from

the best breeding may still have health and performance problems. Only later will it become apparent whether the excellent purebred sire and dam passed along their best or their worst traits to their offspring. Handlers adding a K-9 partner need to consider working with a reputable rescue group or shelter to find a perfect fit -- and save the life of a great dog!

About the Author: Annalisa Burns is a certified Missing Animal Response Technician in San Diego, CA. She has attended training with Pet Hunters International, Pet Detectives, Inc., Lost Pet Detection and K-9 Specialty Search Associates. The training included learning with ex-police, Search and Rescue, animal movement experts and expert trainers.

PODCAST

24 August at 7 PM CDT

SUBJECT: Developing Relationships with Requesting Authorities

SPEAKER: Art Wolff

Over 25 years in law enforcement and

over 30 years in SAR

CANINE SOCIALIZATION

With the upcoming NSDA conference, it is imperative that all attending canines be well socialized. This socialization should involve both humans and other canines.

Socialization is the process by which a dog learns to relate to people, other dogs and their environment. Identify situations and environments where the dog needs to be comfortable. These may be things that will be essential to the dog’s SAR career such as riding in a car, being around children, and being in close proximity to other dogs.

Clear guidelines will help the canine understand what behavior is acceptable. Training will provide that background. It is imperative that the canine understands that all humans, even children, are higher ranked than the dog.

One essential behavior for a well socialized dog is being comfortable with all types of people, especially children. Having the dog introduced to a variety of people will enable the handler to gauge the dog’s comfort level and to train accordingly.

Dogs who have limited exposure to other canines may show aggression. The best way to remedy aggression toward other dogs is for the handler to frequently expose their leashed dog to other leashed canines. To eliminate dog aggression, start a training session with dogs you already know are trustworthy. Walk the “aggressive” dog by these dogs and, if no aggression is shown, reward the dog for good behavior in front of the other dog. Gradually work closer and closer to the other dog, rewarding the canine for successfully completing each step.

If, after all this training, the dog is still having trouble around other dogs, a specialized trainer may be useful.

Source: Pedigree.com

A DOG ALWAYS OFFERS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

CATS HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT!

Yip-Yap

Air your Opinion/Experiences

By Dana Kirsch Ray

Editor’s note:  The opinions expressed in this column are one of many and not necessarily those of NSDA.

The Value Of Reading Your Dog

Every year I teach a seminar on reading your dog and each time am asked the same questions. Usually folks sign up because they think they will learn about ear posture, tail carriage, and other tips which will give them shortcuts to reading their own dog.

They are surprised when they find out that there are no shortcuts to reading your dog; in fact it's the exact opposite. When you come to my class, you leave not with less homework but more.

Here are a few examples.

You've been called to a search. It's nighttime. There are twenty cars and searchers at the Command Post when you arrive. You see at least four dog handlers there. You:

1. take your dog out of the car to meet the searchers and assimilate everyone's smell?

2. leave your dog in the car until the very last minute before you deploy?

3. sneak off somewhere outside the circle to break him/her?

The answer is you have to know your dog! What has your dog been doing the past eight hours? Resting comfortably?

Cooped up driving with no breaks? Is your dog seasoned or green?

The hard reality is everyone is different thus everyone needs to do different things in different ways. There are no rules, not even a guideline. There are only experiences and situations which demand common sense.

Here’s a training scenario to think about.

Your dog has given you the “wiggle sign”. This means he/she’s about to make a find in the next twenty seconds. Do you:

1. go in on the subject to be absolutely sure?

2. radio it in and call your dog off because you don’t need to finish?

This was a trick question. Live find folks sometimes do need to verify identity which requires seeing the subject. Human Remains Detection dog handlers often keep out of a potential crime scene to prevent it from being further disturbed or contaminated. In each case there are

dogs is for the handler to issues about reading your dog. Some handlers may not know what their “wiggle sign” means or may not be sure enough to call it.

Of course every dog, every handler and therefore every team is different. They have different styles, training backgrounds, and mannerisms. The only way to accomplish accurately reading your dog is to set up small problems with known outcomes.

During these training sessions, look for trends, patterns and behaviors in your dog. You may videotape yourself or ask an experienced person to watch you work. Have them give you their impression of what cues your dog is giving you that you are missing.

Only you can invest the time and effort learning to read your dog. No one else can do it for you.

YOUR BOARDS

Remember that your NSDA Executive Board is here to help you. If you have any questions regarding NSDA policy, how the K-9 testing procedures are progressing or want to chat about canines in general, please feel free to contact any one of the Board members at the addresses listed below.

Executive Board--

Norma Snelling, President, Washington

snelling@olypen.com

360.808.0894

Terry Crooks, Vice-President, Montana

tcrooks@frontiernet.net

Sherry Scruggs, Secretary, Florida

k-9tracer@cox.net

Cameron Daggett, Treasurer, Idaho

            camdaggett@cox.net

Cris Goodhue, Montana            bcgoodhue@blackfoot.net

Jan Meyer, Missouri

Jan.L.Meyer@USBank.com

Jacob Weaver, Georgia            jacobweaver@bellsouth.net

Dee Wild, Louisiana

dwild1@bellsouth.net

Sue Wolff, Tennessee

srt1530@starband.net

Advisory Board--

·          Mary Jane Boyd

·          Susan Bulanda

·          Lisa Higgins

·          Marci Koenig

·          Carol Ann Namur

·          Robert Noziska

·          A. E. Wolff

REGISTRATION FORM

National Search Dog Alliance

Inaugural Conference

September 18-21, 2008

Camp Atterbury, Indiana

Name:

Address:

City: |State: |Zip:

E-mail Address: |Phone:

Affiliation:

Canine Name: |Breed:

Attendance:

Attendee with K-9 (includes 5 meals).............. $175.00 |$

Attendee without K-9 (includes 5 meals) $100.00 |

_ Late registration Aug 20 – Sept 10 .....                        $200.00             |

Barracks on Base: Bunk beds, no bedding, dogs in crates |

_______3 nights @ $15.00/ night = $45.00 |$

Total Enclosed: | $

Mail completed registration forms with payment to

National Search Dog Alliance

1302 Waugh Drive, #121

Houston, TX 77019

CHECK YOUR AREA OF INTEREST

[ ] Air Scent (Beginning) [ ] Air Scent (Advanced)

[ ] Trailing (Beginning) [ ] Trailing (Advanced)

[ ] Disaster

[ ] Human Remains Detection [HRD] (Beginning)

[ ] HRD(Intermediate) [ ] HRD (Advanced)

Cancellations received after August 20, 2008 will be granted at 50%.

There will be no refunds for cancellations received after September 15, 2008 or

if you do not attend the conference.

Checks returned by the bank for insufficient funds will be assessed a $20.00 fee.

Founding Members: K-9 Stryker, K-9 Thor, K-9 Beau, Eileen M. Nobles, Susan Bulanda, K-9 Roo, K-9 River, K-9 Cali, Brian R. Hendrickson, Leslie Godchaux, K-9 Persha, Jan Thompson, Peggy Ann Buchman, K-9 Geist,

Continental Kennel Club, Inc

2009 Seminar Questionnaire

NSDA is hoping to have two seminars in 2009 rather than one and we need your help. NSDA would manage the overall process, but we are looking for a unit or units that will host the seminar in their city. This would mean that the local individuals would do most of the leg work and NSDA would oversee the process. Our desire is to have one in the Western part of the country and one in the East.

If you are interested, please fill out the questionnaire below and email before 9/15/08, to

JAN.L.MEYER@USBANK.COM

1. How many people/canine teams can you accommodate?

2. How many facilities and/or acres upon which to train?

a. air scent (wilderness/urban)

b. tracking/trailing

c. HRD (land/water)

d. disaster

e. buildings

3. Are all of the facilities in one location?

4. Are there dog friendly motels nearby?

5. What time of year would be best?

6. Would you be able to host a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday group with possible evaluations

on Thursday?

7. What is the closest major airport?

8. What is the drive time to the training area?

9. How many people would you have to help with the leg work during the planning process?

10. Do you have access to sleeping/shower facilities (barracks or whatever)?

If yes, for how many?

Are they dog friendly?

2009 Seminar Questionnaire Page 2

11. Would you be able to provide a minimum of 7 subjects per day for all 4 days (minimum of 2 for air scent, 2 for trailing, 2 for disaster; 1 for building)

12. Would you be able to provide enough volunteers to help with the food, registration and clean-up each day?

13. Are there dining facilities?

14. Are there kitchen facilities?

15. Are there bathroom facilities in the training area?

16. Are there classroom facilities?

17. Is there sufficient parking?

18. Are there any camping facilities nearby?

Please add any notes you feel would be helpful:

APPLICATION FOR NATIONAL SEARCH DOG ALLIANCE CANINE SPONSORSHIP

Applicant must:

1. Be a member of NSDA. (The dog will be signed over to the individual.)

2. Agree to train the dog for Area Search/Air Scent, Disaster or both.

3. Agree to seek acceptable Canine Certification within two (2) years of receiving the dog.

4. Agree that, if the recipient stops participating in Canine SAR within four (4) years of receiving the dog or fails to continue to meet the sponsorship requirements, they will notify the NSDA. The breeder and/or sponsor will have the right to request the dog be returned.

5. Agree to be bound by the breeder’s contract, if any.

Closing date for receipt of application is 31 August 2008. Applications received after this date will not be processed.

Applicant’s Name: _________________________________________________________

Applicant’s Address: _______________________________________________________

Applicant’s Phone(s): ______________________________________________________

Applicant’s E-mail: ________________________________________________________

NSDA Membership Number: ________________________________________________

Team or Organization affiliation: ____________________________________________

Team or Organization Address: ______________________________________________

Team or Organizational Supervisor: __________________________________________

Contact information for Supervisor: __________________________________________

Describe in 500 words or less why you wish to receive this sponsorship and the purpose for which the dog will be used. Include training resources available to you.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Send application to: Art Wolff, Attention Sponsorship Program at awolff1@leo.gov

NSDA

Inaugural Conference

SAR Dog News, August 2008 Page 2

NSDA Annual Meeting

SAR Dog Finds Home

SAR Dog News, August 2008 Page 3

SAR Dog News, August 2008 Page 4

SAR Dog News, August 2008 Page 5

SAR Dog News, August 2008 Page 6

CANINE SOCIALIZATION

SAR Dog News, August 2008 Page 7

SAR Dog News, August 2008 Page 8

APPLICATION FOR NATIONAL SEARCH DOG ALLIANCE CANINE SPONSORSHIP