A Couple Great Photos of Dogs Working in the Rain!

Hayley makes quite a splash through the muddy puddle as she zooms around.

She loves the water, so it was no surprise that she chose to bee-line straight on through!



If it weren't for the vest, Lucy could probably pass as a wolf!

Training Session: March 8, 2009: Lucy's Find

Sue releases an eager Lucy to make the find.







The alert: Lucy lets Sue know that she has found her victim.







As Lucy leads us, I spot Karen hiding in a piece made from concrete.







Lucy returns to Karen to make the re-find.

The re-find is when the dog returns to the victim with the handler after she has made the find.




Sue arrives at the find.








Out comes Karen...








...and off she goes again!

The dogs are sent out more than once each practice, rain or shine.

Guess that means we have to go too ;)

The temperature was above normal, so the rain was not so bad to work in today.

Training Session: March 8, 2009: Payton Finds Sue

Karen and I follow Payton after she alerts that she has found Sue.

A definite quality for a search dog: no fear of the rain!




From this view I can see Sue sitting in the truck.

Payton and Karen are just out of the picture but we're on the way!




Payton leads Karen back to Sue.

Scent must have been stronger on the far side of the truck where Sue was sitting!





Coming or Going?

It's kind of hard to tell!

Payton is running to her second find in the pouring rain.

Training Session: March 8, 2009: Hayley Finds

I see her!

Hayley went the fast way for the find: up the gravel pile and along the wall.





My view down, as Hayley takes Sue the "easy" way: around the corner to the other side of the wall!






The second alert!

She's there! She's there!

Karen's been found!

Karen Explains Scent Theory in Search & Rescue Work

Karen explains some scent theory for Dominic and the kids.

Human scent is carried through the air on rafts, or skin cells. The scent gets stronger as the dog nears the victim.

Sometimes scent can "pool" in a ditch or valley, for example, or it can be blown off the actual track.


Air scenting dogs can find their victim in either of these conditions.

With experience, dogs learn that scent can pool and be blown off-course and learn to work the scent cone faster.