GETTING INVOLVED
If you are interested in getting involved as a K9 Handler or Support / Flanker for GBK9SAR, before reaching out to us, please read the following information in its entirety.
What is Great Basin K9 SAR?
GBK9SAR welcomes prospective trainees who bring commitment, relevant skills, and physical capability. Currently, our handlers all have prior SAR/Ski Patrol, Military, Law Enforcement, and/or working dog experience. Our K9s are carefully selected for temperament, physical aptitude, and balanced working drives. K9 SAR requires thousands of hours of training, thousands of miles of driving, and a substantial financial investment for uniforms and field equipment to become a certified and deployable mission ready team. It is important to understand that even after certification, maintenance training continues through the lifetime of the dog. Although we are all passionate about K9 SAR and enjoy working with and training our dogs, K9 SAR is neither a hobby nor a sport. K9 SAR provides a service which is sometimes a life and death mission, requiring commitment and professionalism by both handlers and dogs.
Who can apply?
Because we serve Law Enforcement entities, each candidate must meet these minimum requirements to apply:
18 years of age
High School Diploma or equivalent (GED)
Possess a valid Utah Driver’s License (or DL of home state with Military ID)
Never convicted of any felony, or misdemeanor involving violence or substance abuse
Pass a physical, or certification of good physical condition for performing strenuous physical activity as found in Search & Rescue work, from a qualified private physician
Not suffering from any mental illness that would impair normal reason and judgment
WHAT HANDLER SKILLS ARE REQUIRED?
K9 SAR is not just about training dogs. K9 SAR requires all handlers to be proficient in SAR skills. When taking on new members, GBK9SAR is looking for people with extensive Search and Rescue, Medical, outdoor, and survival skills. Most of our members are former Military, Law Enforcement, or professional or volunteer rescuers. We require K9 handlers to be current in CPR and have medical first responder skills such as American Red Cross Emergency Response card, EMT, Wilderness Medicine First Aid etc. K9 handlers must be proficient in the use of GPS, map and compass, radio communications, wilderness survival skills, man-tracking awareness, lost person behavior, crime scene awareness, K9 First Aid, understanding of scent theory, weather behavior, and SAR theory. We also require completion and understanding of Incident Command System (ICS / NIMS) courses and the physical fitness capability to negotiate rugged terrain for both handlers and dogs. It is important to note that although GBK9SAR will assist and guide prospective handlers, the training necessary to meet the above required handler skills is the responsibility of the prospective handler and is NOT provided by GBK9SAR.
SEARCH TRENDS
With ever increasing technological advancements, the calls for search assistance from K9s to find live missing people in our area has dramatically decreased. This is due to the use of satellite SOS phone and pager capabilities, SPOTs, and increasing use of aerial searching by helicopters and drones. As such, GBK9SAR is shifting our capabilities and training to Cadaver/Human Remains Detection only - to include open and shoreline water search. In addition, GBK9SAR no longer trains for Avalanche rescue inasmuch as Wasatch Backcountry Rescue provides single-purpose professional ski patrol K-9 teams throughout the Wasatch which are on-site and in position for immediate response.
How often WILL I have to train?
GBK9SAR handlers typically meet on Sundays in the Mirror Lake Highway/Summit County area with some weekend overnight trainings each year for group training. Additional informal trainings are coordinated as handler’s schedules allow. Even more training takes place individually to work on obedience, agility, direction and control skills. Any prospective handler needs to live within a reasonable distance and be willing and able to attend group trainings on a regular basis throughout the working lifetime of their dog. GBK9SAR requires documented training of 16 hours per month to maintain compliance with industry standards.
Can I start training with a puppy or is an older dog preferred?
Best case, is a dog bred and cultivated to work, between the ages of 8 months and 2 years. Training of a successful search dog can start as early as 7 weeks old however, puppies can be a bit of a wild card to predict how they will mature and if they will develop into a successful search dog. Older dogs can also be trained for SAR work, however, GBK9SAR prefers to start dogs by the age of 2 to allow for a longer working life.
If you don’t currently have a suitable dog, we recommend you attend several trainings to see what breed and working style dog you prefer. GBK9SAR handlers can assist in selection and give recommendations re working line dogs/litters with proven success in SAR.
What kind of dog should I train for SAR?
Although many breeds of dogs are capable of doing SAR work, most are from working line herding, sporting/retriever, or hound groups. Mixed breed dogs with sound temperaments and working drives can also excel at K9 SAR. SAR dogs must be social, environmentally stable, biddable, obedient, agile, physically fit, and have the natural desire to work.
Your dog will be evaluated for the following behaviors and potential:
Dog to person socialization
Dog to dog socialization
Dog's environmental stability/recovery time
Dog/handler relationship/teamwork
Overall temperament when among other dogs and people
Overall stability when on unstable surface or stressful environment
Noise sensitivity
Startle response
Food drive
Toy drive
Retrieve drive
Possession
Speed to toy
Hunt when in chase/prey
Hunt when unseen
Scenting ability
Engagement
Obedience
Agility
Physical capability
Handler's ability to manage and control dog
Your first trainings ~ without your dog
GBK9SAR requires that prospective handlers attend their first few training sessions without a dog. This allows you to meet the group, learn what K9 SAR is about, learn the different working tasks of the dogs (Wilderness Air Scent, Cadaver, Water, obedience/agility requirements, different types of indications), and determine if K9 SAR is for you. You will have an opportunity to work with one or more of our handlers and participate in training exercises. You will need to bring enough food and water, clothing, and the proper gear for the terrain and weather conditions as GBK9SAR trains in all types of weather and in remote areas without facilities.
Subsequent trainingS ~ with your dog
The next step is to evaluate your dog for working drive. All dogs must be current in vaccinations before participating in any training. We also require a $100 nonrefundable application processing fee prior to working with you and your dog. The GBK9SAR Information and Application Package can be downloaded from the link below.
During the initial trainings, we will evaluate and work with you and your dog, give you direction for training, and guide you to capitalize on your dog’s natural abilities. GBK9SAR handlers will give honest and objective feedback about your dog’s progress and suitability for SAR work. We cannot, however, guarantee that your dog will be successful in achieving certified/mission ready status.
You will need to bring the following equipment for your dog: your dog’s favorite treats and toys, leash, harness, long line, flat collar, and water. You must be able to secure your dog safely in a crate and/or your vehicle. Dogs cannot be tied out or left loose. They must have adequate ventilation and/or shade when secured in your vehicle. Reflective tarps, space blankets, mesh products all help to keep vehicles cool during warm months. All dogs must remain leashed or secured unless working a training problem.
A word of caution: as the dogs mature and learn “the search game,” their excitement, enthusiasm, and frustration when not training increases. This sometimes results in damage to vehicles, seatbelts, windows, etc. when the dogs are not properly contained.
How long before I can go on searches with my dog?
Training a dog and handler team to full mission ready/certified status can take 1 ½ to 2 years training, attending training to achieve a minimum of 16 hours per month. Even once certified, training continues throughout the working lifetime of the dog with a requirement of 16 hours per month. Once you have completed your field handler skills, you may be able to go on searches without your dog in support of other K9 teams to gain field experience.
What are the certification requirements?
GBK9SAR is a proud member of Tri-State K9 SAR, an association of search dog teams from across the Intermountain West (Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana). Tri-State has established a rigorous set of certification standards and all member groups have agreed not to field any dog teams that have not met these standards. Some members also certify to National Standards such as NASAR, UT POST, NAPWDA, IPWDA, etc.
What equipment do I need?
This recommended equipment list from NASAR is a great starting point:
OK, I'm Ready! What do I do Now?
If, after reading all of the above, you still think this sounds like something you want to do and believe you are a great candidate, then please email GreatBasinK9SAR@gmail.com for information and consideration.
You can also download our GBK9SAR Information and Application Package, which has all the forms, information, Handler and K9 Requirements sign-off sheets you will need to move forward.
additional ways TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION
As a nonprofit we depend on generous donations from people like you to keep the mission going. If you’d rather donate your time you can host a fundraiser for GBK9SAR via your social media platform of choice. Or you can join the Wander Project Charity Bib program and raise money by running a race in the Vacation Races Grand Teton Half Marathon or 5K, Zion Half Marathon or the Lake Powell Marathon! Just follow the donate link at the top of this page to learn more about how to get involved and raise money for our team!