Search and Rescue Dogs

　Among all categories of working dogs, the importance of search and rescue dogs is self-evident. They are also one of the most respected and praised popular professions for dogs. After major disasters, they are among the first to rush to the affected areas. Search and rescue work is directly related to saving human lives and property safety, which is of great significance.
　　1. History
　The history of search and rescue dogs dates back to the year 950 AD, when a dog was trained in a monastery on the border of Switzerland and Italy. Many people caught in snow disasters in the mountains were rescued by this dog, making it the first recorded search and rescue dog. Unfortunately, the monastery was destroyed by fire in the 16th century, losing all records. However, in the following three hundred years, recorded rescue dogs saved more than 2,500 lives in the region. The most famous rescue dog in history is a Saint Bernard named “Barry,” who successfully saved more than 40 lives. Barry’s portrait is still preserved today in the Natural History Museum in Bern.
　2. Work
　The work scope of search and rescue dogs is very broad, including searching and rescuing missing persons at natural disaster sites such as earthquakes, avalanches, mountains, and water scenes. According to the rescue environment, they can be divided into mountain rescue, water rescue, and land rescue. Search and rescue dogs are also tasked with some crime scene search and rescue work. These tasks rely on the dogs’ keen sense of smell to speed up efficiency. For example, locating missing hikers in the mountains, people buried in avalanche or earthquake sites, finding drowning victims, identifying items used by suspects, and detecting human traces at fire scenes, etc.
　3. Breeds
　What breeds of dogs can be trained as search and rescue dogs? Many breeds can serve as search and rescue dogs. In principle, dogs of medium size—not too small or too large—are suitable. A sensitive nose is very important, and temperament should include patience and strong adaptability. Typically, hound breeds are good candidates for search and rescue dogs. Additionally, depending on the rescue environment, there are special requirements. For example, water rescue dogs not only need to be good swimmers with excellent physical fitness, so larger breeds like the Newfoundland are chosen. Mountain rescue dogs need the ability to work in cold, harsh climates outdoors.