Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do you charge for your services?

A: No, we are a completely volunteer organization. Donations are warmly welcomed however.

Q: How long does it normally take to train a dog for search work?

A: On average, it takes about two years to train a dog to meet the requirements for basic operational level. This includes working the dog two to three times a week. The time can vary greatly depending on the handlers experience and the dog's ability.

Q: What is an air scent dog?

A: A dog trained to find/detect any human scent. Air scent dogs are capable of locating persons that are lost in the wilderness areas or in collapsed structures.

Q: What is a Tracking/Trailing dog?

A: A dog trained to find/detect specific human scent (of a specific person).

Q: What is the difference between SAR dogs and police dogs?

A: SAR dogs are trained to locate lost and missing persons and police dogs are trained to apprehend persons that have escaped or fleeing apprehension.

Q: What kind of dogs are trained for SAR work?

A: Many breeds are capable of doing SAR work. There are a lot of Retrievers, German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and Border Collies in SAR, but numerous other breeds (and mixed breeds) are represented as well.

Dogs suited for this type of work must have excellent temperament, not be dog aggressive, have physical stamina, and most importantly, be easy to motivate (usually with a toy, such as a ball or tug). This "play drive" is what makes it possible to train these dogs to happily work under difficult circumstances.  

Q: What if I want to join RICSAR? Do I have to have a dog?

A: All of our team members must:

~Have a clean criminal record

~Be physically able to work under difficult circumstances (weather, terrain, long duration, etc.)

~Be able to devote 6-10 hours a week to training

~Attend training sessions for six months prior to becoming a member

~Be able to financially cover the cost of uniforms and equipment

~Become certified in First Aid/ AED/ CPR

~Become certified in Canine First Aid/ CPR

~Become certified in Land Navigation using a map, compass, and GPS device other functions

~You do not need to be a dog handler to be an effective member of this team, We welcome team members who do not have a dog to help with things like wilderness navigation and many other aspects. Support members are as valuable as dog team members!