Owner:
Susan Janz of ID
March, 2005 Update:
Hi Nancy,
Abby passed her wilderness (aka air-scent – this is when they work off lead) certification test down in Jacksboro, Texas on Sunday - YEAH!!!!!!! She showed a lot of heart down there, working in some pretty tough conditions compared to what we're used to here. Now when the call comes, Abby will be able to go out and help with the search.
During the training on Saturday one of the victims actually got lost - at least that's what the instructors thought because he wasn't where he should have been and he was not responding to their calls. The other dogs there could not find him during their turn at running the problem and since it was getting close to lunch, the instructors were trying to call the guy back into camp. When he wasn't answering the instructor in charge told me to get Abby in there and work the problem. As I was heading toward the car to get Abby, that's when she told the class "We need you to find this guy, he's not where he should be and he's not responding to our calls." My stomach just sunk - this was for real. I worked the problem as a wilderness search, using a scent article. Meaning I scented Abby off the guy's car seat and then I worked her off lead. In short, after 35 minutes Abby found the guy about 30 to 35 acres from where he should have been and as we were closing in on him he would move one more time. Well it turned out, he confessed he was going in deeper and moving around because he was trying to trick the K-9 teams. Needless to say, this guy got in trouble for doing this and he won't be helping the SAR team any more.
Of course training always continues and next on our agenda is to try and pass the Man Trailing certification – this is much tougher (this is the one where she is in a harness and on lead).
Hope all is well there
~Susan
http://tvsearchdogs.org
June, 2004 Update:
Hi Nancy, I thought it was about time I sent you some updated photos. This
one is of her in our front yard (Isn't she gorgeous?!) Abby and I are training
about 3 times per week to get our Search and Rescue certification--we hope to be
certified by the end of the year--she's doing great, but it's a lot of hard
work! Hope all is well there!
Best, Susan
PS--Here's a short video clip of Abby doing a SAR trail. . .
Here are a few photos so you can see how Abigail is doing. I started Abby's Search and Rescue training the first weekend I brought her home and she is progressing nicely. We start very simple with "Puppy Runaway" games. What we do is, I hold her while someone else is "teasing" her with a piece of food (something yummy) and then they run away (about 40 feet) and hide behind a tree. Abby watches them go and I'm getting her excited saying "where did they go" or something to that effect. Once the person is hidden, I release her and say "Search" at the same time. Abby runs to them (off leash), once she gets there - everyone acts all excited as Abby nibbles at the treat. So basically, it's a fun - yummy game. The next step will add a little more difficulty - running away farther, hiding behind a second tree (instead of the first one), etc. As you can see in the photos, I made her a little vest for SAR training, and put the patch you gave us up by the neck.
I'll keep you posted with pictures as we progress!
~Susan
