SAR dogs arriving in Japan

Shows what training can do. Not often you would see that many dogs simply lieing together like that. Brave handlers - one thing to be hunting for live people but I presume these dogs will (very sadly) be doing a lot of body retrieval.
 
Sadly, perhaps too little, too late.

As we read the distressing reports, I just wonder at the frustration of the Search and Rescue teams, who were ready to move, within hours, but were prevented from doing so.

After earthquake disasters (and I'm thinking NZ, here), HOURS matter. As we watch the news reports, and as they go on for days, so those trapped are dropping off. In the floods of Japan, most will have drowned or suffocated fairly quickly. Desperate.

All credit to those who are prepared to take on this work. Frustrating, distressing, but on occasions so rewarding. They should have our respect.

Alec.
 
Alec, you've kinda answered Luci's point about how the dogs all look so patient...they have learned how to wait...and wait...and wait...until they are allowed in :(

Did you see the post:
"I read that the rescue dogs working Ground Zero grew depressed when they could no longer find survivors so rescue workers started hiding in the wreckage in staged "rescues" to cheer up the dogs."

Sometimes the dogs get so dejected by repeatedly finding dead bodies, the searchers have to do this ^^^ to keep their spirits/drive to work up :(
 
CaveCanem said:
.....Did you see the post:
"I read that the rescue dogs working Ground Zero grew depressed when they could no longer find survivors so rescue workers started hiding in the wreckage in staged "rescues" to cheer up the dogs."

Sometimes the dogs get so dejected by repeatedly finding dead bodies, the searchers have to do this ^^^ to keep their spirits/drive to work up :(
Click to expand...

No, I didn't see that post. To be honest, I hadn't really thought about it, until now.

If we accept that training and work both rely upon reward, then it wouldn't be long before, particularly the older and more experienced dogs, gave up. I wouldn't think that dogs have the concept of death which we have, and so I wouldn't have used the word "depressed". "Bored", certainly.

For all dogs, work needs reward. Retrievers retrieve, spaniels hunt, and tracker dogs track. Without there being an end result to their efforts, then specifically the more experienced are going to become bored, and very quickly. As I'm sure you will agree, you can only sicken a dog so many times, and then just as we do, they fold up.

I would think that using live dummies, would be the best way forward, and as locals would probably have a generic scent of their own, then they would be the best candidates!!

You've raised an interesting point, C_C.

Alec.
 
Oh I see your point Alec, and you know I am not one to humanise animals, obviously these dogs get high rewards with a live find, but hearing about some of the totally adverse/extreme shutting-down behaviour that dogs display when they find dead trace after dead trace, no matter how positive the handler is being and how much play in between, it's hard not to think they sense a bit more than 'I'm not getting a stick this time'. Apart from anything, the smell might not be too nice for them? Who knows.

I've had the honour of seeing Eddie the spaniel working first hand (think he is retired now, was involved in a lot of big cases) and he was an extremely happy worker - weird that he would ecstatically indicate the presence of dry blood or dead tissue in the hope of getting his tennis ball.

Speaking of higher reward, I've been forced to break open the chicken wings. Why lie down on these boring articles when I'm going to get a big feed of my normal food at the end, ma?! They're smart, I'll give them that....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top