Training a search dog takes years of work and dedication. We hope this simple web site will serve as a brief introduction to some good, hardworking dogs and handlers. For more information on SAR dogs, we would encourage you to check out the SAR dog FAQ sheet. As a group, we meet weekly for canine SAR training exercises at various locations within western or west central Montana. As individuals, we spend even more time training with our own local county SAR groups.
Training exercises vary according to the time of year and desires of the participants.
We all agree that training a SAR dog is a very time consuming and expensive process. It also takes just the right canine partner. In most cases, it takes at least 16 months to two years for a dog to become operational. When it is time for certification testing, young canine candidates will be tested and if successful, certified according to a common standard. We hope that by meeting a common high standard, operational dogs from the various county SAR groups mentioned will be working at the same level of proficiency.