NATIONAL SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION
by LisaBeth Weber. copyright 2004
for NATIONAL SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION
ARTICLE FOR THE NATIONAL SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION
by LisaBeth Weber. All rights reserved. (create@lisabethweber.com)
BILLY, THE BLACK LAB
When one person"s overly rambunctious Labrador retriever is seen as another"s potential search dog, you know it"s probably the NDSDF at work. When our founder, Wilma Melville met Billy the black Lab, she knew right away that there was more to him than met the eye. At about one year old, Billy was donated to the NDSDF by someone who could no longer handle his wild ways, but thought he might make a good search dog. Through keen observation and gut instinct, Wilma confirmed this hunch and took Billy to his new "canine prep home", her very own house.
Here he learned obedience training and socialization skills, while providing Wilma with many stories that reflected his resounding personality. It would take time, work, and further evaluation to determine if Billy would become a good match for the SUNDOWNER program that skillfully trains dogs for search and rescue. Wilma saw her best predictions come to life through anecdotes like this oneÉ "Billy was Ôdriven" alright but I wondered about his ability to focus. He seemed so scattered and would run wily-nily around the pool area until his feet would be sore. The guy was quite a challenge to manage and I was learning how to do that first. The thing that finally had me send Billy to Sundowners was this.... Billy was outside the wrought iron fence and John threw a toy over the fence and into the pool. Billy went
THROUGH the vertical wrought iron fence into the pool to retrieve that toy. Yes, Billy yelped as he shoved himself through, but through he went and he was one happy critter because he had the toy. Billy simply HAD to have a toy. If there was not a toy available, Billy would find one.... be it a bush, a rock, a plant.... you name it, it became a toy if there was nothing else."
With such tenacity, Wilma knew that Billy would be a great asset to the NDSDF and promptly sent him to Sundowners. Billy received six months of intensive training that included advanced obedience and disaster search skills. "The training at Sundowners was the best thing for Billy," Wilma continues, "he developed some self control, maturity and above all.... a job."
This is where Mike Scott came in, an 18 year veteran firefighter in El Cajon, CA. Though Mikes work included 10 years with the FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Task Force, he had yet to ever partner with a canine. After watching a fellow firefighter work with a dog from the NDSDF, Mike became so intrigued, he called the Foundation to inquire about becoming a handler himself. After his own intensive training, it was time to find the perfect match between Mike and a search dog. Mike reminisces about when he was first partnered with Billy, citing the unparalleled instincts of the dogs to guide this "matchmaking" experience along. "There were 3 or 4 dogs graduating at the same time and you didn"t know who you"d be paired with. Billy is in some respects a softer, more even tempered dog and I"m somewhat easy going." The two got to know each other during a 5 day training intensiveÉ "It was a pretty bumpy road at the beginning; the dogs really had to train us!" recalls Mike.
Mike then took Billy home, where further training as well as the bonding process continued. "It takes about a year together as a team before you"re ready to take the FEMA test," Mike remarks, "it"s a huge commitment... the travel time, the logistics of setting up disaster type practice settings, it"s a lot more involved than most people realize." During this time, Billy went to work with Mike for his 24 hour shifts. At first, the feisty Lab was limited to a spacious 6 x 10 foot kennel except for regular breaks and training sessions. "Restricting his free time, especially at the beginning, helped keep him focused until he really understood what his job was. Actually, these dogs probably get more interaction and play time than most pets...it"s just that we make them earn their play time," Mike explains. In fact, when it comes to rewards for good work, it"s best to use something that is not often found on a search site, like a ball or a Frisbee. Billy"s search toy, made especially for him, is a section of fire hose that is stuffed and has a handle on it. Mike says, "It"s great for playing tug and it"s also easy to stuff into crevices for training sessions.... plus, it"s something he"s highly unlikely to run across during a search."
Knowing that the FEMA test was a challenging hurdle to achieve, Mike and Billy worked as a team to prepare for the two-step process of becoming certified. The first test involved aspects such as agility, obedience, directionals, a focused bark alert (where the dog lets the handler know that he"s made a find) and a basic search. The second test took place several months later and is "arguably the hardest test of canine behavior," Mike says. "The dog has to search 3 sites of up to 15,000 square feet that include a total of 6 hidden victims. They set up distractions to test the dog, like food or even a live cat or rabbit in a cage. You have to send the dog to search independently, sometimes out of site. It takes approximately 3 hours for one team to complete the advanced test and the failure rate is pretty high." Mike and Billy became a certified team in 1999 and continue to train on a regular basis. They have recently received their third recertification, a process that takes place every two years.
Without a doubt, Billy"s most intense and challenging assignment of his career was working at the World Trade Center after the September 11th terrorist attacks. The team worked on site, seven out of the ten days they were in New York. "We were scheduled for 12 hour shifts," Mike recalls, "but in reality they were 16 to 17 hour days because of the briefings, travel time and other logistics. There was steel everywhere and lots of sharp objects...really rough terrain, so we had to let the dogs negotiate it on their own and search independently...the terrain really slowed them down but fortunately the dogs had no serious injuries." As the unimaginable task of search and rescue continued, the reality of the situation began to sink in. The realization that bodies would likely not be recovered was beginning to unfold. "The level of destruction was pretty complete," Mike explains, "and after you"ve sent your dog 5 or 6 times to search with no success, they start to get de-motivated, giving you that look that says Ôthis is no fun." We set up (mock) searches in nearby buildings, hiding firemen and other rescue workers to help re-motivate the dogs."
Often, dogs with Billy"s expertise don"t get that many opportunities to work. Mike remarks, "A Disaster Dog may only have one actual scenario in their entire career." This notion led to Mike and his friend Steve approaching the Foundation with a concept that would soon become one of their most popular events. The annual Irondog Competition exposes the dogs to unusual conditions and tests how well they work when facing a disrupted routine. It"s also a fun and challenging way for both dogs and handlers to stay up to date on their skill levels.
Billy has also been a part of many events where community members and students alike can learn a lot about search dogs and their abilities, while having fun in a safe environment. "We"ll hide one kid in a classroom full of students, and he"ll work to find the one that"s hidden-ignoring all the ones sitting out in plain site. The kids love it," Mike explains.
These days, as a veteran Search Dog, Billy is leading a more leisurely lifestyle. He has plenty of room to hang out with his dog buddies at the fire station, and he has a big backyard at home where he loves swimming, running around, and enjoying quality time with the family. "Billy craves human interaction...he would sit in your lap if he could," Mike laughs, "my wife calls him a Ôlover dog."" Having a terrific personality is part of what makes a great search dog. Mike agreesÉ "80% of the Foundation"s dogs are Labs...they have a great prey drive and they love to have fun. If Billy could just talk and drive, he wouldn"t need me!"
Mike says, "The type of dog who typically drives people nuts can make a great search dog." Truer words were never spoken.
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