Search-and-Rescue dogs carry out important, life-saving missions on a day-to-day basis. Learn about their training and what motivates them to do this often dangerous work by taking this quiz.
What makes a search-and-rescue dog go through wild terrain to search out a missing person?
its play drive
its sympathy for lost humans
its inherent discipline and courage
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Wrong Answer
Surprisingly, search-and-rescue-dogs are drawn even into wild terrain because of their play drive.
A tracking dog follows the trail of one human scent. What is the most crucial issue for a tracking dog?
lots of space to work in
time
the association the tracker has with that scent
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The most crucial issue is time. If, say, a child goes missing, the tracking dog goes with its nose to the ground in search of the child's trail, but it must do so before someone contaminates the trail.
The K-9 Search-and-Rescue Team defines three skill levels. The first is basic obedience. What are the other two?
motivation to learn and physical agility
canine professionalism and physical/mental ability
willingness to work long hours and comfortability with the outdoors
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The other two skills levels are canine professionalism and physical, as well as mental, ability. To work with K-9, a SAR dog has to pass all three levels.
staying with the person (or victim) while alerting the handler to his location
living permanently with the victim as a reward for saving his life
being loyal to the underdog (as opposed to the victimizer)
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It means remaining with the victim or injured person, while barking to the handler to indicate its whereabouts. This is in contrast to other SAR work, whereby the dog leaves the located person and runs back for help.
What attribute must a SAR dog have in order to perform tasks that are not necessarily instinctive?
stamina
resolve
confidence
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Wrong Answer
It must have confidence. Stamina and resolve might be helpful, too, but just in order to see the "game" through to the end. Of greater priority is its confidence.