What Ryka Taught me about Search and Rescue Dogs

Recently, Dave and Ryka from K9 Alert Search and Rescue talked to our writers' group about search and rescue dogs. They also did several indoor and outdoor demonstrations, so that we could see the dog in action. Here's what I learned in case I ever include a search or cadaver dog in a mystery.

1. Ryka is certified to search for missing persons and human remains detection (search and rescue as well as cadaver searches).

2. They are part of a non-profit group that assists the Commonwealth of Virginia's Emergency Management and local law enforcement.

3. Police dogs are trained to track all human scents. This means that they are looking for a scent at the scene. They are searching for the freshest trail. Search dogs are trained to hunt for a particular human's scent.

4. Humans are all like "Pig-Pen" in Peanuts. They give off a cloud of scents and skin cells wherever they go.

5. In the past, lost persons in the woods could often be found near water. He said that now they are finding lost people at higher elevations (often because they are trying to get a cell phone connection).

6. Scents are affected by the sun/heat and the wind. Thermals affect how far/high scents travel.

7. Searches for missing persons often include K9 teams, trackers, horse teams, and helicopters. Helicopters are often used for forward-looking searches. He said that the ground teams are usually the ones to locate the missing person.

8. He said that one handler and dog can cover about forty acres in 2-3 hours.

9. Cadaver dogs are trained to do a passive alert when they find a scent, so they don't disturb a possible crime scene. When Ryka alerted, she sat near the area where she detected the scent.

10. He said that if they are doing a search in a building, they often ask for the AC/heat to be turned off because the vents distribute the scent throughout the building.

11. Clandestine graves are often shallow. Many times, they're covered with a small amount of dirt and debris.  

These volunteers do amazing work and provide invaluable assistance during times of crisis. I loved watching the camaraderie between handler and dog. To find out more about K9 Alert Search and Rescue, check out their website.

9 Things I Learned about Search Dogs and Their Training

I had the pleasure of attending "What the Dog Knows" at Bouchercon 2015 with Cat Warren, Kate Flora, and representatives from the Durham Sheriff's Office. Cat Warren and Kate Flora are a wealth of information. I love dogs, and it was fun to watch Dreyfus the dog in action.

Here's what I learned...

1. Dogs with energy and drive make the best search dog candidates. Dreyfus is a black Lab.

2. Cadaver dogs can tell the difference between human and animal bones.

3. Many government and police agencies have dogs with training in several areas (search/rescue, cadaver, water rescue, etc.). Dreyfus, from Durham, is trained in cadaver searches and water rescues.

4. The toy/game and the collar/harness clue the dog into the type of work that needs to be done. Dreyfus has a different collar for water rescue than he does for cadaver searches.

5. The scent has to be available for the dog to find it. It often takes two weeks for the scent to rise up from a buried body.

6. These types of searches always require a team. It's usually the handler, dog, and other trained staff.

7. Missing person and searches for human remains are complicated. Searchers can go for days without a lead.

8. Dogs are often used in bedbug searches.

9. Watch the teamwork between the handler and the dog. If you're going to have a search dog in your writing, you need to observe a team in action.

l-r: Cat Warren, Kate Flora, and Dreyfus