Dear Prospective CARDA Member:

What is CARDA?

CARDA is the California Rescue Dog Association, Inc., a volunteer search and rescue (SAR) dog unit. We are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to assist Law Enforcement Agencies and other official agencies (local, statewide, nationwide and even worldwide) in emergency responses to help find lost victims or victims of disasters.

How can I join CARDA?

We require that you train with us as a Pre-Apprentice Support Member on a regular basis for 3 to 6 months. You will need the sponsorship of one Mission Ready/Active handler. Your sponsor will be evaluating your interest and commitment as well as your dog's temperament and progress. During this period you will be covered by workers compensation insurance only during official CARDA training sessions. You will also have an opportunity to work with CARDA handlers and get to know them. It will give you some idea of the time commitment and amount of work required to become a SAR handler. We will help you in the initial training of you and your dog as a search team. After the initial training period you may apply for the apprentice status. To become an apprentice, you will need to be sponsored by two Mission Ready/Active handlers, who will accept the responsibility of helping you become a Mission Ready team.

What kind of dog can I train for SAR?

There are numerous breeds of dogs that are capable of doing SAR work, though you will see that most are from working, herding or sporting breeds. Some breeds are more suitable than others. Not all breeds of dogs and not all dogs within a breed have the temperament and talent to do the work required. Dogs at the extreme ends of the size range, i.e. very small or very large, tend not to be well suited for this work. The dog does not have to be a purebred, though you may have the advantage with a pedigreed dog to look at the parents as a guideline for temperament and working ability.

If you don't already have a dog, a good idea is to come out to an official CARDA workout to observe different breeds before you make up your mind. Talk to different people about the pros and cons of their breed in doing search work. Certain breeds may have inherent traits and talents that make them either easier or sometimes more difficult to train than other breeds. If you are set on a specific breed, you will usually be better off buying from a working line and not a show line. Investigate genetic diseases of the breed and make sure you get your dog from a line that has had minimal or no health problems. A reputable breeder should be able to answer any questions you have about health problems as well as working ability. You don't want to put years of hard work into training a dog just to find out later that it is not capable of doing the work due to a genetically linked disease. You want to start with a dog that has as much potential as possible to do the work.

Do I have to start with a puppy?

No. You may train an older dog for SAR. However, one of the advantages of training a puppy is that it will most likely have a longer working career. Younger dogs may not have acquired unsuitable habits or behaviors that may have to be untrained. You can also often train desirable behaviors into a puppy a little easier than into an older dog.

Can I train more than one dog at the same time for SAR?

It takes a great deal of time and commitment to train even one dog. So if you have more than one dog, we recommend that you concentrate on just one. We can help you evaluate which dog would make a better candidate for SAR work.

How long will the training take?

You should plan on 1 1/2 - 3 years to train your dog and to gain the skills you need to become Mission Ready Team.

What skills will I need to learn?

You must learn CPR and take the "Red Cross Emergency Response" or "approved First Responder course" training, or equivalent. You must become proficient in use of map and compass as well as radio communications. Other training includes wilderness survival, SAR theory, man tracking and helicopter safety. Previous outdoor experience would be beneficial. You may purchase a Policy and Procedure Manual that will include all the requirements for certification, once you become an apprentice. Many requirements can be fulfilled at the various official CARDA monthly workout sessions throughout the state. Others you may satisfy through seminars offered by other Search and Rescue organizations or the local Red Cross.

What must I train my dog to do?

The type of training your dog receives will be somewhat dependent on which basic certification you choose, either area search or a trailing. However, all dogs must be well socialized, agile enough to safely negotiate obstacles in the wilderness and/or in disaster rubble. The dog must be able to swim. You and your dog will learn how to get in and out of a helicopter. You may achieve specialty certification in other disciplines such as cadaver or water searches, after you are mission ready in either area search or trailing. However, all dogs must begin as area search or trailing search dogs.

You will find that there are different ways to get the same results with training. However, if you start with one method, don't skip to another just because it seems easier or because someone tells you their method is better. Try to stay with one method unless you find it is totally impossible to attain your goals. If you switch from one method to another, your dog may get confused and may not be able to learn the skills that it needs.

If you have never trained a dog before, it will be helpful to read a good basic dog training book that explains how dogs learn. You must take a basic obedience class on your own. Believe it or not, the most difficult aspect in training a dog is to always remember that dogs think like dogs, not like humans. Most training problems can be traced to the handler forgetting this basic principle and trying to get the dog to do something it doesn't or can't understand. When you start training, you must begin keeping a training log for all your training sessions for you and your dog. This will help you keep up with the progress of your dog as well as to identify any problems or difficulties that may arise.

Most of what you will learn about training your dog will come from actual training sessions as well as input from fellow members and especially the training sponsors. However, your ultimate success will mostly be determined by the amount of time and effort you put in.

At a training session, don't let your dog run around loose unless it is working. If other dogs are tied up or under any kind of obedience command, don't let your dog bother them. Some dogs will naturally protect their vehicle or the area where they are tied! Above all, your dog must learn to be very obedient and should always be under your control!

Is this time consuming?

YES! Expect to train 2-3 times a week (including night training) when you are starting out in a local group. You can do some training on your own, but there is no substitution for training with your local group, even after you are Mission Ready. Some groups have attendance requirements. The official CARDA monthly training usually takes place one weekend of each month in varying locations. You are expected to attend as many as possible during your training ( i.e.attendance of 6 monthly general CARDA workouts are required as "sign-offs" prior to becoming field qualified). When you become a certified Mission Ready team, you will still need to continue to train regularly to keep your basic skills sharp.

Call outs for actual searches tend to occur in the middle of the night. Most searches will probably be in your county or other nearby counties. You may be called to a search in other areas in the state. Though you are not required to go on all searches, we are on call all day and night every day of the year. Most requests for canine search teams come through local agencies at this time. If you are interested in searching for CARDA, it is best to locate a local team that is affiliated with the Sheriff's Department in your county and join that team. The most effective dog handlers today are searchers first, and dog handlers second.

Is this expensive?

YES! Since this is a volunteer organization, you pay for all your required equipment. That includes sleeping bag, backpack, uniform, hiking boots, rain gear, wear and tear on your vehicle, gasoline, etc. All of your equipment must be purchased prior to your mission ready test. Your Policy and Procedure Manual contains a list of all the required equipment. Because this is a volunteer organization, many of your expenses may be tax deductible-please consult your tax advisor to determine if it applies to you. On some searches you must be self sufficient for at least 3 days.

Some final comments.

One thing you must realize is that we are all here to help each other in our training. This is not a club. We will help you and your dog get the training, instruction and advice you need to become Mission Ready. You can help your fellow CARDA members (and are expected to) by being a "subject" for our dogs during training sessions. If you have some expertise to share with the group please let us know.

There will be training in all kinds of weather. Training sessions are the time to try out your outdoor gear, not on a real search in the backcountry. Searches are common in rainy and stormy weather, so good raingear is very important. If you are asked to participate in a longer search training session (e.g. being a "subject" for up to 4 hours) please bring proper gear and clothing for the weather. Being cold and wet for several hours is no fun and possibly dangerous. Proper clothing, a ground cloth, a sleeping bag, and enough food and water can make being at a training session or a test "subject" a more pleasant experience.

It is very valuable to walk with different Mission Ready Teams (as well as other less experienced members) in their training sessions to watch them work. You can learn a lot by observing and asking questions. We are always willing to share what we know with you and often your observations and questions help us learn too.

A word on physical fitness: If you have any disease or a physical handicap or problem, it is best to consult with your physician to make sure s/he approves of this activity. You definitely need to be both physically fit and healthy. Searches can potentially last up to 8 hours a day for several days and be located in areas of very rough terrain with inclement weather. There is also the possibility of having to spend the night out in the wilderness during a search. So mental as well as physical fitness is a must. Remember, on a search, you are there to help find subjects, not become a victim yourself.

The CARDA Fitness Test must be completed prior to your application as apprentice, before your 40 acre and Mission Ready tests, and annually thereafter. The CARDA Fitness Test consists of either

1) Run/walk 1.5 miles on a quarter mile track in 15 minutes or less or
2) 8 mile hike with a 20 lb. search pack, exclusive of water, in 3.5 hours or less.

Your Role as a CARDA Pre-Apprentice Support Member
(by Barbara Adcock)

• The Pre-Apprentice Support Membership period is like dating:
  • One feels out whether his/her dog can do search and rescue
  • One can explore the different aspects of CARDA training
  • One can see if s/he "fits in" to the training group
  • There is NO COMMITMENT ON EITHER SIDE to continue on to Apprenticeship Sponsorship
• The Pre-Apprentice Support Member has these advantages:
  • Is welcome at CARDA training and events
  • Will get the CARDA newsletter and minutes
  • Is covered at CARDA training events by Workers Compensation
• A Pre-Apprentice Support Member is a Support member of CARDA:
  • Does not pay dues (There is a filing fee)
  • May not wear a CARDA uniform including T shirts
  • May not get items checked off on check list (except above)
  • May not purchase items at CARDA "store"
  • May not vote
  • May not go on searches as a CARDA member
• The Pre-Apprentice period is a limited time:
  • Pre-Apprentice forms are good for a year
  • Time starts when Sponsor signs it
  • The person who signed the form is a "Temporary Sponsor"
  • After a year it either must be renewed or the individual must become an apprentice (need 2 sponsors)
  • The trainee reviews the log with training advisor or sponsor
  • Must do fitness hike/run before becoming an apprentice

Final Points to consider before you decide to train!

• A serious long-term commitment is mandatory.
• 100% support from your family is expected
• Your search area may be steep, brushy, muddy, covered with poison oak or snow etc.
• Are you afraid to go out in the woods at night with just your dog and maybe one other searcher?
• Are you afraid of snakes, ticks, spiders - or bigger "residents" of the woods?
• A positive attitude, confidence in your abilities, self-reliance, and being able to evaluate if you are capable of doing "the search" are musts.
• You may drive several hours to a search (and then find out that the subject has been found).
• You must be ready to deal with finding deceased subjects.
• You may not know when you will return home.
• Honesty and accepting constructive criticism are necessary.
• You must be able to accept when your Advisor and/or group tell you that either your dog or you are not suitable for this volunteer work.
• A search is a life-saving (hopefully) situation: egos and personal prejudices have no place in this.
• There are always potentials for risks to you and your dog.