The Team regularly uses specially-trained dogs to help to locate missing people. These dogs are normally air scenting dogs which can cover huge areas quickly and effectively. They operate off the lead and will indicate to their handler when they have found someone.
It takes a lot of time and effort to train a search dog. The handlers have to have at least 12 months operational call out experience before they can commence their training with the Search and Rescue Dog Association - England. It can take between 18 months and 3 years to train a dog and this training is every week, and must also include other mountainous areas such as Wales, Lake District and Yorkshire Dales.
The team currently has three search dogs - a Springer Spaniel called Millie, Izzy a tri-colour Border Collie, and Blitz, also a Border Collie. There are a further nine dogs available from our neighbouring teams at Tavistock, Plymouth and Exmoor.
The team is extremely grateful to Oscar Pet Foods for their support.
For more information about search dogs, please visit www.sardaengland.org.uk
