Archive-name: dogs-faq/working
URL: http://www.zmall.com/pet_talk/dog-faqs/working.html
Last-modified: 11 Dec 1995

=======
There are nearly 90 FAQ's available for this group.  For a complete
listing of these, get the "Complete List of RPD FAQs".  This article
is posted bimonthly in rec.pets.dogs, and is available via anonymous ftp
to rtfm.mit.edu under pub/usenet/news.answers/dogs-faq/faq-list, via
the Web at http://www.zmall.com/pet_talk/dog-faqs/lists/faq-list.html, or via
email by sending your message to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with
send usenet/news.answers/dogs-faq/faq-list
in the body of the message.

This article is Copyright (c) 1995 by the Author(s) listed below. 
It may be freely distributed on the Internet in its entirety without
alteration provided that this copyright notice is not removed.  
It may NOT reside at another website (use links, please) other
than the URL listed above without the permission of the Author(s).  
This article may not be sold for profit nor incorporated in other 
documents without he Author(s)'s permission and is provided "as is" 
without express or implied warranty.
==========


                                 WORKING DOGS
                                       
Author

   Cindy Tittle Moore, Copyright 1995.
   
Table of Contents

     * Schutzhund
          + What is Schutzhund?
          + References
     * Search and Rescue Dogs
          + Where to get started
          + Tracking and Trailing
          + Area search
          + Disaster search
          + Cadaver search
          + Related testing
          + References
     * Sled Dogs
          + History
          + Types of sled dogs
          + Mushing terms
          + Mushing equipment
          + Skijoring equipment
          + Weight pulling equipment
          + Other equipment
          + Training the musher
          + Training dogs to pull
          + Training lead dogs
          + Training for weight pulling
          + Training for skijoring
          + Health, diet, and care -- Sled Dog Specifi cs (briefly)
          + Final remarks
          + References
     * Herding Dogs
     * Narcotics and Evidence Dogs
     * Patrol Dogs
     * Water Rescue Dogs
       
   
     _________________________________________________________________
   
Schutzhund

   Schutzhund dogs are generally considered working dogs, as many of them
   are subsequently used as patrol dogs and guard dogs. My thanks to
   Michael Sierchio and Victoria Janicki for this section.
   
   Please note that the results of protection training depends heavily on
   the temperament of the dog and the quality of the trainer. There are
   enough bad trainers out there that you have to be very careful who you
   choose. The best avenues for finding a good trainer are through a
   Schutzhund club.
   
   A dog that is unreliable around people will have a difficult time
   passing a Schutzhund test. In order to enter for a Schutzhund I title,
   the dog must have passed a the Begleithund test, which is a
   combination of a CD and Canine Good Citizen test.
   
   Protection work in itself does not make a dog mean. In order to do
   protection work you must have a temperamentally stable dog. An
   inappropriately aggressive dog is actually not a good candidate for
   this work. You need a dog with confidence and good nerves. A nervous
   or shy dog is a poor candidate because it can't take the stress of the
   training. A protection dog needs both prey and defensive drives. An
   unbalanced dog is very difficult to train because protection work is
   the blending of both these drives to produce a calm, reliable dog that
   understands the work.
   
   A dog must be brought along slowly to build confidence and
   understanding. A dog should not be hurt or frightened in order to
   elicit aggression. If neither prey work or defensive postures elicits
   a response, the dog either doesn't have the proper drives or it is not
   mature enough to handle the work.
   
   Some owners inappropriately encourage aggression in their dogs outside
   of protection training. This is wrong. They sometimes do not keep the
   control over the dog, often delighting in the macho behavior of their
   dog.
   
   Protection training will not change the dog's basic temperament. It
   does give you a good view of the dog's total temperament under stress.
   An edgy dog will always be edgy. A stable dog will always be stable.
   
   Not every dog has what it takes to do protection work. This is why a
   schutzhund degree is required in Germany in order to breed a German
   Shepherd.
   
  WHAT IS SCHUTZHUND?
  
   Schutzhund is a German word meaning "protection dog". It refers to a
   sport that focuses on developing and evaluating those traits in dogs
   that make them more useful and happier companions to their owners.
   
   Schutzhund is a dog training and breeding regimen developed originally
   in the 20's by the Deutsches Shaeferhund Verein (German Shepherd Dog
   Club), or SV, in order to maintain the working ability of the breed.
   While the term Schutzhund means literally "protection dog", the
   training involves work equally in tracking, obedience and protection.
   In order to get a Schutzhund degree a dog must pass all three phases
   of the work. Also, a working title (at least a SchH I) is required for
   breed survey purposes, and in order to register an approved litter.
   
   The first Schutzhund trial was held in Germany in 1901 to emphasize
   the correct working temperament and ability in the German Shepherd
   breed. SV, the parent club of the breed, developed the Schutzhund test
   as a way of maintaining reliable dogs with traits suitable for
   breeding.
   
   Many countries and working dog organizations have also adopted
   Schutzhund as a sport and test of working performance. International
   rules have been established by the Verein fuer Deutsche Hundesport
   (VDH). The first SchH trial in the U.S. was held in California in
   1970. In 1987 the U.S.A. alone sanctioned nearly 300 trials with a
   total entry of 1,800 dog/handler teams.
   
   Many breeds now participate in addition to GSDs. While there may be
   individual dogs of a particular breed that may be suitable for the
   work, the following are most consistently able to perform: GSDs,
   Belgian Malinois, Doberman Pinscher, Bouvier des Flandres, Rottweiler,
   Tervuren, Boxer, Giant Schnauzer, etc. Generally, these are larger
   working breeds with strong prey and defense drives, and temperaments
   suitable for the tasks of the training.
   
   There are three major degrees awarded - SchH I, SchH II, and SchH III
   -- in order of increasing difficulty. SchH I (IPO I) is the apprentice
   test. A SchH III dog must demonstrate a high level of performance,
   ability and courage.
   
   The traits that make for a good Schutzhund candidate mostly are innate
   characteristics that must be bred for. Even among dogs bred out of
   Schutzhund bitches and dogs, a minority have the ability to reach even
   SchH I, and a small percentage will have the necessary drive,
   intelligence and hardness to achieve a Sch III title. In addition to
   breeding, early development is important. The young pup should not be
   subjected to strong corrections or experience being dominated by
   another dog, and all training and play should end on a positive note,
   with the pup "winning."
   
   The IPO (International Pruefungsordnung) rules, under the auspices of
   the FCI (Federation Internationale Cynologique), are similar to the
   Schutzhund rules and the trials are run in the same manner, with the
   exception that no evaluation of the fighting instincts, courage or
   hardness of an IPO entrant is performed during the protection phase of
   the trial.
   
   (The following information on degrees and requirements is from the
   United Schutzhund Clubs of America)

Degree                                            Min Age

B        Begleithunde                              12 months
         (Companion Dog)

FH       Faehrtenhundpruefung                      16 months
         (Advanced Tracking Dog Test)

AD       Ausdauerpruefung                          16 months
         (Endurance Test)

SchH A   Schutzhund Examination A                  18 months
SchH I   Schutzhund Examination I                  18 months
SchH II  Schutzhund Examination II                 19 months
SchH III Schutzhund Examination III                20 months

   The maximum score in each of the three phases shall be 100 points.
   Therefore, the highest possible score in a trial is 300 points. A
   degree shall be awarded only if a dog achieves at least 70 points in
   Tracking and Obedience, and at least 80 points in Protection.
   
   [For the purposes of illustration, I have included the rules for SchH
   I trials]
   
   SCHUTZHUND A
   
     The Schutzhund A Examination is composed of phases B and C of the
     SchH I Examination. The conduct of the examination is the same
     except that the tracking phase is omitted, and the maximum possible
     score is 200 points. This training degree is not accepted under the
     rules for conformation shows, breeding requirements or breed
     surveys. 
     
   SCHUTZHUND I
   
   Phase A - Tracking
   
     Tracking a 350-400 pace long trail at least 20 minutes old with two
     articles on a 10 meter tracking lead, or tracking without a lead.
     The track has two 90 degree turns. The handler lays the track as
     indicated by the judge, placing the first article in the middle of
     the first or second leg without interrupting the pace or changing
     the stride. The second article is deposited at the end of the track.
     
     The handler reports to the judge with the dog, and indicates whether
     the articles will be picked up or pointed out. The dog and handler
     proceed to the scent pad at the beginning of the track. Prior to
     tracking, and during the entire tracking phase, all force or
     pressure is to be avoided. At the start, the dog must be given
     sufficient time to absorb the scent.
     
     The dog must begin quietly and pick up the scent with a deep nose.
     As soon as the dog begins to track, the handler must stop and let
     the length of the 10 meter leash slip through his/her hands. The
     handler now follows at the distance of 10 meters, whether tracking
     with a lead or without.
     
     Immediately upon finding an article, the dog must convincingly stop,
     stand, sit, or pick up the article, or return it to the handler. If
     pointing out, the dog must lie, sit or stay. By lifting the article
     high in the air, the handler indicates to the judge that it has been
     found. The tracking leash is loosely held as the dog and handler
     continue on the track. The articles are presented to the presiding
     judge after completion of the track.
     
     A faulty start, excessive circling on corners, continued praise,
     faulty picking up or pointing of the articles, dropping articles,
     pronounced quartering, high nose, urinating or defecating on the
     track, or hunting mice, etc. will be penalized. 
     
   Phase B - Obedience
   
   Heeling on Leash and Impartiality - 15 Points
   
     Starting from the basic heeling position, the dog and handler
     proceed for 40 paces without stopping. A turnabout is performed, and
     after 10-15 paces a running heel followed by a slow heel, each of
     about 10 paces, are demonstrated. During a normal pace at least one
     left turn, one right turn, and one left turnabout must be performed.
     A halt must be performed after the turns and while the handler is
     moving straight. A voice command is permitted only when starting the
     exercise, or when changing pace. The judge will direct the handler
     through a group of at least 4 people, amd the handler is required to
     stop at least once in the group. The group is expected to mingle
     about.
     
   Heeling off Leash - 20 Points
   
     When requested by the judge, the leash will be removed while in the
     basic position. The handler moves through the group with the dog
     freely heeling. After demonstrating ar least one halt, the handler
     and dog leave the group and perform the heeling exercises that were
     performed on leash. While the dog and handler are performing the
     off-leash exercises, at least 2 gun shots (6 - 9 mm) are to be fired
     (not while moving in the group) and the dog must remain indifferent
     to the noise. Special emphasis is placed on indifference to the gun.
     If the judge deems the dog to be insecure or should the dog run from
     the shot, the judge may excuse the dog from further participation.
     
   Sit Exercise - 10 Points
   
     From the basic heeling position the handler and free heeling dog
     proceed in a straight line. After at least ten paces, the handler
     issues the voice command to sit - the dog should quickly come to a
     sit position. The handler shall continue for at least 30 paces
     without interrupting pace or direction, then stop and turn around to
     face the dog. At the direction of the judge, the handler returns to
     the right side of the dog.
     
   Down with Recall - 10 Points
   
     From the basic heeling position the handler and free heeling dog
     proceed in a straight line. After at least ten paces, the handler
     issues the voice command to down - the dog should quickly come to a
     down position. The handler shall continue for at least 30 paces
     without interrupting pace or direction, then stop and turn around to
     face the dog. At the direction of the judge, the handler shall
     recall the dog. The dog should come to the handler with a spirited
     and swift motion and sit close in front. Upon a "heel" command, the
     dog should quickly come to a sit position next to the handler.
     
   Retrieving an Article belonging to the Handler on Level Ground - 10
   Points
   
     The dog sitting freely next to the handler should, when given the
     voice command, quickly move toward the article tossed approximately
     10 paces away. The dog must immediately and quickly bring the
     article back to the handler, and sit close in front. The dog must
     hold the article until, after a brief pause, the handler issues the
     command to let go. After the command to heel, the dog should come
     quickly to the heel position. In place of an article belonging to
     the handler, a dumbbell can be used -- however, balls, toys, etc.
     are not considered personal articles.
     
   Retrieving an Article belonging to the Handler over a 1 Meter High and
   1.5 Meter Wide Brush Hurdle - 15 Points
   
     The handler assumes a position at an acceptable distance in front of
     the hurdle while the dog sits freely next to the handler. The
     article is tossed over the hurdle. Upon voice command, the dog shall
     clear the hurdle without touching it, pick up the article, return
     over the jump and sit closely in front of the handler. The article
     must be held by the dog until the handler removes it with the
     command to let go.
     
   Go Ahead and Down - 10 Points
   
     When requested by the judge, the handler and freely heeling dog
     proceed a few paces in the designated direction. The command to "go
     out" should be executed by simultaneously stopping and lifting the
     arm to indicate direction. The dog must move at a fast pace at least
     25 paces. The dog must lay down quickly upon voice command. At the
     request of the judge, the handler proceeds to pick up the dog by
     moving to the right side of the dog, commanding the dog to sit, and
     then putting on the leash.
     
   Long Down Under Distraction
   
     Prior to the start of the obedience exercises of another dog, the
     handler commands the dog into a down position at a spot designated
     by the judge. The handler moves approximately 40 paces away within
     sight of the dog. The handler remains quiet with his back to the
     dog. The dog must remain in the down position without additional
     influences from the handler until the other dog concludes the first
     6 exercises. The finish will be like the Go Ahead and Down, above. 
     
   Phase C - Protection
   
   Search for the Helper - 5 Points
   
     The helper is hidden in a position 40 paces away so that the dog
     must make searching passes to the right and left, or vice versa. The
     handler and dog must be out of sight when the helper moves into the
     hiding place. At the request of the judge, the handler releases the
     dog and gives the command to search towards the empty hiding place,
     then towards the helper. The command "here" and the dog's name may
     be used.
     
   Hold and Bark - 10 Points
   
     When the dog reaches the helper it should immediately and
     continuously bark. The dog should not bother the helper by gripping
     or bumping. The handler is to remain at a distance of approximately
     25 paces. When the judge indicates, the handler will pick up the dog
     and hold it securely so that the helper can leave the hiding place.
     
   Attack - 35 Points
   
     A helper is directed to proceed to another hiding place at least 50
     paces away. Upon directions from the judge, the handler will proceed
     with a free heeling dog towards the hiding place. The handler is now
     attacked from the front by the helper, who suddenly comes out of the
     hiding place. No contact is permitted between the handler and
     helper. The dog must immediately attack and demonstrate a firm grip.
     The dog will be struck with a flexible, padded stick -- two blows
     will be given on the flanks, thighs, or withers. Encouragement may
     be given via vocal command. When requested by the judge, the helper
     stops the aggression. The dog must independently release, or release
     his grip upon receiving the command to "out". After receiving the
     command from the judge, the handler will hold the dog by the collar.
     
   Pursuit and Hold - 50 Points
   
     The helper makes threatening gestures and runs away. After he has
     gone about 50 paces, the handler sends the dog toward the helper and
     remains standing still. The judge will instruct the helper to turn
     around and run toward the dog when the dog is about 30 paces away.
     Using aggressive and threatening motions, the helper will run toward
     the dog. When the dog has taken a firm grip, the helper will press
     the dog briefly without applying the stick, then cease resistance.
     The dog must release, either independently, or after receiving the
     command to "out". After the dog has let go, the handler will remain
     standing without influencing the dog. Upon a signal from the judge,
     the handler will approach the dog and helper at a normal pace. The
     handler will order the helper to step back from the dog, and order
     the dog to lay down. The helper will be searched and disarmed before
     transport to the judge. The dog will be on leash during transport.
     The handler will leave the area with the dog on leash.
     
     The fighting drive, including courage and hardness, is to be
     scrutinized during the entire protection phase. This will be rated
     as pronounced, sufficient, or insufficient.
     
     Only energetic fighting and a firm grip will allow a full score. A
     dog that does not release after one command to let go, or who is not
     under control of the handler, or who fails any exercise of the
     protection phase cannot pass the test. If a dog fails a single
     exercise, it will be excused from the remainder of the phase. No
     deductions are made for a dog that alertly circles the helper.
     
  REFERENCES:
  
   Schutzhund: Theory and Training Methods by Susan Barwig and Stewart
   Hilliard. 1991 Howell Books ISBN 0-87605-731-8
   
   Training the Competitive Working Dog by Tom Rose and Gary Patterson
   1985 Giblaut Publishing Company 3333 S. Bannock, Suite 950,
   Englewood,CO 80110
   
   The Rose book is getting obsolete, particularly the obedience section
   (Tom now uses much more motivational techniques) but here is still a
   lot of good theory and practical exercises.
     _________________________________________________________________
   
Search and Rescue Dogs

   SAR comprises a large variety of abilities, some of which are covered
   separately below. SAR varies by locale: searching for victims in
   rubble (avalanches or collapsed buildings) is different from searching
   wilderness/forest areas for a missing person. SAR is often linked with
   local law enforcement, as SAR dogs can trail escaped convicts or
   suspects from a crime scene.
   
  WHERE TO GET STARTED
  
   It is best to affiliate with a reputable SAR organization. You may
   even wish to join the reserves unit with your local law enforcement --
   this entitles you to insurance protection, for example. Be picky about
   finding a professional organization to join: there are many wannabe
   clubs out there that would really just get in the way of an actual SAR
   effort, and there is variability even with law-enforcement groups.
   
   There are some national groups and many states have their own
   organizations (e.g., California's CARDA -- CAlifornia Rescue Dog
   Association, WOOF -- Wilderness Finders, Inc., SSD -- Sierra Search
   Dogs). An additional benefit is being able to learn from people who've
   been at this for a long time: no book or self-training will ever give
   you the valuable insights you can gain this way. These types of
   organization will have their own certification and testing processes.
   For example, WOOF requires dogs and handlers to be dual certified --
   wilderness AND disaster SAR.
   
   A professional organization should have law enforcement liasons (or
   even be part of the police force) as any search, even for a missing
   person, has the potential for turning into a hunt for a felon. Some
   organizations are put together from law enforcement reserve officers,
   sometimes active duty officers. Others simply work closely with local
   law enforcement. Cooperation for the protection of everyone is
   essential.
   
   Any dog can detect scent. Some are individually better at it than
   others. Some breeds (especially the hounds) have been bred so that as
   a class, they contain many more talented individuals. A dog's
   conformation, structure and temperament will all affect its talent at
   tracking or trailing. But the breed doesn't really matter, except for
   serious and professional tracking. You can have fun with tracking on
   your own. All you have to do is train your dog to follow its nose.
   Some extremely practical information, whether or not you're serious
   about SAR, to get started with can be found in:
   
   Button, Lue. Practical Scent Dog Training. Alpine Publications, Inc.
   214 19th St. SE, Loveland, CO 80537. 1990. ISBN: 0-931866-47-2.
   
     A step-by-step practical training guide for air scent, evidence
     search, disaster search and the AKC tracking test. Starts with young
     puppies. Well illustrated and methods extensively tested at Los
     Alamos' Mountain Canine Corps.
     
  TRACKING AND TRAILING
  
   There are two major ways to follow the trail of a person, although
   they're really on two ends of a continuum. Tracking is the process
   where the dog follows the person's exact path. Trailing is the
   process where the dog follows the person's scent, which may or may not
   approximate the path the person took because of factors affecting the
   dispersal of scent such as wind and temperature. Contrary to popular
   opinion, water does not disrupt a tracking or trailing dog, the dog
   will simply cast around for your trail on the other side. In addition,
   dogs can locate corpses in the water, so the theory that water does
   not hold scent does not, well, hold water. Dogs can even trail people
   in cars, from the scent that blows out of the window or through the
   vents of the car.
   
   Some common terminology: A Track Solid dog follows a track, and
   usually the newest. A Track Sure dog will follow the track associated
   with the scent he started with, and will not follow a track laid by a
   different person as long as the second track was laid at a different
   time. A Track Clean Dog will follow the correct trail even if it
   crosses other trails laid at the same time. For example, for disaster
   work (e.g., finding victims in rubble), dogs lead their handlers
   towards any human scent from the rubble; this is "tracking solid." A
   Bloodhound, given a scent article, will "track clean," finding that
   same individual regardless of whatever crosses the track.
   
   To start trailing a specific individual, the dog needs an
   uncontaminated scent article. Best items are underwear, T-shirts, or
   something that the person has directly handled. The scent article is
   just as much evidence as the "smoking gun" is, unfortunately, many
   people (including law enforcement folks) are still unaware of how to
   use scent as evidence and often handle, and thus contaminate,
   potential scent articles. Dogs can still get around this by doing the
   "missing member" search: the dog takes note of which scent on the
   article is not immediately present and searches for that person.
   
   Traditionally, people think of SAR dogs hunting through forest or
   wilderness for lost hikers or children. While this is still quite
   true, SAR dogs also find escaped prisoners, lost [mentally impaired]
   patients, lost children in the city or the suburbs, suspects fleeing a
   crime scene. As a result, urban SAR is rapidly growing.
   
   Bloodhounds are by far the best for performing difficult and long
   trails. They are large (100-120 lbs), capable of covering great
   distance, and their facial structure (loose skin) allows them to cup
   and catch even the faintest scent. Their stubborn and patient
   temperament allows them to stick with trails that are miles long.
   Bloodhounds were originally bred for large prey, and have been used to
   track people since about the 16th century. For smaller game, other
   hounds were developed, with shorter legs and smaller size. These type
   of hounds cannot cover trails as old or as long as the Bloodhound.
   
   Labradors and German Shepherds are often used in tracking. They do not
   do as well with older or longer trails, but are more than capable of
   following trails within their limitations. Also because they can work
   off leash better than the Bloodhound can, they can work more rapidly
   if there is a need for haste.
   
  AREA SEARCH
  
   Quite often no scent article is available. Dogs trained in area search
   can be employed instead. These dogs air scent (that is, test the air
   rather than follow a specific scent) and search for any human scent.
   This is most often used in wilderness search for missing hikers or
   campers. Patrol dogs will also use the technique to find anyone hiding
   in a building or other confined area. Disaster search dogs (below)
   also employ air scenting in their work.
   
  DISASTER SEARCH
  
   Some SAR dogs are trained to search through rubble for people. In this
   scenario, the dog is not finding a specific person, as is the case
   with tracking and trailing. The dog is looking for any human scent.
   Avalanches, collapsed buildings, airplane and train crashes are all
   examples of sites where these kind of dogs are employed. Most often,
   German Shepherds, Labradors, Belgian Sheepdogs, Malinois, and similar
   sized breeds are used for this kind of work: these dogs work well off
   leash (which Bloodhounds do not) and are suitably agile for scrambling
   around in the debris (which Bloodhounds are not).
   
  CADAVER SEARCH
  
   Dogs can be trained to find cadavers, new or old. Some dogs are
   employed on archeological digs to help locate old graves. Other dogs
   are used by law enforcement to find recently dead people, or to
   collect all the bones found in an area. Others find drowning victims.
   This is a rapidly expanding field, with new methods of training
   currently being developed.
   
  RELATED TESTING
  
   Many SAR organizations will put together mock disaster sites and
   evaluate dogs sent over the sites. There are no standards or anything
   like that except within a particular organization.
   
   For tracking and trailing, AKC and ABC (American Bloodhound Club) have
   a series of titles in tracking (TD, TDX) and trailing (MT, MTX). ABC
   is negotiating with the AKC to add the trailing titles to its standard
   set.
   
  REFERENCES
  
   American Rescue Dog Association. Search and Rescue Dogs. Howell Book
   House, 1991. ISBN 0-87605-733-4.
   
     ARDA outlines their philosophy and methods for SAR. This book is
     excellent for an understanding of the depths of committment and work
     to be a SAR volunteer. It is a compilation of notes made over a
     thirty year period; consequently some of the information is out of
     date. There are two main deficiencies in this book. The first is a
     bias toward the German Shepherd Dog, such that they actually refuse
     to use any other breed; the second is a seemingly cavalier disregard
     for the consequences of deliberately searching for cadavers with SAR
     dogs, when such dogs should always search for live scent
     (particularly for disaster work).
     
   Bryson, Sandy. Search Dog Training. Third printing. Boxwood Press,
   183 Ocean View Blvd., Pacific Grove, CA 93950. 1991 (c 1984). ISBN:
   0-910286-94-9.
   
     A well organized, comprehensive discussion of search dog training.
     Includes practical tips, discussion of search and rescue and the law
     and many other topics.
     
   Davis, L. Wilson. Go Find! Training Your Dog to Track. Ninth
   printing, 1984. Howell Book House, Inc., New York. c1974. ISBN:
   0-87605-550-1 (hardcover).
   
     Blurb: "Major L. Wilson Davis is America's recognized authority on
     Tracking -- named in September 1973 to the Obedience Advisory
     Committee of the AKC as its official consultant on Tracking and
     scent training for dogs. This official status follows upon decades
     of recognized achievement in these phases of Obedience training.
     Following distinguished service with the K-9 Corps during WWII, he
     has been active in the Governmnent's program of using trained
     tracking dogs for the recovery of detonated missile parts in missile
     experimentation. Major Davis was an AKC licensed judge for all
     classes of Obedience. He is presently training director of the
     famous Oriole Dog Training Club of Baltimore. He organized and
     headed the Baltimor City K-9 Corps, one of the finest in the
     country, and is often asked to lecture and advise police departments
     on the use of tracking dogs in law enforcement. Major Davis is a
     recipient of the Quaker Oats Distinguished Service Award for his
     dedicated contributions to dog training."
     
   Pearsall, Milo D. and Hugo Verbruggen, MD. Scent: Training to Track,
   Search, and Rescue. Alpine Publications, Inc., Colorado. 1982. ISBN:
   0-931-866-11-1.
   
     Blurb: "The authors first look at the scientific qualities of scent
     -- what and how dogs smell and how environmental factors affect the
     track. Then they use this background as a basis for training. Topics
     include the science of scent, kindergarden puppy tracking, tracking
     equipment, tracking tests, training to search, search and track,
     search and find, search and rescue, trail companion, scent and the
     law enforcement agency, first aid on the trail and much more."
     
   Tolhurst, William D. with Lena F. Reed. Manhunters! Hounds of the Big
   T. Hound Dog Press, 10705 Woodland Avenue, Puyallup, WA 98373. 1984.
   ISBN: 0-9617723-0-1 (hardcover).
   
     Tolhurst is a Search and Rescue volunteer in upstate New York. This
     book recounts his experiences using Bloodhounds in trailing. Many
     fascinating stories. Tolhurst includes a section on training a dog
     to locate dead bodies.
     
   
     _________________________________________________________________
   
Sled Dogs

   My thanks to Stephen Lee for this section.
   
  HISTORY
  
   Prior to the formation of sled dog racing as a formal sport, sled dogs
   were bred and used by native peoples of the polar regions of the world
   in their everyday lives for survival in harsh climates. Two dogs
   commonly employed in sledding are Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian
   Huskies. These two breeds had quite different origins and uses.
   Alaskan Malamutes originated with a group of Eskimo people known as
   the Mahlemiut. The dogs of that time were very large freighting dogs,
   capable of pulling heavy weight. The Mahlemiut people inhabited the
   region in the upper part of the Anvik River in Alaska, and were spread
   out over a large area. The Mahlemiut people used these dogs for
   hauling food back to the villages. The gold rush in 1896 created a
   high demand for these dogs. On the other hand, Siberian Huskies
   originated with the Chuckchi people of northeastern Siberia. These
   people had a Stone Age culture and used their dogs for a variety of
   things, like herding reindeer and pulling loads. These dogs were
   smaller and faster than their Mahlemiut counterparts. These dogs were
   exported to Alaska at around the time of the gold rush. Thus the gold
   rush played a very important role in the development of our modern day
   sled dog breeds.
   
   Sled dog racing began as a formal sport with the first All-Alaska
   Sweepstakes race in 1908. Prior to this, Alaska's mushers had little
   opportunity for recreation and they used their teams primarily for
   work and transportation. Rules for the races were established, and
   they provided a good diversion to the difficult living conditions. In
   the 1920's, airplanes were gradually replacing sled dog teams for
   transportation, freight hauling, and mail delivery. In 1925, sled dogs
   proved that they were invaluable during the "Great Race of Mercy to
   Nome." In Nome, an outbreak of diphtheria threatened to become a fatal
   epidemic. A 20lb package of antitoxin serum needed to be relayed from
   Nenana to Nome. Twenty drivers and more than 100 dogs were recruited
   for the run. Planes were ruled out due to extreme cold (40 below and
   colder) and if the plane crashed, the serum would be lost. Serum was
   transported from Anchorage to Nenana by train. The drive was a
   success, the serum was delivered and lives were saved. The drive
   covered some 674 miles in less than five and a half days. This, along
   with the simple commemoration of the uses of the Iditarod trail, is
   the origin of the Iditarod sled dog race.
   
  TYPES OF SLED DOGS
  
   Naturally, most northern breeds were used as sled dogs. Alaskan
   Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, Eskimo Dogs, Greenlands, Samoyeds,
   Norrbottenspets, and Hokkaidokens are all sled dogs. However, lots of
   different breeds of dogs have been and are used to drive sleds and
   carts.
   
   People use Irish Setters, Dalmations, Golden Retrievers, etc., to
   enjoy mushing sports. In fact, most modern day speed and endurance
   mushers use mixed breeds (often Siberian crossed with Greyhound). So,
   if you do not have a "sled dog," but still want to enjoy the sport,
   fear not, for most any type of dog can be used. Mushing is fun, both
   to take part in and simply to watch.
   
  MUSHING TERMS
  
   Contrary to common belief, the word "mush" is not used to drive sled
   dogs. Mush comes from the French word "marche" which is from the verb
   "marcher" which means to walk. Undoubtedly, the French used this
   during gold rush days. The word "mush" is felt to be too "soft" a
   sound to be used as a command. Below is a short list of common
   commands and terms associated with dog driving sports.

     Hike          : Get the dogs moving
     Gee           : Turn right
     Haw           : Turn left
     Easy          : Slow down
     Musher        : One that drives sled dogs
     Mushing       : The act of driving sled dogs
     Lead dog      : Dog that steers the sled dog team and
                     regulates speed
     Wheel dog     : Dogs closest to the sled
     Sled          : Wooden rig the dogs pull in the snow and
                     on which you stand
     Snowless rigs : Also called training carts.  Take the
                     place of the sled when there is no snow.

   There are many other terms common to dog driving sports. One book that
   has a very good glossary in it is Dog Driver, by Miki and Julie
   Collins. See the references section for a complete citation.
   
  MUSHING EQUIPMENT
  
   The types of mushing equipment alone could cover many pages: only the
   main points are covered here. The references listed at the end of this
   section provide additional information.
   
   There are two main types of sleds -- basket sleds and toboggan sleds.
   Basket sleds (also called stanchion sleds) are popular among sprint
   racers and recreational mushers. They are fast on glare ice and hard
   pack trails, and are also good in high wind conditions. They are
   lightweight, and the basket is set high off the runners, which can
   keep gear dry. Toboggan sleds are more durable and stable than the
   basket sleds, and they are capable of carrying bigger loads. They are
   more rigid and generally less maneuverable than basket sleds. The bed
   of the toboggan rides two inches above the snow. These sleds handle
   soft snow better than their basket counterparts. Both types of sleds
   are equipped with a brake, which is a vital item. The brake is very
   simple, consisting of a spring loaded wood plank attached to the sled
   bed at one end and a metal hook at the other. When riding the sled,
   standing on the runners, one simply pushes down on the brake, driving
   the hook into the snow. It is an effective method of slowing and
   stopping the sled.
   
   So, which sled? It depends on what you want to do. Basket sleds are
   lighter and more suitable for racing. Racing trails are groomed and
   hard packed for speed. They can be used for longer trips and camping.
   However, to carry more gear and run in softer snow conditions, a
   toboggan sled would be better. For the novice and/or once-in-a-while
   musher, the basket sled is the best choice. They are generally cheaper
   and easier to learn on.
   
   In order to have your dog pull the sled, it must have a proper
   harness. There are many, but two main types of harnesses are the
   x-back and the freighting, or weight pulling harness. For speed or
   recreational mushing, the x-back harness is the harness of choice. The
   harness is extremely important as it properly distributes the weight
   of the load across the dog's muscular-skeleto system. Of all the
   components of mushing, the harness is the most important. The x-back
   harness is sometimes referred to as a racing harness, but it is NOT
   strictly used for racing. As long as the load is not too heavy, the
   x-back is used for a wide variety of dog driving activities. The
   harness should should be padded around the front and fit the dog very
   well. Unfortunately, a picture is not possible, and without that, it
   is a little difficult to visualize. See the references for additional
   details.
   
   The weight pulling harness is used to haul heavier loads. Therefore,
   one would expect to see freighting harnesses used in conjunction with
   toboggan sleds. They are also used in competitive weight pulling. They
   are similar to the x-back harness, except that they are constructed to
   give the dog different freedom of movement and different distribution
   of the load. The freighting harness has one very important feature
   that the x-back harness does not. At the rear of the harness, there is
   a "spacer", usually a wooden rod that is about as long as the dog is
   wide. While pulling heavy loads, the rod is well away from the back of
   the dogs rear legs. For recreational mushers, this wooden rod can be
   somewhat irritating for the dog as it will hit the back of the dogs
   legs when not loaded. Consider what you are going to do with the
   dog(s) before purchasing or making a harness.
   
   The line that runs from the sled to the dogs is called a gang line.
   They are simple to construct yourself once you understand their
   function and geometry. The gang line consists of three components. The
   first is the tow line, which is typically 3/8 inch polyethelene
   rope. It connects to the sled and runs up between the dogs which are
   hitched side by side on either side of the towline. To this, the tug
   lines are attached. These lines are typically 1/4 inch poly rope and
   are "braided" into the tow line. The tug lines attach to the harnesses
   (which are on the dogs!). The final component is the neck line. The
   neck line is also 1/4 inch poly rope and is braided into the tow line.
   The end of the neck line attaches to the dog's collar. The dog does
   NOT pull from this under ANY circumstances. The function of the neck
   line is to keep the dogs close to the tow line, thereby maximizing
   their pull strength. When out on the trail, you always want to have a
   spare gang line, as the dogs may break theirs, or a tangle may become
   so severe that the line must be cut to free the dogs!
   
   The next component of mushing equipment is the snow hook. The snow
   hook is essentially an "emergency brake" for the sled. When you stop
   the sled, and must get off to untangle dogs or rest or something, you
   can set the snow hook in the snow and it will hold the dogs (and
   therefore the sled) in place. They are remarkably effective. They are
   simple: a large, heavy, metal hook, weighing a couple of pounds and
   about 12 inches in length. These can be purchased from a variety of
   places. It is very important to attach the hook to the rear of the
   gangline, not the sled. A strong team of dogs can very easily tear a
   sled to pieces if the sled is between the hook and the dogs.
   
   The last pieces of equipment to mention are the sled bag and dog
   booties. The sled bag can be used to carry an injured dog or gear. In
   an ISDRA sanctioned sled dog race, sled bags are a required piece of
   equipment. They can be made or purchased. Dog booties are used to
   protect the dogs feet from injury, particularly on long journeys. They
   are typically used when mushing on rough ice, when mushing along
   roadways where chemicals from de-icing can be present, or when driving
   the dogs on a snowless rig on a hard surface. Booties can be made or
   purchased.
   
   How about the cost? Well, it varies, of course. The numbers below are
   typical.

              Sled      : $300.00 - 500.00
              Harness   : $15.00 - 18.00
              Ganglines : $10.00
              Sled Bags : $25.00
              Snow Hook : $10.00
              Booties   : $1.00 (per paw)

   The references section includes the names, addresses, and phone
   numbers of some outfitters that sell this type of equipment.
   
  SKIJORING EQUIPMENT
  
   Skijoring really only requires six simple components. A skier (you!),
   a dog (or dogs!), an x-back harness, a tow line, padded belt, and
   cross country skis. You MUST know how to cross country ski VERY well
   to do this. The harness has been discussed previously, there is no
   need to discuss the skis, and the tow line is just that -- a line that
   connects you to the dog(s). This leaves the padded belt. These can be
   purchased or made. The idea is that you put the belt on, attach the
   tow line to it, attach the dogs to it, and go! Some people prefer to
   use a handle to hang on to rather than attach the dogs to them. The
   handle can then be dropped if the dogs pull you into trouble! Others
   feel that it is best to use a belt and execute a controlled fall in
   case of trouble rather than risk having the dogs injure themselves in
   a tangle when a handle is dropped.
   
   Carol Kaynor adds that the use of a shock cord (aka bungee cord) is
   recommended in the skijoring line. It is an important enhancement over
   a regular towline and is easier on both the dog's back and the skier's
   back. Also recommended is a quick-release system of some sort between
   the belt and the line, for safety's sake. In Fairbanks, a "quick point
   of detachment" is actually written into the race rules for skijoring.
   
  WEIGHT PULLING EQUIPMENT
  
   The name of the game here is truly the harness. As discussed above,
   the weight pulling harness is completely different from the x-back
   harness, and THEY ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE! The weight pulling harness
   has side lines that connect to a spreader bar at the hock, instead of
   continuing up to the hips. This is important, because a single dog
   weighing 60 lbs may pull 2000 lbs!
   
  OTHER EQUIPMENT
  
   Many mushers have a wheeled cart for training in the fall prior to
   snow fall. In areas with insufficient snow, these carts are used in
   competition. These can be purchased or made by a good welder. Carts
   are a lot of fun, but are difficult to come by, they can be difficult
   to control, and they go very fast with enthusiastic dogs.
   
   Some people use pulks in the snow and carts in the summer to work
   their dogs. Carts are small "wagons" that are used to haul small loads
   or children. Pulks are carts for the snow (they are like small sleds).
   They are used to carry equipment. Carts and pulks can be made or
   bought.
   
  TRAINING THE MUSHER
  
   Dog driving is not merely riding on the back of the sled issuing
   commands to steer the dogs. It is work! If you start doing it in
   earnest, you will pull muscles, fall off the sled and have to pull
   yourself back on the runners with one hand, run yourself ragged
   chasing after the team (because you fell off of the sled), run into
   trees, and so on. In addition to these things, a musher must "peddle"
   the sled. This too can be tiring since it is repetitive. Peddling is
   pushing the sled forward with one foot while riding the sled. This is
   helpful to the dogs, particularly when tired. You may also frequently
   get off to run alongside when the dogs are tired. Therefore, to
   successfully drive sled dogs, the musher must train his or her body as
   well. Conditioning of the musher is to a small extent a function of
   the type of mushing to be done. The key is endurance and flexibility
   over muscle bulk. Running, biking, cross country skiing and downhill
   skiing are all good ways to build strength. You must remember that at
   all times, you are alpha. If you are tired, hesitant, and uncertain,
   your team will pick this up and become confused and unresponsive. This
   can be particularly dangerous on longer journeys into the wilderness.
   
   It should be clear from this that dogs in a sled dog team must be very
   well bonded to the driver. Not only does it make training much easier,
   but well socialized, well bonded dogs make a very good sled dog team.
   The dogs are looking to you as their undisputed leader, and you and
   they work together as a team. If you are careful to bond to each of
   your dogs as individuals, and socialize them very well with each
   other, other dogs, and other humans, your dogs will be willing to do
   virtually anything for you.
   
  TRAINING DOGS TO PULL
  
   There are many aspects to training dogs to pull. Probably the most
   fundamental is start young. Get a puppy used to its harness, just as
   you would a collar and leash. Also let the puppy get used to pulling
   things. Start out with a small 2x4 (6 inches long) and let it drag the
   2x4 around behind its harness for a while. The emphasis is NOT on
   weight, just on having fun dragging a VERY LIGHT weight behind it. It
   is important to realize that one can injure a puppy's bones,
   structure, and spirit by doing too much!
   
   To train adult dogs, or continue the puppy training as an adult, is
   relatively simple. Some dogs are natural pullers, others are not. Some
   dogs take right to the harness the first time, and other dogs, even
   ones from reputable breeders, may take extensive training. You just
   never know.
   
   It is vital to get the dog to lean out and keep the line between it
   and you taut. Some dogs have a real problem with this, others do not.
   For problem dogs, the cause usually is due to the dog not liking you
   to be behind it. If you do have trouble, there are a variety of
   methods you can use. As long as you make training a fun game, and you
   make the dog understand what you want it to do, training will progress
   quickly, even for stubborn dogs, like Siberians. Fortunately, they
   LIKE to pull, so their stubbornness is not a problem here. Sometimes
   getting them to STOP pulling is!
   
   Some mushers feel that it is best to train dogs to pull lots of
   weight, then speed comes naturally in a race without the weight.
   Others feel that speed and endurance training is best. Still others
   feel that a combination works best, similar to the combination
   training for the musher. Training for speed and endurance by mushing
   shorter distances (under 10 miles, sometimes even 3 or 4 miles) at top
   speed and up hills is beneficial. Loping along at 3 or 4 miles an hour
   for 15 or 20 miles is also beneficial. Both of these build strength
   and endurance. Pulling heavy weight for short distances is also quite
   good, particularly for wheel dogs (the ones hitched closest to the
   sled). For this, try a plastic tub to which you can add plastic
   weights (the ones from barbell sets will have the weights printed on
   them).
   
   Whichever method you use, remember to take it easy with your dogs and
   not push them to hard, and never, NEVER, lose your temper with your
   dogs. Remember that this is supposed to be fun for both you and the
   dogs. George Attla, a famous musher once said, "If the dogs make a
   mistake while out on the trail remember that it is not the dogs that
   have made the mistake. It is you." For additional training information
   (with much more detail than is practical to provide here), see the
   references.
   
  TRAINING LEAD DOGS
  
   To successfully mush, one must have a good lead dog (or dogs). This
   dog will take your commands for regulating speed and direction for the
   entire team. Naturally, if you are driving only one dog, that will be
   your lead dog.
   
   Training lead dogs is too complex to really do it justice here. The
   basics are you want the dog to learn to turn right, left, speed up,
   and slow down on voice command. You also want the dog to bypass
   interesting detours and distractions. In addition to the basic
   commands already introduced (see section 3), the dog must also be
   taught the commands below:

       kissing sound : Speed up (or other appropriate sound)
       on-by         : Go by a fork in the trail, other dogs, or
                       other distractions without detour

   All commands are spoken in a firm, calm, not too loud voice.
   
   During training, you must be certain to use varied turns and trails to
   be sure that the dog is really executing the commands rather than
   following a well worn path. You must also anticipate the turn and
   issue the command at the correct time from the dog's perspective.
   Finally, some people get confused when issuing the right/left
   commands, particularly in the excitement of a race. Some mushers tape
   the commands on the front of their sleds, on the right and left sides.
   You may want to do this while beginning on the sled.
   
   To train a dog to execute these commands with regularity is not too
   difficult. To train a dog to do this during the excitement of a race
   with lots of distractions is more difficult. One possible way to
   approach training is to start out on foot when the dog is a puppy.
   Keep the lessons varied, quick, and fun. Be certain to do the lessons
   in a variety of environments, with and without distractions. When the
   dog is old enough to pull weight (about one year to 18 months, get
   advice from your veterinarian), you may wish to graduate to cross
   country skiis. The dog will learn to execute commands in snowy
   conditions, and at higher speeds. Once you have your lead dog well
   trained and pulling your sled, you will find that other untrained,
   young, dogs can be very easily added to your team as your lead dog
   will "correct" the new dog's mistakes, usually faster and better than
   you can.
   
   This is one way in which lead dogs can be trained. Consult the
   references and experienced mushers (if you can find any) for
   additional information.
   
  TRAINING FOR WEIGHT PULLING
  
   Here emphasis is on strength and pulling straight no matter how
   difficult. Most of the mushing books in the references discuss weight
   pulling training.
   
  TRAINING FOR SKIJORING
  
   Skijoring is you on cross country skis and the dogs pulling you. YOU
   MUST BE A VERY GOOD CROSS COUNTRY SKIER. This is a must. Before
   attaching dogs, cross country ski all over the place, on a wide
   variety of terrain. Learn to fall in a controlled way. You will
   eventually need to do this when skijoring. You will need to learn to
   turn quickly and ski in control at high speeds. Skiing downhill in
   cross country skis is a good way to simulate skijoring speeds.
   
   The dog(s) must be well trained as well. Train all of them as lead
   dogs. They need to know and obey all of the commands very well
   (especially whoa!). The references all include information about this
   fast growing sport.
   
  HEALTH, DIET, AND CARE -- SLED DOG SPECIFICS (BRIEFLY)
  
   Sled dogs are athletes. They are also remarkably healthy. It is
   important to realize that because sled dogs are athletes, they require
   special attention in at least two specific areas.
   
   Probably one of the most important aspects for caring for sled dogs is
   the foot. You should inspect your dog's feet regularly. The skin of
   the pad should feel tough, but pliable, be resistant to abrasions and
   lacerations, and be free from cracks, dryness, or scarring. Also
   inspect the nails of the foot carefully. Nails can help the dog grip
   ice, but if too long, they can cause serious foot injury. According to
   Miki Collins in Dog Driver, if the nails are long enough to force
   the toes upward when the dog is standing on a hard, level surface,
   clip them. Nails that are too long can get caught and ripped out on
   the trail, or they can cause toes to break. Both of these injuries can
   be quite serious, and they are certainly painful.
   
   The subject of diet should also be touched on here. Most mushers feed
   a high stress, high energy diet during mushing season, and switch to a
   "maintenance" diet during the "off" season. For example, one
   experienced musher mixes Science Diet Performance dry with canned
   during mushing season. This is a high fat, high protein food. Some
   mushers even mix food in with lots of water hours before a race to
   encourage drinking. Dogs must be very well hydrated. During the off
   season, the musher in this example feeds Science Diet Maintenance
   canned mixed with either Science Diet Maintenance dry or Eukanuba dry.
   During the mushing season, the dogs are using all components of the
   food that is fed. During the off season, there is no need for such
   high energy food, and in fact, high protein foods can cause kidney
   trouble later in life when not fed in moderation.
   
  FINAL REMARKS
  
   Hopefully, this brief summary has been helpful to you. Even if you do
   not want to get involved in mushing yourself, try and find mushing
   events in your area. It is wonderful to see the handsome dogs enjoying
   doing what they were bred for.
   
  REFERENCES
  
    Recommended books for mushing, weight pulling, and skijoring:
    
   Levorsen, Bella, ed. Mush! A Beginner's Manual of Sled Dog Training.
   Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers, Inc. Arner Publications, 1976. ISBN
   0-914124-06-4.
   
   Collins, Miki and Julie. Dog Driver. A Guide for the Serious Musher.
   Alpine Publications, 1991. ISBN 0-931866-48-0.
   
   Flanders, Noel K. The Joy of Running Sled Dogs. Alpine Publications,
   1989. ISBN 0-931866-39-1.
   
   Fishback, Lee and Mel. Novice Sled Dog Training. 13th printing,
   Raymond Thomson Company, 1989.
   
   Kaynor, Carol, and Mari Hoe-Raitto. Skijoring: An Introduction to the
   Sport. Kaynor & Hoe-Raitto, 1988. Available by writing to P.O. Box
   82516, Fairbanks, AK 99708 (does not have ISBN).
   
   Hoe-Raitto, Mari, and Carol Kaynor. Skijor With Your Dog. OK
   Publishing, 1991. ISBN 0-9630854-0-9.
   
    Recommended breed books:
    
   Demidoff, Lorna B. and Michael Jennings. The Complete Siberian
   Husky. Howell Book House, 1978. ISBN 0-87605-314-2.
   
   Riddle, Maxwell and Beth J. Harris. The New Complete Alaskan
   Malamute. Howell Book House, 1990. ISBN 0-87605-008-9.
   
    Recommended racing and history:
    
   Sherwonit, Bill. Iditarod, The Great Race to Nome. Alaska Northwest
   Books, 1991. ISBN 0-88240-411-3. Steger, Will and Jon Bowermaster.
   Crossing Antarctica. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1991. ISBN
   0-394-58714-6.
   
    Periodicals about sled dogs and mushing
    
   The Siberian Quarterly
   4401 Zephyr Street
   Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-3299
   
   The Malamute Quarterly
   4401 Zephyr Street
   Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-3299
   
   Mushing.
   The All Season International Magazine for Dog-Driving Sports
   P.O. Box 149
   Ester, AK 99725
   
    Recommended places to order equipment:
    
   Black Ice, Konari Outfitters, Tun-Dra Outfitters and Ikon Outfitters:
   all addresses are in Catalogue section of the Annotated References
   FAQ.
     _________________________________________________________________
   
Herding Dogs

   Herding, along with hunting, is probably one of the oldest professions
   for dogs. There are many breeds bred specifically for herding. There
   are many forms of herding, as well: boundary, fetching/gathering.
   
   There are different styles, as well. Some breeds use what is called
   "eye", the tendency to stare down sheep. Dogs may be strong-eyed,
   medium eyed, or low-eyed (?). Border Collies are an example of a
   strong-eyed breed. An Old English Sheepdog, in contrast, does not have
   much eye. Dogs may use nipping or barking to move the sheep. Corgies
   are well known for their ability to dart in and nip the heels of
   cattle, for example. Other dogs were drovers; that is, they physically
   butt up against the stock to move them. Rottweilers and Bouviers both
   were used for this type of work.
   
   For more info on trials and tests provided by different organizations,
   see the AKC FAQ.
   
   A short description, provided by Dianne Schoenberg:
   
   The European herding breeds can be roughly divided into two factions:
   the British herding dogs (Border Collies, Bearded Collies, Old English
   Sheepdog, Rough & Smooth Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs) and the
   continental breeds (German Shepherd Dogs, Briards, Bouviers, Belgian
   Sheepdogs). There are significant differences between temperament and
   working style between the two groups.
   
   In comparison to continental Europe, Britian is an isolated island
   with a significant lack of natural predators. British sheep-ranching
   operations, most particularly in Scotland, involved flocks of rather
   shy, flighty sheep that often lived for generations spread thinly out
   over the same, rather inhospitable hillside, only rarely being
   gathered for shearing and such. The Border Collie is the breed most
   superbly adapted to working in these conditions. The BC runs very wide
   in order to gather large groups at one time, stays far out from the
   stock and creeps up slowly in order not to spook the sheep and make
   them run (which is undesireable). The BC is superbly responsive to
   command (Scottish shepherds typically work with whistle commands, as
   the sound carries well-enough to be heard and obeyed when the dog is
   as far as a mile off(!)) and the BC has few if any protective
   instincts (not necessary because of the lack of predators and the
   sparse population of the districts where sheep were raised). The style
   in which BCs work is generally referred to as "fetching" or
   "gathering" because their primary function as herders is to "fetch"
   the sheep to the shepherd.
   
   The situation in continental Europe was far different. Rather than the
   far-flung flocks that reigned in Britian, most sheep were raised in
   small farm operations. In comparison to flighty British sheep, most
   continental sheep are quite tame ("heavy" in herding parlance) and are
   readily trained to follow a shepherd about. The sheep were typically
   kept in a barn at night and taken out to unfenced fields to graze by
   day. Since the fields used for sheep pasture were often side-by-side
   with those used for growing crops, the shepherd needed a dog that
   would patrol the "boundary" of the area, serving as a sort of living
   fence. Furthermore, predators (both animal and human) were always a
   threat, so all the continental herding breeds have strongly-developed
   protective instincts (which is why they are the breeds most often
   chosen for police and protection work). The German sheepdog trials
   (HGH, pronounced "haw-gee-haw") are a demonstration of this style of
   herding (variously referred to as boundary, tending or continental).
   Typically using a large number of sheep (something on the order of
   100) that are conditioned to follow a handler around, the dog
   demonstrates its ability and desire to patrol the "boundaries" of the
   flock as the handler leads the flock around. A courage test, in the
   dog must protect his handler and flock from a stranger wielding a
   stick, is an important part of every HGH trial.
   
   [Australia has a lot of herding dogs; what about them?]
     _________________________________________________________________
   
Narcotics and Evidence Dogs

   This is commonly considered a subset of SAR. Dogs can be trained to
   alert (by barking, pointing, or pawing) on controlled substances such
   as drugs, agricultural products (e.g., in customs or at borders), and
   nearly anything else (for example, gunpowder (to detect guns), bomb
   materials, arson materials). Narcotic dogs are trained to search
   through buildings, cars, and luggage for their scent. They can be
   trained to alert on more than one kind of drug, and can do so despite
   ingenious efforts on the smuggler's part: dogs have been known to
   locate drugs concealed in gasoline, rotting food, skunk oil, and many
   other efforts. They can be trained to discriminate between large and
   small amounts: in fact some dogs are trained to whiff passing
   vehicles; if it alerts on one, that vehicle can be stopped later and
   searched without directly involving the dog and its handler.
   
   Evidence dogs are trained to search for items bearing human scent,
   sometimes specific human scent. They are utilized in crime scenes to
   find evidence thrown away by a suspect. Such evidence can be later
   used (if handled properly) by a Bloodhound to link the scent on it to
   a suspect: several such cases have been deemed admissible evidence in
   court.
   
   Dogs that are trained to alert on contraband items are almost always
   owned by law enforcement personnel, as these individuals can most
   easily legally obtain small quantities of contraband to train their
   dog with. In other words, average citizens do not train narcotic dogs
   because of legal difficulties. The dog's training record must record
   legal acquisition of contraband material used in training: if no such
   record exists, or the dog does not have a training record, then its
   evidence will not be accepted in court. (In other words, don't try
   this at home. Similar problems exist for the cadaver dog: dead human
   parts must be legally obtained.)
     _________________________________________________________________
   
Patrol Dogs

   This is a very general term. Technically, any dog working for a police
   or sheriff department is a "police" or "patrol" dog, this can include
   narcotic, evidence, tracking, trailing, and attack dogs. SAR and
   narcotic and evidence search have already been covered. The popular
   notion of the term "police dog" refers to "attack" dogs kept by law
   enforcement departments. Dogs can do more than one job; there is no
   reason that a dog couldn't trail/track people, sniff out narcotics,
   and locate arson material. But attack dogs are usually used only for
   chasing suspects and bringing them down. Of interest in our litigous
   society in the current trend of going to bark and hold, which means
   that the dog barks at the subject to hold him, and only attacks if the
   suspect continues to flee or if the suspect attempts to attack the dog
   or a bystander. This type of training brings the dog under much finer
   control.
   
   Schutzhund training shows that attack training does not exclude other
   abilities, but for whatever reasons, this is not often done
   (Schutzhund training itself is difficult; the Schutzhund section
   describes the difficulty of finding suitable candidates for the
   training). There are often liability concerns; an "attack" dog will be
   viewed unfavorably by most judges and juries if it attacked someone,
   even justifiably, while doing something else.
   
   There are no national or even state-wide standards for these dogs.
   Many are Schutzhund trained. Some are well trained, others are not.
   German Shepherd Dogs are commonly used, but any large breed with
   energy and drive can be used: Bouvier des Flandres, Doberman
   Pinschers, Malinois, Rottweilers and others have also been used as
   patrol dogs.
   
   The use of patrol dogs, in an organized fashion, began in the US in
   1907 with South Orange, New Jersey, and New York Police Departments.
   These were followed by departments in Glen Ridge, NJ (1910), Detroit
   (1917), Berkeley, CA (1930), Pennsylvania State Police (1931), Royal
   Canadian Mounted Police K-9 Section (1937), and the Connecticut State
   Police (1944). Many other departments have since created programs of
   their own to utilize dogs. This is the reason for the lack of uniform
   standards across the country, as each department makes its own.
   
   For a detailed reference, including history, try:
   
   Chapman, Samuel G. Police Dogs in America. Bureau of Government
   Research, 1979.
   
   For information on training dogs for different types of police work
   (but not attack or protection), see:
   
   Tolhurst, Bill. The Police Textbook for Dog Handlers. Sharp
   Printing, 3477 Lockport Road, Sanborn, NY 14132. 1991. (Paperback, 89
   pages.)
   
     This book is only available from the author. $14 plus $2 shipping
     and handling. Write to Bill Tolhurst, 383 Willow Street, Lockport,
     NY 14094. The most comprehensive training book available. Contains
     information not available from any other source. Contains updated
     information covered by the original National Police Bloodhound
     Training Manual (1977). Plus: how to train a land-cadaver dog, a
     water-cadaver dog, an article-search dog, an accelerant (arson) dog.
     Information on the Scent Transfer Machine, about radio-controlled
     dogs, on crime scene dog development, on the use of a scent sleeve.
     Discusses seminars, Bloodhound misconceptions, testifying in court,
     commands, puppy profiles (how to select a puppy) and more.
     
   Also:
   
   Eden, Bob. K9 Officer's Manual, Dog Training for Law Enforcement .
   Available from Direct Book Publishing at 1-800-776-2665.
     _________________________________________________________________
   
Water Rescue Dogs

   [would love more history and references]
   
   There are some dogs trained for water rescue. Some dogs are trained to
   deliver flotation devices to the person, others actually drag the
   person out of the water. The latter is most often done by
   Newfoundlands, as they have the swimming ability and size to perform
   such feats.
     _________________________________________________________________
   
    Working Dogs FAQ
    Cindy Tittle Moore, rpd-info@netcom.com
