EMERGENCY NUMBER, CALL 513.312.1527
Buckeye Search and Rescue DogsResource List

Resource List

K9 Dexter catches up on his research
K9 Dexter catches up on his research

There are many fine books, articles, and other resources available about the various aspects of K9 Search and Rescue. There are also some that miss the mark. In many cases the distinction is up to the reader; whether a resource fits their particular situation. For example, a handler who wrote a book about how they trained a German Shepherd Dog to search in the Rocky Mountains may be of lesser value to the Bloodhounder who lives in Louisiana.

However, even materials that don’t speak to one’s particular situation often have useful information. There are commonalities in training methods and search techniques, new observations of how scent reacts to particular atmospheric and topographical conditions, and so forth, that may be of value to even the most experienced handler.

New material is continually coming into circulation, so check your favorite search engine often.

Suggested Reading

Here are some resources that the members of BSARD feel have been useful in their careers. Most are available through your local library, your local bookstore, specialty bookstores like the NASAR bookstore, and internet resources.

  • Scent And The Scenting Dog by William G. Syrotuck (4th ed.). ©2000, Barkleigh Productions.
  • Cadaver Dog Handbook: Forensic Training for the Recovery of Human Remains by Andrew Rebmann, Edward David and Marcella H. Sorg. ©2000, CRC Press.
  • The Silent Witness: Scent by Bill Tolhurst. ©2000.
  • Dog Speak by Bash Dibra with Mary Ann Crenshaw. ©1999, Simon & Schuster.
  • So That Others May Live: Caroline Hebard & Her Search-And-Rescue Dogs by Hank Whittemore and Caroline Hebard. ©1995.
  • Ready! The Training of the Search and Rescue Dog by Susan Bulanda. ©1994, Doral Publishing.
  • The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson. ©1996, James & Kenneth Publishers,.
  • The Police Textbook for Dog Handlers by Bill Tolhurst. ©1991.
  • Search and Rescue Dogs: Training Methods by The American Rescue Dog Association. ©1991, Maxwell Publishing.
  • The Art of Raising a Puppy by The Monks of New Skete. ©1991, Little, Brown and Company.
  • Practical Scent Dog Training by Lou Button. ©1990, Alpine Publications.
  • Mother Knows Best: The Natural Way to Train Your Dog by Carol Lea Benjamin. ©1985.
  • Manhunters! – Hounds of the Big T by Bill Tolhurst. ©1984, Hound Dog Press.

Videos/Movies

  • Lost…but Found, Safe and Sound – A 12-minute video from the Association of National Park Rangers that is designed to show younger children (ages 4-12) what to do if they become lost in remote areas such as parks or forests. An excellent video for use in presentations to children.
  • How do Dogs “See” with their Noses – A 4-and-a-half minute TED talk by Alexandra Horowitz from 2015. A primer on the basic science of how dogs’ use their noses in the real world. Very useful in presentations, especially to 10-years-old and up.
  • How Your Dog’s Nose Knows So Much – A 4-minute Deep Look video from PBS/KQED (via Kentucky Educational Television) that shows how dogs use their noses to detect the scent left on a trail. A good presentation video for an audience of teens to adults.
  • Searchdog: the Movie – A 2016 documentary about Rhode Island State Police Sergeant (now retired) Matthew Zarrella. Sgt. Zerrella rehabilitates “pound dogs” and turns them into Search & Rescue/Recovery Dogs. Available for streaming.
  • How Dogs See the World: Understanding Their Vision – A 9-minute video that explains how dogs’ vision doesn’t quite work the way many of us have been told.
  • Brian and Lily on Trail – A pair of videos taken during a Mantrailing training session by BSARD’s Brian Rau (the handler’s Point-of-View) and an aerial drone view of the same trail taken by Ashley Stevens.

Other Useful Links

TOP