We want you to get lost!
Not really, of course, but we would love to have you come out as a volunteer trail runner for a day. It’s a great way to relax, meet the dogs and their people, and do a good deed all at the same time.
Adults and children may participate. (Trail runners under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.) All of our dogs are people-friendly. These are search dogs, not restraint or aggression dogs like you might have seen on television or in the movies. (Nonetheless, anyone who is afraid of large dogs probably should not participate.)
We train at several sites around southwestern Ohio, and we try hard not to use the same site more than a couple of times a year.
If you’d like to help out with a little of your time and labor, please contact us at our non-emergency phone number (513-683-5785) or via email at genmgr@buckeyesardogs.org.
What to Expect
You’ll meet with the Training Director or a designated Team Member at the training site about a half-hour before the rest of the team arrives. They will give you instructions on where to go and what to do, as well as answer any questions you may have. The objective is to have you on your way in time to allow the trails or search area to age a bit before we begin working the dogs.
You may be asked to go anywhere from a few hundred yards to upwards of a mile. (We don’t ask small children to walk a great distance, and we always keep children under 16 years old with a nearby adult.) You may be asked to flag your trail as you walk and will be given materials and instructions on how to do this. If you have physical limitations which impact the distance you can walk, please let us know and we will gladly make whatever adjustments we can.
When the dog finds you, they will probably come right up to you. Note that some dogs will check out everybody in an area, while others ignore everyone who is not the runner they are seeking. At that time they will perform what is called a “trained final response” to indicate that you are who the dog is seeking. The alert varies from dog to dog, but may include touching you with their nose, barking at or near you, or even giving you a doggy kiss. If any of these experiences would bother you, please inform the Training Director when you’re briefed in the morning and we can adjust accordingly. We know what our dogs will do and can pair certain dogs to certain runners.
What to Bring
There are a few things you’ll need to bring along to make your experience more comfortable and enjoyable.
- A scent article: The evening before running a trail, put a piece of clothing that has been in contact with your skin (underwear or socks are ideal) either in a food-grade sealable plastic bag such as a Ziploc™ or in an unused brown paper lunch bag. Write your name on the bag. If possible, the person wearing the clothing should be the only person who touches it or the bag. If possible, have small children remove their article of clothing and put it in the bag themselves.
- Something to sit on: You want to be comfortable while you’re hiding, so bring a lightweight lawn chair or a blanket to sit on.
- Water, snacks, etc.: Feel free to bring food to snack on while you’re waiting for the dogs to find you, but make sure you place food where the dogs can’t get to it when they find you! If you want, feel free to bring a small cooler with soft drinks and/or water. No alcohol or other intoxicants please! Our training is often accompanied by law enforcement and we strive to be on our best, most professional behavior at all times.
- A newspaper, book, music player and/or hand held game, etc.: You’ll be sitting in the woods for three or four hours, so be sure to bring something to entertain yourself. Music is fine as long as you use earbuds. You may or may not have cell coverage, but historically we have pretty good luck.
Most importantly, dress appropriately for the weather. We train in all kinds of weather, so if it’s going to rain or snow, be sure to bring something to keep you warm and dry. Also remember, in the summer there are ticks and mosquitoes, so be sure to wear insect repellant and sunscreen. It won’t interfere with the dog’s ability to find you.
If You Can’t Make It
If you have an issue come up and you can’t make it to the training you were planning on joining, that’s OK. Stuff happens. We only ask that you call us as early as possible and let us know you’re going to postpone your help to another day so we can plan accordingly.
If you have to cancel the morning of the scheduled training, please call Gloria Napier at 513.312.1527 so we don’t worry about you.