SAR Dogs must stay in good shape to climb, run and jump. I was taught how to retrieve things for my handler, even in water. I had to learn how to stay in cars and vans for a long time with people and other dogs. Most of all, I learned to search properly by using my nose and how to alert my handler when I picked up a scent.

There is special search and rescue training, too. As you can see in the pictures, SAR Dogs learn skills like climbing uneven surfaces, balancing, not being afraid of high places, following our handler's directions through obstacles and learning how to be carried in case we get injured on a search. We never know where we will have to go during a search, so we have to be prepared for any challenge.

Our training is a lot of work. Bob - he's my owner and handler - and I spent a lot of time training together, even at home. We're taught the skills we need to learn. As we work together we quickly become a team. We learn our commands, practice our search skills and become as one in our work. We learn to read each other's signals so we can communicate as a team. When a dog and the handler follow their training and always do the right things, they can be good enough to be trusted going on a real mission.

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