Figure 1: Search Dog Emmett from Southern Oregon Humane Society, Search Dog Foundation, April 30, 2024

Introduction

If you have volunteered with or worked at a shelter or rescue, or you help individuals with training their high-energy canine companions, you may have come across a dog who “needs a job” — but what exactly does that mean? In short, a “job” is an activity that provides a productive outlet for a dog’s genetically driven tendencies. For some dogs, agility, scent work, dock diving, or obedience might fit the bill. For others, a formal working placement in a detection role — specifically search and rescue, law enforcement, or conservation — is more suitable.

Starting as a pet dog trainer with an agility background, I was fortunate early in my career to have the experience of working for the Penn Vet Working Dog Center as a canine trainer. There I learned how to train various types of detection dogs by accomplished law enforcement and search and rescue handlers. After beginning my own training business focusing on dog sports and behavior modification, I worked as an animal control officer for a township near Philadelphia, before starting with the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (Search Dog Foundation) as a disaster search dog trainer. In my current role with Search Dog Foundation in canine recruitment, I have truly merged my passions for helping dogs in shelters and rescues find their perfect placements, and ultimately helping prepare search teams across the country to achieve deployment-ready status.

During the decade I have spent working with hundreds of detection dog candidates and learning from some of the most knowledgeable canine handlers in their fields, I have observed that there are numerous similarities between successful working canines. There is also a general consistency in the evaluation process and screening tasks that the dog may need to complete. Part of the mission of Search Dog Foundation is to work with shelters and rescues to help those dogs who might be successful in a working role find their way — and I have noticed that an increasing number of other working dog organizations are considering rescue and shelter dogs as well — and for good reason!

A successful detection dog must be comfortable and confident, displaying a relaxed body while being introduced to novel environments, and resilient if startled, while also demonstrating incredible persistence — even around loud noises, crowds, and novel objects — when searching for a target odor on the job. These qualities, desirable in working dogs, can be the very same traits that land dogs in shelters. High-energy and an insatiable toy focus can make these pups “too much dog” for most pet families, resulting in relinquishment to rescues and shelters, according to organizations that we have worked with. Yet, despite their background, many of these dogs remain confident and friendly, approaching new people and environments with a loose body posture, neutral ears, soft eyes, and a relaxed mouth. My experience with Search Dog Foundation has further shown me that dogs who are confident in a busy shelter can often have the environmental soundness sought by working dog organizations, due to their lack of fear or stress response while in a potentially loud and very busy place.

Figure 2: K9 Ptero from Animal Care of Davis County, Rogue Detection Teams, April 12, 2021

Searching for a Detection Dog Candidate

There are many types of detection jobs, but the fields of search and rescue, law enforcement, and conservation seek out dogs with similar, specific characteristics to fill their roles:

• While some organizations look for specific breed types, such as Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Border Collies, and Australian Shepherds, there are also many that will accept mixed breeds.
• Dogs of approximately 1 to 2 years old because they have matured past their puppy phase and can be medically cleared for proper physical development. Some organizations will also accept puppies.
• High energy and an intense toy focus, anytime and anywhere. These aren’t the dogs who like to play fetch or tug — they need to play fetch or tug and will go to great lengths to get their favorite toy, even when presented to them in a place they have never been to before.
• People-friendly or people-neutral (i.e., they do not seem to care about people while out and about but will engage if food or toys are presented) in all environments, including in a shelter facility, at public parks, and in veterinary offices. Since they will be working with a handler and potentially out in public, they must be happy to go everywhere without demonstrating fearful or aggressive behaviors around people and other animals, including attempts to hide, growling, lunging, and snapping or biting.
• Does not demonstrate fearful body language (such as freezing or trying to hide) in new places, even while in bustling crowds, around new objects, or if exposed to novel or loud sounds.
• Being dog-friendly (readily wants to engage with other dogs while demonstrating a soft, relaxed body posture) is also ideal, but some organizations are able to accept dogs who are dog-neutral (do not seem to care about other dogs while out and about) or could be slightly dog-reactive (might bark at other dogs when they see them but can be easily redirected with a toy or treat) for some jobs.
• No bite history with people or animals, and no severe behavior or medical concerns.

Once a potential candidate is identified, the next step is a performance evaluation. If a potential detection organization is local, they might be able to send a representative to complete the screening in person, but many organizations (including Search Dog Foundation) are utilizing video evaluation to expand their reach and help more dogs in need. Recognizing the challenges many shelters and rescues face with limited space and personnel, these videos can usually be shot using resources and environments readily available in the facility or surrounding area. Every working organization is different, but the following set-up instructions are a great place to start.

Figure 3: Search Dog Nate from Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA, Search Dog Foundation, September 12, 2024

Performance Evaluation

General Setup

Begin by identifying the dog’s favorite toy (as seen here). This will be used throughout the videos. Regular tennis balls/other types of balls or tug toys are the most widely accepted because they are easier to duplicate throughout a dog’s training and career. If the dog only likes one specific toy, such as a deflated soccer ball or stuffed squeaky toy, it could prove challenging for the working organization to duplicate and utilize. In addition, having more than one of their favorite toys for the evaluation is helpful in case the dog likes to play “keep away” or doesn’t have a natural retrieve.

It is important to see the dog’s natural personality and reactions to various stimuli. While challenging to do in a shelter environment, arranging for some offsite time could be a great alternative, and many organizations already have programs in place that could be helpful. Adventure days, running buddies, and overnight foster stays are all becoming more common and can provide wonderful insight about the dog’s temperament. As has been mentioned before, however, the dog’s behavior within the shelter itself is also of great importance.

An additional component to consider is the equipment the dog is wearing. Many organizations want to see the exercises completed on regular flat collars, martingale-style collars, or regular harnesses. This is to ensure that there is as little interference and potential pressure from a training tool as possible, further allowing the working dog organization to observe the dog’s natural responses. Safety is key, so long lines are generally acceptable if fenced areas are unavailable. Ensure that no other toys, food, or animals are present (unless specifically requested) for each exercise.

It is also worth noting that the dogs in the video examples linked in this article had not yet been trained. This is how they tested either in their shelters or soon after arrival at Search Dog Foundation’s facility.

Retrieves and Possession

Once you are ready to begin filming, the first test, called Retrieves and Possession, is a perfect jumping-off point to help evaluate a dog’s toy focus and desire to possess their toy in a new place. The instructions are as follows:

1. Find an area the dog has never been in before. This could be a different play yard, a room within a shelter, a friend or family member’s property, or a public park if it is safe to do so. (Remember, safety is paramount, so long lines are fine to use!)
2. Throw the toy four times, with the dog bringing the toy back each time. You may use a second toy to entice them to bring back/drop the first one.
3. Throw the toy for a fifth time, now allowing the dog to keep the toy for one full minute. Start the minute timer as they go to retrieve that fifth toy, then completely ignore them.
4. When that minute is up, start to play fetch again with them for a couple of throws. We always like to end a session with a fun game!

During a successful Retrieves and Possession test, the dog should get very excited when their toy is presented — they might vocalize, jump up and down, jump onto the handler to try to get their toy, or even tap their feet in anticipation of a throw. The dog should then remain focused on playing and continuing the fetch game no matter the environmental distraction. The dog should show speed and intensity when chasing the thrown toy, as well as some speed coming back to anticipate the next throw. For the one-minute possession portion, the dog should maintain possession of the toy in some way for the entire minute. This could be a physical possession, such as carrying the toy around or lying down with it, or a mental possession, such as dropping the toy at the handler’s feet and waiting for it to be thrown again. It could also encompass both of those.

Please click here for a sample video of this test.

Field Hunts

Since a dog in a detection role is using their nose to locate the target odor, hunt testing is pivotal for any detection candidate. It should include a “field” area (natural or manmade using objects), along with various timed delays wherein the dog is held back from being released to hunt for their toy. We recommend using a harness for these tests and do not want to see any obedience, so if the dog vocalizes or tries to pull away, that is completely acceptable and should not be interrupted.

1. Hold the dog back via their harness or collar and throw their favorite toy into the “field” area.
2. Wait until the toy lands, at which point a second person (who will be taking video and tracking the time going forward) will say “Spin” as a marker for the handler to spin the dog and let them go.
3. Repeat the above steps with a 15-second delay after the toy lands followed by the spin and release, followed by a one-minute delay after the toy lands followed by the spin and release.

In the following video examples, you can see that each of these dogs displays frustration while being held back from retrieving their toy, sprints away into the hunt area when released, automatically knows to use their nose to find their hidden toy, and desperately hunts until the toy is found:

Field Hunt Immediate Release
Field Hunt 15 Second Delay
Field Hunt
One-Minute Delay

If access to a naturally large, overgrown area is a concern, you can also set up various objects in a smaller, indoor area, as can be seen here:

Indoor “Stuff” Hunt Immediate Release
Indoor “Stuff” Hunt 15 Second Delay
Indoor “Stuff” Hunt
One-Minute Delay

The goal of the hunt testing is to demonstrate that the dog will naturally turn their nose on when their favorite toy goes “missing” from their view, and the delays will help to evaluate their frustration. While “blind hides” will happen once a dog has started their detection training, during this preliminary screening, it is customary for the dog to be able to see their toy being thrown into the field area. It is also important that the dog cannot see the toy once it lands, so feel free to pick up the toy and throw it again if it ends up in a less than ideal spot. Alternatively, the dog can be allowed to get the toy themselves, and the exercise can be attempted again after they bring it back.

Figure 4: K9 Chief from Siskiyou Humane Society, Sector K9 Foundation, April 30, 2024

Additional Testing

Other tests may also be necessary for detection organizations:

• Some organizations will want to see dog’s reaction to a new person, which can be a video of a stranger getting the dog out of a kennel or crate and leading them out of a room or building: Stranger Reaction Example
• A dog-to-dog reaction video is also helpful and could include a side-by-side walk on a leash with a new, neutral helper dog (no nose-to-nose greeting is necessary): Dog Reaction Example
• A noise reaction video helps demonstrate that the dog is not fearful of loud noises. This can be done by quickly banging two metal bowls together while the dog plays with their favorite toy: Noise Reaction Example
• Tactile nerve testing shows the dog’s willingness to climb or jump onto and traverse any obstacle(s) and potentially unstable terrain to get to their toy. Safety is paramount, so we recommend putting some human body weight on the object(s) before the dog goes on just to ensure some stability (slight movement of the objects is OK as long as they do not collapse or crumble). The height of the object(s), while variable depending on what is available, should include a safe way up and down (such as makeshift steps, or multiple layers) so that the dog is not leaping down onto the ground from too high after finding their toy. An additional helper acting as a spotter near the object(s) is also a great idea if resources allow — they can be at the ready to help if the dog is struggling. Tactile nerve testing is especially important for potential disaster search candidates as most of their training takes place on rubble piles, simulating a disaster setting: Tactile Nerve Assessment Examples

Figure 5: Search Dog Chester from Burbank Animal Shelter, Search Dog Foundation, March 29, 2022

Conclusion

Even though different types of detection roles (conservation versus law enforcement versus search and rescue, etc.) might allow for slight variation in the results of the above screening exercises, the characteristics and tests outlined above are a great starting point. If a potential detection candidate is identified through a rescue or shelter, or even from an individual looking to rehome their pup, feel free to contact Search Dog Foundation’s recruitment team for specific evaluation instructions and potential referrals to working dog organizations: recruitment@searchdogfoundation.org.

There are remarkable canines out there just waiting to become heroes, and many wonderful working organizations would love the chance to meet them!

Katie Brennan CPDT-KA CDBC is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant. She began her working dog journey in 2012 as a trainer with the University of Pennsylvania’s Working Dog Center, gaining experience in training canines for disaster search and other types of detection. After taking time to work exclusively with behavior modification and dog sports clients, Katie moved to Santa Paula, CA in 2018 to work as a canine trainer for the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF). Now back in the Philadelphia area, Katie is a part of the Canine Recruitment Team with SDF. As part of this team, she has helped to develop a structured, qualitative process for canine candidate evaluation. Using this process, she works directly with individuals, shelters, and rescues to evaluate potential dogs for SDF’s training program.