Newfie Search and Rescue - anyone?

[Newfobsessed]

My beloved Gabe has a nose that does not quit. My younger boxer was starting training on search and rescue due to his good nose, but Gabe puts him to shame. So, I am trying to find a search and rescue in the MD/DE/PA area that will work with a Newf. I am not having any luck. I was so smitten with Black Paw, but they are no longer in existence. I contaced one local SAR, and they actually told that they do not work with Newfoundlands because they are not good in the hot weather. Well neither am I, but what about freezing termperatures when the short haired hounds/etc are freezing to death?! Perfect Newf weather so why not train them!!! If they miss a few sweltering days, they will easily make up for it when no one else wants to come out. Sorry, but I had to vent. If anyone has any suggestions or contacts, please let me know. Thank you all - as usual.

 

[Ivoryudx]

Yes, Black Paws was THE place but sadly with the death of one of the owners it was closed. We had a local Newf here in Cincinnati who trained there and he specialized water searches. He was amazing to watch and was recognized by the state of Ohio for his work.

You need to get in touch with Frank, who did SAR with his beloved Newf Tsunami. He is in VA. Nami passed not long ago, but Frank had to break down some pretty big walls to work the training. Here is a link from a few years ago about his special boy and the training/testing. I don't have his contact information, but a couple others here probably do. His username here is Tsunami.

http://www.newf.net/Forums/showthread.php?t=62801&highlight=training

We also have/had Christine as a member here who did SAR with her boy Emmett, in Wisconsin, I believe. Someone here may be able to get in touch with her for you as well. You might try a search on her posts under the username SAR.

 

[Newfobsessed]

Newfie search and rescue

Thank you so much!!! I will search for both of them, and hopefully contact at least one. Now I am inspired again!

 

[Lori]

Found this on the NCA's website:

http://www.ncanewfs.org/working/sar/

Good luck!

 

[Newfobsessed]

Thank you!! The search continues!

 

[Sue M.]

I would suggest that you look up tracking classes and groups in your area and get Gabe started. I just started training Brewski, the Saint, to track and I went to a local Search and Rescue group meeting the other day to see what I can do to get Brewski involved in S&R.

I can go and observe their dog training sessions without the Brewski which is what the group prefers. Perfectly understandable since they have their own obedience training that may differ some from the standard obedience and a person can see how the group does things before bringing a green dog into the mix. They may tell you what they need you to do with Gabe before he can get started working with the group.

That's what I intend to do with Brewski.

 

[Newfobsessed]

Thank you so much!! Where did you go, and can I get a contact name and number for them? There are none around me that accept Newfies!! How dumb is that. Their excuse; "Newfoundlands are of no use in the hot summer months." I get so tired of hearing from people like that! How about in the freezing cold when your dog can barely move?!?!? Any contact info would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

[BoundlessNewfs]

Yes, Frank, "Tsunami", and Christine, "Sarnewfie", both did tracking. Frank lives in Northern VA, I think. He'd be the closest to your area, to be able to help you find a way to get your newf into S&R.

 

[Newfobsessed]

Does anyone have any way of contacting them? I thought Frank was a member of Newf Net, but he did not reply. Thank you!!!

 

[Sue M.]

Honeybunch... You just have to do a websearch of all the clubs in your area. I'd check with Colonial Newf Club first. Write to the club Secretary or the Working Dog Chair and ask if they have any information or contact names in regards to tracking. The CNC club contact page link is:http://www.cncnewfs.com/ContactUs.shtml

You can also go onto the AKC website: http://www.akc.org/events/tracking/index.cfm

Newfoundland club of America website:
http://www.ncanewfs.org/working/tracking/index.html
(Again, write to the club secretary or the working dog chair person and ask if they can give you leads to training in your region.

You can also just do an internet search by typing in canine tracking Maryland and write the same letter to those clubs or organizations. You could also contact your local police and ask to speak with someone who is involved in K9 unit. They may be able to give you some leads to places or people you could train with. I'd check with any agility or obedience training places in your area and ask them if they know of any groups that train tracking. Chances are someone will be able to give you a lead. You don't have to say that you want to train your newf. Just tell them your looking for a group that does tracking because you want to train your dog.

I do know of a club in NJ, but I ended up finding out that my agility instructor knows how to train to track. She is working on getting a group of people who want to track together. She can't instruct each week but she wants to set something up where every other week, a different person finds a place to train and sets it up. I'll be getting in on this. I hope there are enough people interested.

You can always come to Pa. :whistling:

 

[Sue M.]

From the AKC website tracking club search, I found this page:

Dog Owners' Training Club of Maryland
Secretary : Una Slick Address: 1245 Linden Ave, Baltimore, MD , 21227-2424 Email: SLICKDOTC@verizon.net Club Type: All Breed Club Detail: Click here Hyattsville Dog Training Club
Secretary Corresponding : Kim Kesselring Address: 7825 Water Valley Ct, Springfield, VA , 22153-3017 Email: gotbeagles@gmail.com Club Type: All Breed Club Detail: Click here Mason-Dixon German Shorthaired Pointer Club
Secretary : Robert Loew Address: 19205 Saint Johnsbury Ln, Germantown, MD , 20876-1606 Website: mdgspclub.netkennel.com Club Type: Specialty Club Detail: Click here Oriole Dog Training Club
Secretary Corresponding : Debbie Kaminski Address: 1107 Mchenry Dr, Glen Burnie, MD , 21061-1407 Website: www.orioledogclub.org Email: deKamin@aol.com Club Type: All Breed Club Detail: Click here Rock Creek Kennel Club
Secretary Corresponding : Cheryl Lidie Address: 15705 Ancient Oak Dr, Darnestown, MD , 20878-3579 Club Type: All Breed Club Detail: Click here Southern Maryland Dog Training Club of Forestville
Secretary Corresponding : Stacey Young-Paternoster Address: 5995 Bicknell Rd, Indian Head, MD , 20640-3439 Club Type: All Breed Club Detail: Click here

I would write to the clubs closest to you and ask about training. They don't have to exclusively be tracking clubs. Chances are, someone may be able to steer you in the right direction.

As for the Search & Rescue in your area, you can always join in another capacity for the time being and go and observe their dog tracking/training sessions. There are a lot of different aspects of Search and Rescue and as you observe and begin training your dog outside of the organization, just maybe you can eventually change the minds of those who didn't think your newf would be good in this capacity. Knowing what they do and what their expectations are would be to your advantage.

I was told by a gal in the Search and Rescue group here that they have their own obedience training and expectations so I'll have to go and see what they are without my dog at first. That only makes sense anyway. I wouldn't want my dog to interrupt or be a distraction to the people who have been training for a while.

 

[Newfobsessed]

Thanks!! I have been checking with CNC and other clubs and with the police, as my boxer was being trained by them, then they ran out of funds. I may end up going up to PA, which is where I came from anyway. Please keep me posted on where and when your training sessions are. I am about an hour from southern PA.Thank you so much for all your help and knowledge!

 

[Sue M.]

We are having a first tracking session on Sunday, July 12th.

Here's the information sent to me by my agility instructor. If you think you want to join in with this group, let me know. I'll contact Kim and let her know you are interested and she can put you on her mailing list.

If you are interested in joining a tracking club let me know asap so I can put your name on the list.

If you have never tracked before, or if you are very experienced, it doesn't matter you can come and join in the fun. We can help you learn the tricks of the trade if you've never tracked before.

What you need....lots of soft stinky treats, a glove (sleep with it the night before), another article (a wash cloth?), little orange flags (you can get them at Lowes), a drag bag (a nylon stocking will do---not panty hose, just one leg of a stocking), a dog, a harness that fits the dog and a leash 6 to 30 feet long and water for your dog to drink. (If I forgot something let me know guys!)

We will meet Sunday July 12th at 8am at Roland park (250 N 11th St Akron, PA 17501) for our first tracking bonanza. If you plan to come RSVP by July 10th so I know how many to expect. After this we will take turns planning the next meeting places and times.

 

[tsunami]

Lisa ...

By the way, the materials I sent you can be shared here if anyone else gets to the point they want to seriously take a look at Search & Rescue ...

 

[Newfobsessed]

that is a great idea. I will try to copy them and send them here. If I am too computer illiterate, I can easily send them to whoever give me their email address.

 

[sarnewfie]

Tracking clubs are not the way to go for SAR training. SAR is a different dog all together. Frank said he sent material, i am sure it is the best of info.
NASAR and NASDN are two of the organisations i can think of off the top of my head, do a search on them, and also Frank most likely can give you local SAR groups to look into.

 

[Newfobsessed]

Thank you so much! I will look into them and let you know.