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We sell cross-trained Yellow Labrador Retriever candidates available for search and rescue, along with a handler/K-9 interface
and personalized training program with the new owner. Our multi-purpose K-9 search candidates are trained in the following areas
and environments: obedience / agility / trail scenting / area search / wilderness/ remote. Urban and rural environments are
available on request.
We select our puppies from parents that are registered with the AKC, OFA certified for hips, have a strong hunting drive and a great temperament.
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Our training program for the puppies starts when they are 3 months old. The recruits that are chosen will reach K-9 SAR candidate status at 24 months of age, when they will
be “ready” for handler interfacing and placement in their new home. The cost for a K-9 SAR candidate is $20,000.00 plus tax. Included in this price are the following: all K-9 SAR
gear and training equipment, current vaccinations (rabies, distemper combo, bordetella, lyme), microchip, spay/neuter surgery, K-9 SAR log book documenting all training done,
handler interfacing and 14-day personalized training at our facility, and follow-up customer support.
Upon completion of the handler/K-9 interface training program, SAR teams will receive Koven Dog Training certificates in obedience, agility, trail scenting, and area search, as well
as an AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate. On-site training is also available, as well as any additional training specifications you may need. Additional costs may apply.
Our K-9 SAR candidates are trained for both scent-specific and non-specific search missions, one live search subject and multiple
subjects. Area searching (air scenting) is done off lead with a Swiss bell collar. Trail scenting (man trailing) is done with a
tracking harness and 15 ft tracking lead. Our candidates are trained in a variety of search techniques, including trail search,
directed and free style area search, and grid search patterns covering up to 60 acres. Our dogs are trained to
perform a stay-bark alert to identify their scent source, as well as a report-refind sequence when they are executing an area search.
We train our candidates daily through all seasons and all kinds of weather and training conditions, continuously working on their
stamina, drive, and hunting skills. Developing a good SAR K-9 work ethic is on the forefront of our training program. Overall, our
candidates are worked extensively 6 days a week in the following areas: obedience, agility, people skills, endurance and conditioning,
alert behavior, trail scenting, area searching, environmental and other K-9 SAR training variations.
K-9 SAR training is the most serious type of dog training, and there can be little room for mistakes. Therefore it is extremely important for SAR K-9 owners to continue to work
and train their dogs at least 3-4 times a week in the areas listed above. For SAR handlers just starting out, we recommend taking the SARTech III and II (NASAR), NIM700 (FEMA),
First Aid (Red Cross), and K-9 First Aid (where available) courses prior to starting our handler/K-9 interface training program.
All puppies we choose start out as recruits. The ones that are chosen for SAR work become cadets, and if all goes well, these will become candidates at 24 months of age.
Please look through some examples of our SAR K-9 cadet training regiment photo gallery.
The Beginning
SAR K9 Obedience
SAR K9 Agility
SAR K9 Trail Scenting #1 #2 #3
SAR K9 Area Search #1 #2 #3
Area Search Report/Refind sequence
K-9 SAR COMMANDS
READY - keys dog up, dog acknowledges with a bark that he is indeed ready to go
WHAT IS IT? – for a scent specific search, dog will catalog scent on article
FIND HUMAN – search for live human (scent discriminating or non-discriminating search)
GOOD FIND – Acknowledge that the dog found the search subject
GOOD ID – acknowledge that the dog found correct search subject, matching catalogued scent (scent discrimination)
GOOD CHECK – acknowledge that the dog found POD (possibility of detection)
GOOD SNIFF – good sniff
WORK IT OUT – time to problem-solve
THAT A BOY/GIRL!, WAY TO GO! – positive verbal reinforcement
SHOW ME - refind (area search)
STAY – dog holds position and doesn’t move
STAY CLOSE – dog should keep close to handler
BACK TO WORK, WORK IT SOME MORE -dog should get back on the search mission after a break or to continue searching
EASY – dog should slow down, less drive, more concentration on task
STAND – dog stands to put on SAR gear
LEAVE IT – don’t bother with that, refers to anything that the dog should not be paying attention to on a search (ie. animal droppings, wild game, physical evidence, etc.)
HERE – directs dog where to go
CHECK IT OUT – directs dog to search a particular area
CHECK HERE – directs dog to search a specific spot
GO – to send dog or build up speed or drive
TURN AROUND – directs dog to turn around
COME – recalls dog back to handler
OK – dog is off command, exercise is finished
GOOD DOG – positive reinforcement for a job well done – pets, love, hugs and kisses, playtime!
Please check obedience class and agility camp sections for additional commands for these categories of training.
Equipment and training included in purchase of K-9 SAR candidate:
Orange reflective search dog vest
Nylon tracking harness
15 ft nylon tracking lead
Swiss bell collar
6 ft leather lead
3 ft leather traffic lead
8” leather traffic pull tab
blinker light for collar
dog whistle (fail-safe to recall dog)
training collar and light lines to maintain obedience training
current SAR K-9 training log
Please see the Training Equipment section for sources
Handler/K-9 interface training program: The K-9 candidate’s new owner will go through a 14-day extensive training program with us at our facility, covering obedience,
agility, trail search, and area search. Your new K-9 partner will be going everywhere with you 24 hours a day during this time. On the last day of training you will
receive your certificates, ownership papers, training equipment and canine SAR gear. You can always count on us for support at any time.
Thank you for your interest in our K-9 SAR candidate training program. If you have any questions, please contact us.
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