Volunteer with SARDA Ireland
Dogsbodies Are Always Needed
People are always needed to act as “missing” or “lost” persons. Search Dog training would be impossible without the assistance of our Dogsbodies – people who go out in all types of weather and lie on the sides of mountains, in ditches, in hedgerows and even up trees for hours on end, so that we can train our dogs to search for missing persons.
Your Role
What You Have to Do
Each handler will give you full instructions as to what is needed for their individual dog. Initially you will be asked to act as body for experienced dogs. These dogs will find you and return to the handler to indicate their find. Likely all you will need to do is keep still until the handler joins you, after which they will instruct you as to how to reward the dog.
As you become an “experienced” body, you will start to take a more active part in training. You will be rewarding and encouraging the novice dogs by play or food reward when they find you, and handlers will ask for your feedback on how the dog behaved. You will start to learn how the search dogs are trained.
18+
Age requirement for all volunteers
Volunteers
Please Bring With You
- Walking boots
- Outdoor warm and waterproof clothing (please remember this is Ireland)
- Sun protection
- Insect repellent
- Packed lunch, flask of tea etc.
- Mobile phone
- Something to read or listen to (with earphones) while you are waiting to be found
- An enthusiastic, but patient temperament!
The Team
SARDA Will Provide
- Bivvy gear
- Radio communication equipment
Eligibility
Requirements & Recommendations
SARDA Ireland operates as a Mountain Rescue Team under Mountain Rescue Ireland. All members are required to subscribe to the ethos of Search and Rescue — giving of your time freely and willingly in the interest of others. You will need to be over 18 years of age, physically fit, enjoy outdoor activities, and provide your own transport, outdoor waterproof clothing and walking boots. It also goes without saying that you will be a person who likes dogs and is comfortable interacting with them.
Getting Involved
Interested in Becoming a Dogsbody?
All applicants start out as Dogsbodies in SARDA Ireland. If you would like to be a permanent Dogsbody, then excellent, we are always looking for people to do the important job of hiding for our dogs.
The bodying period gives you time to understand the commitment required to train a search dog to SARDA Ireland’s standards, which will help you decide to become a Dogsbody.
How to Apply
Ready to get involved with SARDA Ireland?
If you are interested in applying to get involved with SARDA Ireland, please fill out the application form below.
We have approximately 2 intakes per year, where we invite a number of applicants along to a national training weekend, depending on operational capacity and charity needs. Please be patient as there is typically a waiting list.