Qualification & Testing

Qualification and Testing

Dog Teams

The dog team consists of the handler and their dog. Working together the team is assessed to determine reliable indication of a find by the dog.

External Unbiased Assessors

All dog teams are assessed by external assessors from NSARDA UK. SARDA dogs have extraordinary demands placed upon them and are trained from a very young age to a very high standard of ability and response. They are subsequently reassessed on a yearly basis at novice level and every three years at advanced level..

Covering Irish Terrain

All our dogs are accredited safe with stock and can work in farmland, forestry, urban areas, alongside waterways, seashore, in bogland, crops and upland areas.

Mountain Specialist Dog Teams

These dog teams are required to successfully complete four searches of approximately two hours duration in mountain terrain over a period of two to three days. This arduous qualification test means that these dog teams can confidently work with mountain rescue teams.

High Standards

Reliable indication by the dog is imperative. Should a dog, having found a missing person, fail to indicate this to the handler for any reason: the team will fail the assessment.

Comprehensive coverage of the search area is important. Should the handler fail to cover the area in a comprehensive manner they will be required to complete one or two additional search areas in a satisfactory manner in order to pass their assessment.

Weather conditions are taken into account. Should weather conditions at the time make it impractical for a search area to be completed, the dog team will be required to complete one or two additional search areas in a satisfactory manner in order to pass their assessment.