Hunt-Find-Alert: K9 Search and Rescue Community Hunt-Find-Alert

In this episode of HFA Christy Bormann joins us to discuss Category 5 K9 and their process of taking shelter/rescue dogs and turning them into search K-9s.



Christy has been involved in K-9 Search and Rescue for over 20 years and has done both Wilderness SAR and Urban SAR throughout her history in Search and Rescue. Christy is a founding member of Category 5 K9 and serves as the K9 Training Coordinator for Texas A&M Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue Team. Christy has certified and deployed multiple K9s in disaster environments across the globe.



During this episode we discuss the work of Category 5 K9, and their mission of taking unwanted dogs and putting them in the hands of capable detection handlers across the U.S. We also spend time discussing how Christy evaluates shelter dogs to determine if they are the right fit for Urban SAR, Wilderness SAR, or detection jobs.



If you have a passion for Shelter/Rescue dogs and turning them into working dogs, this is an episode that you do not want to miss!



References mentioned in this episode:



Category 5 K9: https://www.cat5k9.org/

Texas A&M Task Force 1: https://texastaskforce1.org/

Cat 5 K9 Evaluation Process: https://www.cat5k9.org/screening

Category 5 K9 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAT5K9/

In this episode of HFA Dr. Mark Marsolais joins us to discuss evaluating prospective SAR K9s utilizing the Brownell-Marsolais scale.


Mark Marsolais is a Professor of Criminal Justice and Security at Thomas College. Sam Houston State University awarded him a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice. In addition to his doctorate, Professor Marsolais has a B.S. degree and M.A. degree in Psychology. He specializes in teaching criminal justice, policing, homeland security, conservation law, evidence, critical issues, and special topics (e.g., Police Use of Force; Search and Detection K9s). Professor Marsolais served over 20 years with the Houston Police Department as a patrol officer, criminal investigator, Internal Affairs investigator, and supervisor of patrol, defensive tactics, and special operations. In addition to his policing experience, Professor Marsolais served as a director of national and international canine detection programs for a Washington-based security firm. Since the late 1980s, he has been involved in canine search and detection as a hander, trainer, and educator. He has direct experience with deploying canines to search and locate human remains, wanted suspects, contraband, lost persons, and disaster victims.



During this episode we take a deep dive into the
Brownell-Marsolais scale developed by David Brownell and Mark to evaluate SAR K9s to determine their suitability for their prospective jobs. The scale measures three components of prospective SAR K-9s


K9 Sociability
K9 Drive and Motivation
K9 Nerve Strength

We use this episode to explore each component and how they are tested to determine a candidates suitability for SAR work.

If you are looking for a tool to evaluate prospective SAR K-9s this is the episode for you!



References mentioned during this episode:



Hunt-Find-Alert Facebook:
Hunt-Find-Alert:K9 SAR Community | Facebook

Ground Zero Emergency K9 Training: https://www.groundzerosaveslives.com/

In this episode of HFA Ian Maslin joins us to discuss the importance of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) for SAR responders.

Ian is a Certified Traumatologist from the Traumatology Institute and Certified from UMBC in Critical Incident Stress Management. He is an Advanced Approved Instructor with The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. A Peer CISM responder with British Columbia Search and Rescue Association, and Emergency Support Services. He is also a Community Care Nurse in the Lower Mainland of BC. Additionally he serves as the Training and Competency coordinator for British Columbia Search and Rescue association Critical Incident Stress Management program.

During this episode we discuss the essentials of why SAR teams should implement a CISM program, and the positive benefits a well coordinated CISM program can have for team cohesiveness. We also breakdown the essentials of what's in a CISM program, and how each element is utilized after a stressful situation. We concluded the episode by providing resources that SAR teams can utilize to implement a CISM program for their local team.

References mentioned during this episode:

Talking Trauma Website: https://talkingtrauma.com/

International Critical Incident Stress Foundation: https://icisf.org/

Kent Harrison Search and Rescue: https://khsar.ca/

Ian's Phone Number: 604-316-2079

In this episode of HFA Tim Baird joins us to discuss selecting the right breeder and puppy for your next SAR K9.

Tim has been working with detection dogs for nearly 30 years, starting as a Patrol K9 handler before transitioning into a detection K9 handler. In his years working with dogs Tim has helped support K9 programs for many government agencies including the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Tim also helped develop the Vapor Wake program created by Auburn University to detect person borne IEDs. Tim also has extensive experience breeding and raising future detection K9s in his nearly three decades of experience. Tim currently works for Arete Canine training explosive detection dogs.

During this episode we discuss what to look for in your future SAR K9 and what kinds of genetic traits are desirable for the work that SAR dogs perform. We also dive into breeder selection and spend a significant amount of time discussing evaluating puppies and steps that you can take when screening your next SAR prospect.

If you are considering getting your next SAR prospect, this is an episode that you'll definitely want to listen to.

In this episode of HFA Paul Bunker joins us to discuss imprinting your detection K9 on odor. Paul has been working with detection K9s for over 40 years in various aspects of detection. Starting with his 2 decades of experience handling detection K9s during his time in the U.K. military, followed by nearly 20 years of working with the U.K. and U.S. military training and deploying explosive detection K9s. Most recently Paul formed Chiron K9 based in San Antonio, TX to focus on research and supporting conservation and environmental detection programs with his K9s.

During this episode we discuss Paul's workbook titled: Imprint your Detection Dog in 15 Days. In the workbook Paul provides a step-by-step guide of how to imprint your detection dog on odor. We use this episode to delve into Paul's imprinting methods that he's utilized to imprint dogs of dozen's of breeds on hundreds of various odors. This episode discusses foundational steps that are useful for any K9 handler, and takes a deep dive into the odor imprinting process.



References mentioned during this episode:

Chiron K9 Website: https://chiron-k9.com/

Chiron K9 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chironk9/

Chiron K9 Facebook: https://www.youtube.com/chironk9

Imprint your Detection Dog in 15 Days Workbook: https://chiron-k9.com/imprint-your-detection-dog-in-15-days/

Alamo Area Search and Rescue: https://alamoareasar.org/

Tiffanie Turner and Dr. Ben Alexander joins us on HFA to discuss the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University (FACTS).



Tiffanie and Ben have been involved in SAR for over 20 years each, in for the last 10 years they have conducted seminars at FACTS for cadaver dog handlers. In this episode we give an introduction to what FACTS is and what handlers can expect to learn when attending.



Make sure to stay tuned for Part 2, where we discuss the lessons that Tiffanie and Ben have learned over the last decade of conducting classes at FACTS.



References mentioned during the episode:



FACTS Website: https://www.txst.edu/anthropology/facts/workshops/K9.html



FIRST Detection K9:

https://www.firstdetectionk9.org/