Become a Volunteer Search Dog Handler
Are you passionate about helping others and love working with dogs? Join our team of dedicated volunteer dog handlers at Dorset Search Dogs and make a life-saving difference in your community. We’re always looking for committed individuals who are ready to take on the rewarding challenge of search and rescue.
What It Takes to Become a Dog Handler
Becoming a certified dog handler is a journey of teamwork, dedication, and training. It starts with you:
- Attend training sessions to learn key techniques before working with your dog.
- Complete the search technician training, qualifying you to attend live searches.
- Once experienced, you and your dog will begin our structured search dog training program, assessed at each stage to ensure your dog’s potential to qualify.
On average, it takes 18-24 months of intensive training to prepare for the national assessment and achieve operational status. This requires regular attendance at Dorset Search Dogs training sessions, plus additional training on your own time.
What’s Involved in the Training
Any breed of dog can start search training, but not all dogs will have the stamina or skills needed for full operational work. Your commitment, alongside your dog’s ability, will determine how far you progress.
It’s important to note that some private training, such as gun dog or man-trailing courses, may conflict with Dorset Search Dogs’ methods and could adversely affect your dog’s progress within our program. We recommend discussing any previous or ongoing training with our team to ensure it aligns with our approach.
While the journey requires dedication, the rewards are immense: you’ll be building a powerful bond with your dog while developing life-saving skills.
Ready to Join Us ?
If you’re interested in learning more about what it takes to become a Search and Rescue Dog Handler, we’d love to hear from you! Get in touch at signup@dorsetsearchdogs.org.uk, and join us at one of our training sessions to see what it’s all about.
Be a Dog’s Body – The Most Important Role in Training!
Dog’s Bodies play a crucial role in the training process! When working with a young dog, the Dog’s Body helps spark the dog’s enthusiasm for the game of hide 
and seek. They’ll run away, squeaking the dog’s favourite toy, and then hide just out of sight. When the dog finds them, they help reward the dog with praise and excitement. As training progresses, Dog’s Bodies will venture further into the woods, hiding in more challenging spots, waiting patiently to be found. Some of our best Dog’s Bodies have become experts at digging in, climbing trees, using camouflage, and staying completely undetectable by humans! In fact, some of our shift workers use these longer searches as a chance to catch up on sleep or enjoy a good book in peace.
If you would like to find out more, join us at a team training session to see what is involved. To arrange this, please contact us at signup@dorsetsearchdogs.org.uk
Become an Operational Support – A Key Role in the Dog Team!
A dog team consists of a qualified search dog, a dog handler, and at least one operational support. While the dog handler focuses on the safety of the dog and monitors the dog’s behaviour for signs of picking up a scent, the operational support assists with the overall safety and efficiency of the team.
As an operational support, you will assist with: Navigating the team through the search area
- Handling radio communications
- Providing help with first aid if needed
- Assisting in the safe extraction of any missing persons found
You’ll also help look after the dogs during searches, so confidence around dogs is important. Don’t worry if you’re new to the role—full training is provided to ensure you’re fully prepared for every task. Our operational supports are ready to respond to calls for assistance at any time, day or night.
You are an essential part of the team, and the role is incredibly rewarding.
We are actively recruiting operational supports! If you’d like to get involved, please contact us at signup@dorsetsearchdogs.org.uk.