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Monterey Bay Search Dogs, Inc (MBSD)
was Founded in 1988 by experienced
Search and Rescue residents of both
Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.
Our organization prepares handlers
and their canine partners to be effective
participants in searches for missing
people.
MBSD teams have successfully participated
in wilderness, suburban and disaster
searches throughout California and
the nation. Our teams are fielded
at the request of local, state or
federal agencies.
Find out more about the Monterey Bay Team and read their Bio's here.
MBSD
Unit Programs
MBSD members meet every weekend for
training and mutual support. Training
locations vary from week to week and
alternate between the wilderness and
disaster disciplines. Candidates are
accepted year round and proceed at
their training pace independent of
other teams with weekly goals set
by the training director.
At the weekly training sessions,
new handlers are taught how to train
their dog. Skills introduced at training's
are then practiced during the week
on an individual basis. MBSD uses
positive reinforcement training, utilizing
toy and food rewards.
Each handler is expected to acquire
the necessary search and rescue skills
to enhance the team's effectiveness
on missions.
MBSD presently trains and prepares
teams in two search disciplines, Wilderness and Disaster.
Dogs trained in these disciplines
do not scent discriminate. They will
alert on ANY person they locate. Basic
skill for both of these disciplines
include obedience, direction and control,
handler and canine fitness, and agility.
Most new handlers will need at least
two years to certify in one of these
disciplines; however, after certification,
training for both the handler and
the dog continues on a regular basis
to keep their skill level high.
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In Wilderness, dogs
are taught to range well away from
their handlers and follow on any human
scent they discover until they locate
the missing person. Due to the nature
of wilderness training handlers must
be skilled in the following:
- Human and Canine First Aid
- GPS Navigation Skills
- Map and Compass Skills
- Back Country Survival Skills
- CA
OES K-9 Guidelines
Theses skills can be gained through
other groups and agencies.
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In Disaster, search
dogs locate the scent of victims trapped
in collapsed structures. They indicate
they have found someone by getting
as close to the person as possible
and barking.
Certification for these teams is
done through federal testing. Skills
for this type of training will be
obtained when you are accepted by
a FEMA task force as a dog handler.
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