This past weekend... from 4-20 through 4-23, my dog Lilly and I have been working out tails off at a dog training seminar for HRD (cadaver/ human remains) dogs.   We worked simulated airplane crash sites which were burned, schools, buildings, fields and woods. Everything from the basics to some pretty advanced hides.
 
We had a great time. A photographer from the local paper was there and took pictures of me and my dog working.  We ended up on the front page of the newspaper.

Here's a link to that story.

http://www.wilsontimes.com/stories/training-k-9s-and-their-handlers,84110
 
Now.... a few days off, and we start back training using the new tools and techniques we learned at the training.

Good job!  Though it's one you never want to have to use!

Luckily when I see my dog digging in the yard, I can just assume it is after gophers.

Good skills and training come out of that.
But nothing beats a man and his dog.  Canine companionship is so damn satisfying.
 
I'm that way with my 9 y/o beagle.  He still refuses to hunt but he's got the best nose for litter around.  xD
 
I reared a shephard and a siberian husky from puppyhood.  They're a part of your life you don't forget.  Especially Virgil, when he hid my socks. 

Craig, you are correct. We train and hope we never have to use the skills we learn. Unfortunately, we do get quite a few call-outs. There's quite a few nice endings that our team has, ( I believe Gordon eluded to one of thos in the story) and unfortunately, for the HRD side of the team, we seldom have a "happy ending" due to what we're looking for. We provide the closure for them of knowing their loved one was found. Our dogs have the happy ending because it's a game to them and they know when they find what they're searching for, they are going to get rewarded and have a fun game of fetch "the" toy.
 
Slartabartfast.... we train our dogs  not to dig or paw at the source. But if it's buried, they often will dig.  Since we make the first assumption on a search that until proven otherwise, a search is always assumed to be a crime scene.... we do our best to keep them from disturbing the evidence. But I have seen lots of dogs start to dig. The handler is generally close enough to get there and get the dog to stop. Speaking of pawing the source.... I saw a guy on a TV show demonstrating his "certified bomb dog". It took the dog a long time and he practically had to cue the dog on the backpack with the bomb. Then, the dog started pawing the backpack and turned it over trying to get into it. Bad idea for a bomb dog to do that. I mean really bad.
 
Loopyd...   yup. She's a great companion. 90% of the time she is within 10' of me when we're home or out and about. Another term is "Velcro dog".  It just rolled some thunder and she's on the floor directly behind me right now. When we're working, she does like she needs and starts gridding and roaming. Exactly what she needs to be doing to find the scent cone from the source. Dogs have that special skill of being able to get into our hearts and lives.
 

 
This pic was Lilly last November at our SAR exercise training. We were out for an early Sunday morning walk at the lake.

 
Sam a few months ago.  I call him the beagle to end all beagles.  He got that title because he bellows like the end of the world is going to come when he smells us coming home. He's got the classic hound yowl.  Never a bark, just that baying yowl.
 
Poor old fella just recently had surgery.  We got a benign cyst taken off his left hind and neutored because of testicular cancer.  I don't normally neutor but in the case of his life I had to make the choice.  He's been on about yearly allergies and has developed cateracts.  I do what I can for ear care .  Vet wants to see him back in about a month because we get his ears clear and then the infection pops back up again.  But he lights up the clinic when I roll in with him. 
 
And rough job you have is that military, police, or EMT?  Lot of military in the fam down here.  The guy that helped fix my radiator for my computer build is an ex state trooper.  He could tell you stories about being a corrections officer for 20 years.  xD  Works in construction now.  He can swing a crane arm and a socket wrench like nobody's business even for his age.  xD
 
There's him, my friend's two sons one out of the air force and one out of the army, and the crazy first sargent who stills wants to be a door gunner.  We asked him why and the hell he still wants to be a chopper gunner for his rank (E6) says he enjoys the excitement.  I guess it earned him his promotion hes going for E5.  Good pension.  He can retire early and get out Master Sargent in 2 years.  He gives folks like you a job too I guess.  Going looking for the dead or living.

Yes its always necessary to train your dogs well ...
 

Bhav
Yes its always necessary to train your dogs well ...
 
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o.o; PM incoming.

loopyd

Bhav
Yes its always necessary to train your dogs well ...
 
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o.o; PM incoming.

Now Im scared.

Or should I use this emoji?  (\ or this one ^-^ or just overuse them excessively, or start posting memes with pictures of my pill bottles?
 
I love the internet, and it loves me by hating back.