Four -legged heroes: Rescue dogs save life in Thuringia!

Four -legged heroes: Rescue dogs save life in Thuringia!

In the region around Bad Berka, great importance is given in the rescue dog work. The emergency services are completely fit, and the dogs are more than just loyal companions - they are true lifesaver with a pronounced sense of missing. The Belgian Shepherd "Oskar" recently passed two exams for international use. This shows impressively how important the training of this four -legged savior is. In addition, the dwarf Schnauzer lady "Wilma" found its place in the heart of the Thuringia rescue dog train and helps to find people who have disappeared in emergency situations, such as the SVZ reported.

But what makes the training of rescue dogs so special? During the training, attention is not only paid to the specific properties of the dogs, but also to their individual character. Each dog has its strengths and weaknesses that are taken into account during the training. The German rescue dogs Association (DRV) follows a methodology that is tailored to the physical performance and temperament of the dog, so that the four -legged helpers can act independently from the start. The dogs can learn a lot during this extensive training and have a lot of fun, which also applies to the dog handlers. These have to develop a sense of the needs of their animal partners and build trust, as on the website of the DRV is explained .

The diverse possible uses

rescue dogs are used in a wide variety of situations. Be it the search for missing people in the forests, stray children or people at risk of self -suicide - the areas of application are wide and require maximum concentration and speed. Christopher Baum, dog handler of a Johanniter rescue dog squadron, describes the importance of these missions and the skills of the dogs: "If police helicopters no longer get on in the thick forest, our four-legged colleagues are on hand." Johanniter added that thanks to their up to 250 million olfactory cells, the dogs have a fine sense for missing persons.

Training takes place regularly and is intense. The Thuringian rescue dog train, under the direction of operations manager Kerstin Stübling, trains, for example, twice a week to optimally prepare the dogs for their use. Not only the mobility and the endurance of the dogs are trained, but teamwork between humans and animals are also strengthened - because only together they are successful. You have to be able to "read" the dog and interpret its emotions to react correctly to unforeseen reactions, such as drV explained.

The challenge of training

The training as a tested rescue dog is not a sugar slack. It lasts between two and three years and comprises around 700 to 750 hours of theory and practice per year. The following is on the curriculum:

• medical training
• Kynology
• First aid to the dog
• Use tactics
• card and compass science
• rubble and surface search tactics

operations manager Kerstin Stübling and her team appreciate the support of the city in order to continue to be able to successfully do their work. She emphasizes that everything is related: the trust between dog and dog handler and the community within the team. This support is not only important for training, but also crucial for success in missions. Everyone needs patience and love to make progress in this demanding and sometimes challenging work, such as the Johanniter underline.