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Showing posts with label 2020. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2020. Show all posts

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Family Disaster Dogs Radio Interview-update

Radio link is updated and hopefully works for everyone :)

In memory of Daisy who helped me write the books 


I was interviewed on Chat & Spin Radio UK on November 29th, 2020


Here's the voice recording of the show. 


Radio Interview

click above link to listen to the interview

you will be taken to a google drive sound file that is secured


To see, read more and buy the books go to my author page click here at Amazon or email me for a copy via the contact page that is above in the page bar. 


Wrinkledpups "Daisy" Mayham was my current girl's foster mama dog, 

Washee Thunderfoot a Family Disaster Dog


Click the radio recording link above to find out what inspired me to write the books.


Check it out--The Family Disaster Dogs is Free to read on Kindle until the New Year of 2021! click link to go read it




 and


My Puppy Can Find Me  





Chat and Spin Radio!

Here's the link to listen anytime. They put on a great show.

https://chatandspinradio.com/


Stay Safe out there!


Wrinkledpups (K9SAR dogs) Arkansas 1996-2013

T.A.'s Kennel - Dallas Tx 1982-1989
Arkansas 1989-1998
Family Disaster Dogs 2011-present


Thursday, June 11, 2020

2020 Monthly Dog Training Workshops and Online Courses Obedience, Family Disaster Dog and Search Dog


New for 2020...

Now that my books are published I have time to offer dog training classes again and because of the Virus, I'm offering a little different way for us to train your dog using praise and motivation without any harsh methods. Along with Practicing Social Distancing amid the Covid19 Virus Pandemic

Meet with me for dog training 3 ways

  • Monthly 
  • Learn Online
  • Learn via Phone or Video Chat

Pick a Class Below and click > to Sign-up by sending me an email 
You will be contacted after sign-up to arrange dates and pay at class

Phone Advice and Dog Training $25.00 a hour by appointment 

Private one-on-one Dog Training In-person 1 hour $100.00 by appointment (the average rate in the USA) We meet at a park in Gold beach Oregon and because of the virus I no longer come to your house as I have in the past.

Once a Month 2 day weekend of Fun Dog Training Workshop
Group class dog training

Instead of the usual weekly Obedience or Family Disaster Dogs and Search Dog Training Class that covers one skill a week. We meet over a weekend to train for 2 days and you receive hand-outs for homework to practice at home

  • I teach you how-to handle and train your dog 3 skills instead of 1 skill
  • Spend at least about 6 hours over 2 days training dogs in beautiful Gold Beach, Oregon 
  • Each day is 2 to 3 hours of discussion and instruction to a small group of dogs and owners . 
  • Come once learn the skills you want or come every month to advance in skills
  • Lodging and camping recommendations available if your visiting from out of the area

Pick one course Below and sign-up 

  • Family Disaster Dogs $ 150.00 for both days
Day 1:  Discussion about Preparing for Disasters and Evacuation with a Dog's Help
You will learn what supplies to have and carry to be prepared for emergencies and teach your dog to help during evacuation. You'll also learn and pack an emergency Go-Bag (Bug-out Bag) with survival items.

Day 2:  Start Training your Dog to Find Missing Family and Friends 
Your dog will be finding a family member at the end of this fun weekend and the whole family will know what to do when disasters strike.

1 of my dog training books included, your choice

Here's the Family Disaster Dogs Video Trailer

We have dogs all over the world awarded certificates as Family Disaster Dogs

Send me a picture of your dog doing a lesson or carrying a bug-out bag for membership and certificate.

Join the pack on Twitter !  @URDogCanRescueU




  • Obedience and Manners $150.00 for both days
1st. month skills taught: Walk Nice on Leash, Come when Called, Sit-Stay, Manners as needed
2nd. month skills taught: Heel with Sit, Lay-Stay, Put all Skills Together

  • Trailing-Tracking Live People or Animals  $300.00 both days
Best for 6 month and older dogs who enjoy following people around and playtime

1 month: Start Dog Searching for Live Unknown People
Each month after advances training the dog to find missing persons hours/days later on multiple surfaces in all weather, urban and rural, log training hours, aspects of response

  • Cadaver-HRD for Search and Recovery Dog  $300.00 both days

6 month to 3 years old dogs who love to play ball and focus on toys do best

1st Month Start Searching for Human Remains Scent and learn about training aids, source, making training baits 
Each month after advances training the dog to alert on human remains scent in buildings, vehicles, urban, rural, water shoreline, log training hours, aspects of response



2020 Dog Training Virtual Courses and Coaching-Online  
Unlimited Class Size and Lifetime Access 

New in June 2020 Dog Lifestyle Coaching is coming online at the courses below

$45.00 hour any dog subject or training you want to discuss and learn about;

Family Disaster Dogs, Emergency Preparedness, Search Dogs, Obedience, Grooming and Puppy Care are a few of the areas we can cover.

Sign-up Below






Now Accepting students


Learn in the comfort of your home where emergencies happen !


Open for Students
Click one to Sign-up and Read about Course
Trailing-Tracking Dog Courses


Online Courses include step by step instructions,
 pictures, videos and direct access to instructor

Learn with the author of 
"Family Disaster Dogs" and  "My Puppy Can Find Me "
"Evacuate with Your Dog's Help"

Includes your choice of
2 books and a certificate of graduation

 40 years dog training and handling experience

Retired kennel and pet spa owner, professional master groomer (retired)
Certified K9SAR Bloodhound specialty and all breed-Search Dog Volunteer (retired)
30 years producing accomplished dogs (retired)

Training dogs since 1976


I'm well known for using gentle knowledgeable handling skills and 
positive praise to establish teamwork


Here's Washee showing off her education.

Get your dog an education today!



Saturday, January 18, 2020

Tracking and Scent Discrimination

Buy or Read for Free on Kindle the Family Disaster Dogs Books click to my Author Page

Tracking and Scent Discrimination


This article explains how your family dog can tell the difference between you and another person or object. This information applies to Family Disaster Dogs, Tracking Dogs and Trailing Dogs as well as any dog who is using its nose to find an object, person or pet.

Scent discrimination can be a complicated and complex subject.

When I was first learning Bloodhound handling and training with my dog Sue, our SAR dog mentor and instructor, Lt. Ezra Roberts explained the basics of scent discrimination to me in what I continue to believe is the easiest way possible.


Me and Sue


I smile in remembrance of Ezra as I write this..I could not of asked for a better mentor.

He said, " When a Bloodhound smells a chocolate cake they smell every ingredient of the cake. The flour, sugar, eggs and coco while other dogs smell only the chocolate cake. "

This is the difference between a dog trained to scent discriminate. They smell one scent out of many many scents.

Dogs that are not trained to scent discriminate will search for only one scent, such as, live human scent but not each individual person within that human scent. They will find any human scent and all human scent in a certain search area by air scenting, tracking and  grid working. They will find every person or object's scent they are trained to find, such as bombs, drugs, human live and remains. They are trained using only one scent article or smell.

Other dogs are trained to find many different scents or a scent they are given by the handler. These dogs are scent discriminating when they find a drug or object the handler asked them to find.

Service dogs who are trained to get the newspaper, slippers and dropped items of their owners are scent and sight discriminating. They know your slippers from another person's slippers.

Bloodhounds are different in that they process the ability to scent discriminate naturally. When a Bloodhound is given a scent article they start looking for that scent without much training at all. The handler gets most of the training and not the dog.

We do not train Bloodhounds they train us. Family dogs of all ages act naturally like the Bloodhounds when they stay close to their owners, follow the owner around the house or bond with a special family member.

These dogs are choosing to discriminate. All dogs can discriminate and they do naturally.

It is up to us humans to take advantage of this natural ability in the dog and teach our dogs what we wish them to find or who.



Cert. Mantrailer " Rea Valley's Incredible Sue" 1996-2008 





Sue's pups went to work as Search Dogs too
14 states in the USA!
Canada and So. America too







Rea Valley's Incredible Sue is featured in this book !









Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Happy New Years 2020 from Family Disaster Dogs

Image result for happy new years 2020 dogs video"
credit source



To the World From 

Family Disaster Dogs




My Puppy Can Find Me



Thank you to all the dogs and hoomans 
who have joined us this year learning how to find family and help in emergencies!

You are what makes Family Disaster Dogs








author Amber Higgins


Thank you for all the support in 2019 !

Thank you for following, sharing and reading my books and articles at Family Disaster Dogs

Here we go into the roaring 2020's

Follow that dog!





Go Dogs!!


Featured Lesson

Tips and How to Evacuate with Your Dogs Help

 How to Evacuate with Your Dog's Help click above to see my book! If you live in an area that is prone to natural disasters, such as hur...

Author Amber Higgins

Author Amber Higgins
Click Pic to Visit my author page

Advertising Disclosure

Disclosure: Some of the links on this site are affiliate links that I have reviewed and approved. Additionally links to products such as at Amazon are products I have personally used. Affiliate links means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. The proceeds earned are not much and used to keep this Family Disaster Dogs website free to the public. Thank you for your support.

Welcome UK and Worldwide Visitors

Welcome UK and worldwide visitors and friends to Family Disaster Dogs online! Although I'm an American author and dog professional the worldwide web has given me the opportunity to connect with some wonderful folks who have contributed pictures for my books. The "Start Mantrailing" book features RRI K9 North Scotland trained Search and Rescue Dog "Amber" on the cover and her teammates training in the book, plus American dogs using my training methods. A portion of sales of the Start Mantrailing book or copies were donated to RRI North Scotland. The children's picture book "My Puppy Can Find Me" has my daughter and bloodhound as illustrations by UK cartoonist Scotty King. You can find the books on Amazon UK or use the contact page to order from me. When you click the links will take you to your own county pages of this site.

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