Train Your Dog to Find Missing Family and Pets

All Dogs Love Finding People They Know! 

Our dogs love to find us and they do that every day. 

When a dog wants to go outside, they find you to let you know. 

When a dog wants to play he’ll get his toy and find you to play fetch. 

When a dog is hungry, they find the person who feeds them. 

Our dogs consider other household pets and livestock part of the family. Herding dogs find sheep and livestock over many miles. Much of the training is using natural instincts. 

So why not teach our pet dogs to find family members, including other animals they know? In case a loved one goes missing or is lost then all you have to do is ask your family dog where the person is and follow the dog. Keep in mind, that not only will your dog find humans but also any animal that your dog knows.

Pictured below is my dog Washee and I training. We are getting ready to follow a person scent trail to locate where the person is hiding. I do not know where the person is hidden, all I have is the person’s scent article to give Washee to smell and remember the scent we want to find. 

Washee led me through a homeless camp and behind a power company to find the person in the second picture. As you can see from Washee’s happy face she loves this fun game of hide and seek! 

The way I train dogs to search for missing persons is based on how a dog naturally behaves. 

Every time someone in the house or on the property leaves our dogs want to go with them because they do not want to lose the person. Dogs do not want to let who they know out of their sight because to a dog, they are part of the family pack. Especially a person or other animal they are most fond of and the person who feeds them. 

Even people who play with our dogs at a dog park and neighbors the dog knows are part of the dog’s social network. 

Have a look at my post to read simple instructions to use your dog to find family members, friends and other animals that are missing.

The Family Disaster Dogs books and easy lessons on this site explain how to use the family dogs to search for missing people and pets like mantrailing, tracking and search dogs do. 

These books help not only families train their dogs but also K9 Search and Rescue teams worldwide. 

Visit my author page to have a look at the books. I plan to keep adding lessons and dog info here at Family Disaster Dogs. I am also working on a book with more details to help reunite missing pets with their families. 

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Thanks for stopping by and stay safe out there. 

Pictured are my two bloodhounds brothers, Sammy and Gus.

Fire Danger Spring Cleanup Can Start a Wildfire

 

Fire Warning Mowing and Weed Whacking Can Start a Wildfire

As a former volunteer fire fighter and K9 search and rescue team leader, I would like to let all of my readers know that in the windy dry weather conditions we are experiencing across the United States there is a danger to doing spring yard cleanup.

I want to ask everyone to Please try to do your best to prevent a fire so that you and neighbors do not have to evacuate or lose everything.  

 

As I write this article, we are experiencing an extremely windy low humidity day with very dry conditions due to less rain this spring season.  It’s perfect wildfire weather and there are many out of control fires burning in several states. 

Our county is under a Red Flag Fire Alert - meaning the possibility of a wild fire starting is much more likely due to the weather.  We are also under a Burn Ban - meaning Do Not Burn anything until further notice. 

We were going to do yard work today, rake or blow leaves, weed whack and mow for spring cleanup but I decided to follow my own instinct and experience to wait for a better day. 

I came inside to write this article instead.  Here are a few facts that may help you prevent a fire from starting.  

Please be careful outside. 

Yes, it is spring cleanup time of the year but mowing dry grass can potentially start a fire, especially during hot dry and extremely windy conditions like we have in many parts of the country.  

Fire Hazard:

Dry grass, especially when tall and "cured" (brown and brittle), is a significant fire hazard. 

Ignition:

These sparks can easily ignite dry grass, especially if the grass is very dry and the conditions are hot and windy. 

Sparks:

Lawn mowers and weed whackers, yard tractors and 4 wheelers can generate sparks from the engine, exhaust system, or when the blade or a metal part strikes rocks or other hard objects. 

Other Fire Hazards:

Besides yard equipment like weed eaters, even chainsaws, and vehicles parked in dry grass can also pose a fire risk. 

Additionally, camp fires and recreational fire pits should not be used. 

Prevention:

• To reduce the risk of fire, it's important to: 

Mow during cooler hours: Early morning is generally the safest time to mow. 

Avoid windy or dry conditions: Do not mow when the weather is excessively dry or windy. 

Keep grass short: Trim grass and weeds to a height of 3" or less, especially within 100 feet of buildings or fences. 

Be cautious with yard equipment: Follow manufacturer's safety guidelines and be aware of potential fire hazards. 

Check for fire restrictions: Be aware of any fire restrictions or bans in your area.

Stay safe everyone and keep your dogs close! 

To prepare for evacuation please read my short but very helpful book here.   It’s free on kindle unlimited and audible. A paperback is available for a small fee to cover publishing on paper. 

My Dog is Prepared Are You ?

How are you Prepared? 

Post answers in the comments...we'd love to hear from you!

Be ready for pet medical emergencies with one of these handy first aid kits I use and recommend. Click the links below

Medique Patch-A-Pet First Aid Kit

Designed for Dogs and Cats

Kits Approved by Dr. Terri Melton, DVM

Emergency Life Saving Skills and Supplies

Includes Pet First Aid Guide

Includes links to Patch A Pet First Aid Video Demonstrations

Adventure Medical Kits' Trail Dog First Aid Kit is a great idea to have on hand during outdoor dog training, hiking and with mantrailing dogs. This kit fits nicely in your dog's go bag too!

Learn here How-to Be Ready to Evacuate with Pets this Wildfire Season

Are you ready? 

It's wildfire season on the west coast! 

Lockdowns are lifting, hopefully for good, and people are getting out more and more since Covid19 put us all inside away from each other. As more people move about outdoors and the climate warms up wildfires become a reality. 

After last season's deadly fires in several states I want to remind everyone to be ready to evacuate with your pets! Stay safe and be careful out there.

Watch my cute disaster video about how your dog can be a Family Disaster Dog!

Email me (use the contact page ) to learn how your dog can get a free membership and certificate stating they are Family Disaster Dogs. Join dogs from around the world learning to help their families survive. It's free!

Check out the "Evacuate with Your Dog's Help Book" 

It's now on Audible too! 

Click here to go to the Family Disaster Dogs book page

Evacuate with Your Dog's Help-Updated Survival Bag List-Dog CPR and more

Now available in paperback and kindle with free reads available 

Please share to other dog owners so everyone can be safe. 

Follow me on FB on the "Family Disaster Dogs page"  

Twitter as URDogCanRescueU

This book is helpful for anybody in wildfire and hurricane areas with pets who may have to evacuate. 

Learn how your dog can help you and all the supplies you will need to have ready to survive if stranded or waiting for rescuers to arrive.

Learn how and what supplies a dog of any size can carry.

Click Here for the paperback and Click Here for the Ebook edition

Click to Preview and Buy

This book is a collection of helpful articles and more from the author of the Family Disaster Dog site 

Stay Safe Everyone!!