Ottawa Valley Search and Rescue Dog Association
2413-7 Stevenage Dr K1G 3W1 Ottawa, ON, Canada

We had a fabulous morning of building search training today, thanks to our friends at Rideau SAR for once again allowing us to use their facility. We love building search! But had reluctantly postponed it during lockdown to be as Covid-safe as possible (We have maintained regular normal training throughout the pandemic, but outside only).

We had a fabulous morning of building search training today, thanks to our friends at Rideau SAR for once again allowing us to use their facility. We love building search! But had reluctantly postponed it during lockdown to be as Covid-safe as possible (We have maintained regular normal training throughout the pandemic, but outside only).

Ontario's OPP/OSARVA certified dog teams got together for some joint training today in Eastern Ontario. Seems the handlers have more in common than an affinity for high-drive pointy-eared dogs!

Not the most exciting of photos, but today's training included an extra challenge. After tracking and HRD drills were done, handlers and flankers were required to complete a navigational/clue detection challenge using GPS, while our genetically twitchy dogs held a long down-stay for about 15 minutes. Handlers were pleasantly surprised by how well the dogs did! (No doubt the dogs were surprised by how well the handlers did with the navigation exercise too )

Not the most exciting of photos, but today's training included an extra challenge. After tracking and HRD drills were done, handlers and flankers were required to complete a navigational/clue detection challenge using GPS, while our genetically twitchy dogs held a long down-stay for about 15 minutes. Handlers were pleasantly surprised by how well the dogs did! (No doubt the dogs were surprised by how well the handlers did with the navigation exercise too )

Training isn't easy these days. We are still working hard, but safely, to maintain our professional edge.

Our thanks to Gun Belt Collars, for donating high-quality collars for the dogs on the team! We love them and, once they are out of quarantine, the dogs will be sporting them. We are still training regularly with lots of attention to safe distances, and will deploy as required on searches. But we'd really prefer y'all stay at home right now. https://gunbeltcollars.ca

When it's pouring outside, it's a great day to train in a stable! So many odours to process and ignore, and an attentive audience :-)