Training 12 November

This time of year we are glad of all the layers we are provided with. 

Our jackets have a zip in "Duvet" which is lovely and warm, just right for loitering in woods at training, and protracted searches in the cold. It looks as if we are all on our mobile phones, which we sort of are, we have a mapping system app called View Ranger which is great for both training and live searches and what we are doing here is opening up the app and route planning.

Whilst I was taking the team photo one of the search dogs was standing on my shoulder! They do hate being left out of things! 

Night and Day

These are a few photos taken whilst on a live search, We did a night search followed by a return search during the following day. This search was highly advertised in the area and on the television. At night we rely on the dogs who will be wearing strobe lights and bells and on good torches and personal lighting and High visibility tops.
During the day we still need to wear Hi vis and as you can see ours are actually load vests which enable us to carry quite a lot of equipment in all the pockets as well as keeping us seen and telling the public who we are. The dogs can get wet dirty and as you can see in this case covered in Burrs, meaning a brief stop to clear her and make her more comfortable.

Woolbedding Show

Today Search Dogs Sussex went to the Woolbedding Dog Show, which was set in a very big grassy field. Our team did a stand which offered people the chance of having a go at search and rescue with their own dog in a fun fenced off area.  As well as the stand some of the team took part in the arena dog show classes with their dog, two of the team dogs, Millie and Rowan won rosettes in their chosen classes. Well done them! There is a bit of banter within the team, those who have Collies tease the Spaniel owners and vice versa, being a Collie owner I just had to take a photo of one of our Spaniel owners handling a member of the public's Collie, and have posted the photo just for fun.

Shows are a great way of letting people see who we are and what we do, as well as fund raising and adding to our team members.                                                

 

Setting the scene..

Here are some photos again from Saturdays training . . . .

Sharon "Who needs an OS Map when you have a grubby window and a vivid imagination!

Hiding in the holly bush under a camouflage cover...as you do on a Saturday morning!

Cain smiling for the camera! And the view from the edge of the woods

The Wandering Misper

A Misper is a missing Person, and not, as my cousin thought "a song from the Mikado or a good name for a racehorse!" although I love his thinking.
At Saturdays training session it was warm, not brilliant sun, but with all the walking we do it made us all take our jackets off.
After hiding for a couple of the dogs I Tec'ed for Steve and his dog Cain before becoming the wandering misper.
Usually when we hide for a dog to search for us we remain static and often cover over with something camouflage, today however Steve W. asked me to shuffle up and down a path to see how Ace would react. The View Ranger map looks as if I am trying to colour the path in I went up and down so many times, when I heard Ace's harness bells I shuffled and put my head down, covertly watching what he would do without him making direct eye contact, he was startled and unsure to begin with but ran straight back to his handler and alerted as he is trained to do! Top marks Ace, even though you were not used to finding such a Misper.

On a separate note at least the girls at training managed a little uniqueness, Sharon, Anna and myself! As for the lads, other than Leo there was Steve B, Steve W, and Steve T! :-)

During the first video there is some laughing . . . .sorry but the search dog got under the camouflage sheet with me,

Coffee Morning, Fund Raising, PR.

Saturday morning at 10:00 We held a coffee morning in aid of Search Dogs Sussex.Many of my friends and Team Mates from SAR came along, we wanted to raise funds for equipment, with new dogs qualifying we need to kit them out and their handlers and Techs.
We had the usual teas and coffees but we also had some epic cakes. There was a stall for wood-turned items for sale and one with some of our own merchandise.
We had two of the team dogs, one qualified and one trainee, information boards and a slide show. Team members were on hand to talk to people who wanted to know what we do and also to find out more if they thought they may want to join the team.
We raised enough to kit out three dogs with their thermal coats (to wear after they have completed their search and for their light collars too.
The following day we sold any cakes which had not sold and managed to make over £50.00 to add to the total.
All in all a success.
 Thank you to Maz, Sam, Alana, Nicola Sheena and Mark for your help and support.
Thanks also to the team members who gave up a training session to help put on the event and to everyone who put the word out there by facebook posts, Radio ads, poster drops and website ads.
Thanks also to MOLLY and IZZY who were the stars of the show.

Found.

One of our search dogs finding me at the Amberley site.