Episode 48. How to do Sport Search & Rescue with Your Dog with Melissa Stagnaro

If you can name a Dog Sport, Melissa Stagnaro has most likely tried it at some point over the past 20 years. And today we’re so fortunate to have Melissa sharing tips and insight from her years of experience. I loved her canine enrichment idea for dogs recovering from an injury!

But did you know that you can learn the sport of Search & Rescue? If you’ve ever wanted your dog to learn how to find someone in the woods or track a scent trail, there’s a sport for that!

Commonly referred to as “RH,” the dog sport of Search & Rescue is open to dogs of all ages, breeds and backgrounds.

Melissa shares with us all about RH and how to get your dog started. I’m always curious about how to start teaching your dog the more advanced skills and Melissa gives us a great breakdown of how to approach training sessions.

Plus, I got to meet Melissa and many other Search & Rescue competitors at a recent Mock Trial and I’m sharing everything I learned at the event.

Melissa & I discuss:

Melissa’s unusual childhood dog experience;
How Melissa was introduced to Search & Rescue work;
All the different dog sports Melissa & her pups have participated in over the years;
Tips for getting your dog started in dog sports for the first time;
Lessons Melissa has learned from dog sports;
How to pick the best dog sport for you & your dog;
What training skills should every pet parent teach their dog?;
What is Sport Search & Rescue?;
The origins of Sport Search & Rescue;
What activities make up Sport Search & Rescue?;
An amazing Canine Enrichment idea for injured dogs;
How do you start teaching your dog Tracking?
What is a Live Wilderness Find?
ARSA’s Mock Trial, April Trial and upcoming Fall Trial Events;
Erin’s experience observing ARSA’s Mock Trial;
Teaching dogs how to have downtime;
What does a Training Session look like? And how often should you have them?
How to get your dog involved in Sport Search & Rescue

Find out more about Sport Search & Rescue:

WEBSITE: American Rettungshunde Sport Association
FACEBOOK: American Rettungshunde Sport Association

Links Discussed:

New Podcast:

Check out my new podcast, The Alternative Dog Moms, discussing news in the fresh dog food community and the pet industry as a whole, with dog blogger Kimberly Gauthier of Keep the Tail Wagging. To learn more about Kimberly, check out Episode 18 of the Believe in Dog Podcast.