IRO

🐶🦺🌍 Int. Search & Rescue Dog Organisation // Int. It unites 130 member organisations with about 4,000 certified search and rescue dogs.

Rettungshunde Organisation
🐾 3,000 search dogs in training
⛑️ Saving lives with the help of dogs
📍 Salzburg, Austria The International Search and Rescue Dog Organisation (IRO) is the worldwide umbrella organisation for search and rescue dog work and partner of the UN organisation INSARAG. The headquarters are in Salzburg. The task of the IRO is to train and certify highly qualified search and resc

ue dog teams and to provide them as supporting units in case of emergency. Thanks to their fine noses, dogs often become lifesavers after an avalanche accident, an earthquake or in the search for missing children and disoriented people suffering from Alzheimer's or Dementia. Our teams are on 24-hour standby, 365 days a year to help people in need. The IRO was founded in 1993 and is a registered non-profit organisation. As such, it relies upon donations to provide search and rescue dog teams with the certification, training and education necessary to find lost and missing people.

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Die Internationale Rettungshunde Organisation (IRO) ist der weltweite Dachverband für die Rettungshundearbeit und Partner der UN-Organisation INSARAG. Sie vereint weltweit 130 Mitgliedsorganisationen mit rund 4.000 geprüften Rettungshunden. Der Sitz befindet sich in Salzburg. Die Aufgabe der IRO besteht darin, hochqualifizierte Rettungshundeteams auszubilden, zu zertifizieren und als unterstützende Einheiten im Notfall zur Verfügung zu stellen. Nicht selten werden Hunde dank ihrer feinen Nase zu Lebensrettern nach einem Lawinenunglück, einem Erdbeben oder bei der Suche nach Abgängigen – meist älteren Personen, verunglückten Wanderern oder verirrten Kindern. Unsere Teams sind 365 Tage im Jahr rund um die Uhr einsatzbereit. Als gemeinnütziger Verein organisiert, finanziert die IRO seit 1993 mit Hilfe von Spendengeldern die professionelle Ausbildung von Rettungshunden.

03/06/2026

Our four-legged heroes require years of dedication, training and expert guidance. ❤️🌍🐶 Sponsor a young super snooper and help save lives worldwide!

By becoming a sponsor, you support search and rescue dogs at every stage of their development. Your sponsorship helps to provide the necessary training, care and equipment for dogs and handlers as they progress towards operational search and rescue work.

Training often begins in puppyhood and typically takes two to three years. From their first training exercises as puppies to experienced teams continuing to prepare for missions, search and rescue dogs require ongoing support throughout their journey. 🐾

Support our rising stars as they grow into future search and rescue dogs. Become a sponsor and be part of their story. ❤️ https://www.iro-dogs.org/en/sponsor

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IRO Search and Rescue Dogs save lives worldwide. Together with our member organisations, we uphold internationally recognised standards for the training, assessment and certification of search and rescue dog teams. This helps ensure that they are prepared to help when people go missing or find themselves in life-threatening situations.

01/06/2026

Meet our IRO Heroes: NICOLA & LUCA! 🐾🦺 Guided by purpose and driven by dedication, they are growing stronger as a team every day – that’s true rescue spirit! 💪

Nicola is currently training with her dog Luca to become a certified search and rescue dog team. The thought of one day responding to missions with Luca, and of working with her unit colleagues to help save lives, is what motivates her most.

Her commitment to search and rescue extends far beyond training. As the IRO Spokesperson for Marketing & PR, she is passionate about sharing the stories behind the work of search and rescue dog teams. Drawing on her many years of experience in sales and marketing, she sheds light on the dedication, teamwork and determination that make life-saving missions possible. 🐶❤️

Thank you, Nicola and Luca, for being part of the IRO family and for your unwavering commitment to saving lives! 🌍💙

31/05/2026

International Search and Rescue Dog Organisation (IRO). 🐶 Setting standards. 💯 Saving lives. 💙 Since 1993. 💪

The IRO is a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing search and rescue dog work worldwide through internationally recognised quality standards.

Today, the IRO unites 140 member organisations across four continents, ranging from local volunteer associations to government-led organisations. Together with our members and partners, including INSARAG (International Search and Rescue Advisory Group), we strengthen international search and rescue capabilities and help build a global network of highly trained search and rescue dog teams.

When people go missing or become trapped in life-threatening situations, every second counts. Through training, assessment and certification programmes, we help ensure that search and rescue dog teams are ready to respond when they are needed most. 🌍🐾

Help us save lives. Donate now. 🤝 https://www.iro-dogs.org/en/donate

28/05/2026

Furry Fact 💡 Did you know dogs have a special muscle that helps create their famous puppy dog eyes? 🐶👀

Compared to wolves, dogs have more developed facial muscles that allow them to raise their inner eyebrows more noticeably. This subtle movement makes their eyes appear larger and more expressive, creating the irresistible "puppy dog eyes" look. 🐾

Scientists believe that this ability developed during the domestication of dogs, enabling them to communicate more effectively with humans over thousands of years. By raising their inner eyebrows, dogs can appear more attentive, emotional, and closely connected to us – all thanks to a tiny muscle that has a surprisingly big impact. 💯

At the International Search and Rescue Dog Organisation (IRO), we have been advancing the work of search and rescue dogs worldwide since 1993. We help ensure that highly skilled dog-handler teams are ready to respond when every second counts by setting international standards and providing global training and support. 🐶🦺🌍

26/05/2026

After a 78-year-old man with dementia had been missing for 11 days, our member organisation Kyon Osfrisis in Greece was deployed by the police and his family to assist in the search. 💪🐕‍🦺

The operation in Servia, Kozani, brought together two highly specialised teams:
🐾 Savannah, search and rescue dog, with handler Elvira
🐾 Etna, human remains detection dog, with handler Kostas

During the three-hour deployment, the missing individual was sadly found deceased.

This mission highlights the importance of professional cooperation between different disciplines. While search and rescue dogs are trained to locate and save lives, human remains detection teams play a crucial role in ensuring that prolonged searches still bring answers and closure to families.

Our thoughts are with the family and all those affected by this loss. 🕯️🕊️

At IRO, our mission is to save lives worldwide. 🐶🌍🦺 The professional cooperation between search and rescue teams and human remains detection teams ensures that every stage of a mission is supported – providing families with answers, even in the most difficult circumstances.

24/05/2026

Official judges of the IRO WCH 2026 | Rubble Search 🪨🐕

Main Judge – Hannes Hiltpolt 🇦🇹
Hannes Hiltpolt has been involved in search and rescue dog work since 1995. Since 2008, he has served as an international FCI search and rescue dog judge and, since 2015, as an international IRO Judge. He is also an IRO Instructor Judge and plays a key role in educating and mentoring future IRO Judges, helping to ensure consistent judging standards and high-quality assessments worldwide.

Co-Judge – Jantine Boerrigter 🇳🇱
Jantine Boerrigter has been involved in search and rescue dog sports since 2000. She works full-time as a police dog handler with both a specialised detection dog and a search and rescue dog. In 2022, she and her dog Andy became IRO World Champions in Avalanche Search. She has also served as an international IRO Judge since June 2025, contributing valuable operational and competitive experience to the judging panel.

From 11–16 October 2026, Associazione Culturale Cinofila K9T (ACCK9T) and Nucleo Cinofilo da Soccorso di Fidenza (NCS Fidenza) will host the IRO WCH 2026 in Codogno, Italy.

IRO Search and Rescue Dogs save lives worldwide. 🐕🌍 Through comprehensive training and internationally recognised standards, our teams are ready to respond anytime, anywhere.

20/05/2026

International Trial Rules for Search and Rescue Dogs 📝💯

Search and rescue dog tests are designed to qualify dogs for further training in search and rescue work according to their discipline and area of deployment. Successfully passing a test confirms a team’s level of training and their progress towards becoming an operational search and rescue dog team. 🐕‍🦺🙌

The IRO has developed internationally recognised Trial Rules for Search and Rescue Dogs together with across six disciplines: Tracking, Area Search, Rubble Search, Avalanche Search, Water Rescue and Mantrailing.

As a non-profit organisation, the International Search and Rescue Dog Organisation defines and safeguards international quality standards for the training and certification of search and rescue dogs. An essential part of these standards is a clear commitment to fair, respectful and welfare-oriented training methods. Any form of force or the use of forceful training aids is strictly prohibited.

We believe in positive, trust-based training where dogs are motivated, encouraged and guided with respect because a strong partnership between dog and handler is the foundation of successful search and rescue work. 🐾🤝

Learn more about IRO and search and rescue dog work at https://www.iro-dogs.org/

18/05/2026

🌍🐶🥇 Values of the IRO World Championship 2026

While the IRO World Championship is certainly a competition, search and rescue dog work is about far more than performance.

All year round, teams train diligently and go out looking for missing people. When every second counts, trust, dedication, and the unique bond between humans and dogs can make all the difference. Behind every outstanding performance is a partnership based on teamwork, respect, and a shared mission of saving lives. ❤️

👉 Hosted by Acck9t Associazione Culturale Cinofila K9T (ACCK9T) in cooperation with Nucleo Cinofilo da Soccorso Fidenza Nucleo Cinofilo da Soccorso di Fidenza (NCS Fidenza), the IRO WCH 2026 will once again bring together the world’s best search and rescue dog teams to demonstrate exceptional skill, resilience, and partnership.

IRO Search and Rescue Dogs save lives worldwide. 🐕🌍 Through extensive training and internationally recognised standards, our teams are prepared to respond anytime, anywhere.

Follow the official account .wch.2026 for updates on the 30th IRO World Championship. 🇮🇹

15/05/2026

Furry Fact 💡 Does a dog have a collarbone? 🐾

Unlike humans, dogs do not use their front limbs to push or lift things. Their entire anatomy is designed for efficient movement, such as running, jumping and changing direction quickly.

Rather than having a fully developed collarbone, dogs only have a small cartilaginous remnant. Their shoulder joint is not fixed by bone, but stabilised by a complex system of muscles and connective tissue. This unique structure increases stride length and flexibility, which are key factors for speed and agility. 💯

At the International Search and Rescue Dog Organisation (IRO), we have been advancing the work of search and rescue dogs worldwide since 1993. We help ensure that highly skilled dog-handler teams are ready to respond when every second counts by setting international standards and providing global training and support. 🐶🦺🌍

12/05/2026

Follow our little stars on their journey to search and rescue dogs. ❤️🌍🐶 Support their training!

By becoming a sponsor, you support search and rescue dogs at every stage of this journey – from young dogs beginning their training to experienced teams continuing to train, test and prepare for real missions. Training lasts at least two years, is versatile and usually begins in puppyhood. By sponsoring them, you can help provide them with the training, veterinary care and nutrition they need at every stage. 🐾

From their initial training as puppies to their specialised work as avalanche or disaster dogs, our super snoopers require years of careful training and preparation.

Become a sponsor. ❤️ https://www.iro-dogs.org/en/sponsor

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IRO Search and Rescue Dogs save lives worldwide. In partnership with search and rescue organisations around the globe, we deliver training, assessment and certification programmes to ensure that teams meet internationally recognised standards and are fully prepared to respond when people go missing or find themselves in life-threatening situations.

Adresse

Moosstrasse 32
Salzburg
5020

Telefon

+4366282652610

Webseite

https://www.iro-dogs.org/, https://www.iro-dogs.org/en/donate

Benachrichtigungen

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