IRO

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

02/09/2026

Meet MIRO 🐶💙 Your new companion on social media!

From interesting facts and practical insights to training and dog health topics, MIRO will be with us as we make the world of search and rescue dogs more accessible and explore the special bond between dogs and their handlers.

Whenever MIRO appears in our posts, you'll find something interesting to discover, reflect on, or share with others. 🐾

We'd love to hear from you: what would you like MIRO to cover next? 💡

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

31/08/2026

Search tactics: Know before you go. 💡🔍🐕

When planning a follow-up search, it is essential to understand what has already happened in the search area. Information such as who has searched it before, how the search was carried out, and what was found can all influence the next tactical approach.

Key questions include:
👉 Has the area already been searched?
👉 If so, how was it searched and which methods were used?
👉 Were there any unconfirmed indications, sounds or other findings that may warrant a closer look?
👉 Have circumstances changed since the last search?

These details help dog handlers to assess the situation, identify potential gaps, and plan the follow-up search more effectively. They can also highlight areas that may need to be revisited or approached differently.

The more information you have about what has already happened, the better you can decide what needs to happen next. 🐕💙

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

27/08/2026

The right light makes a difference. 🔦🐕

Search operations don’t always take place in daylight. Darkness, poor visibility and challenging terrain can make orientation and communication more difficult. Even during the day, search environments may include confined spaces or areas with little natural light.

A reliable headlamp provides light where it’s needed while keeping the handler’s hands free. Reflective elements on clothing increase the handler’s visibility to others, and illuminated gear such as light-up collars can help keep dogs visible in low-light conditions.

When visibility is limited, the right equipment enables the dog and handler to focus on the task at hand safely and confidently as a team. 💪🐾

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

25/08/2026

We are excited to present the first edition of our new IRO donor magazine “Aufgespürt”! 🐕📖

Designed to bring our supporters closer to the world of search and rescue dogs, "Aufgespürt" offers a glimpse into our work and introduces some of the people and dogs who are part of IRO. It also shows how our donors' support helps to make this work possible. 💙

Through personal stories, interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights, the magazine captures the dedication, teamwork, and passion that unite our global search and rescue dog community. 🌍🐾

👉 And there’s another first: our mascot MIRO makes his magazine debut, accompanying readers throughout the issue and adding a little extra charm along the way. 🐶🎉

A huge thank you to everyone who shared their stories, ideas and creativity to help bring this first edition to life. We hope our readers enjoy discovering the people, dogs and stories behind IRO, and we look forward to sharing many more with you in future editions.

Would you like to become a donor, too? 🔗 https://www.iro-dogs.org/en/donate

21/08/2026

Preparing for the unexpected 🔍🐕

Search and rescue dogs may encounter environments and challenges that are new to them. That’s why learning to approach unfamiliar situations with confidence is an important part of their training.

Introducing new structures, surfaces and environments during training can help handlers identify where their dogs may need more experience. If a dog shows signs of uncertainty, simply pushing forward is not the answer. Instead, handlers can adapt tasks, reducing their level of difficulty and breaking them down into manageable steps, allowing dogs to build confidence through positive experiences.

👉 The goal isn’t to prepare for every possible scenario. It's about giving the dog the confidence and adaptability to cope with the unexpected.

For search and rescue dog teams, good preparation also means knowing your dog, recognising signs of uncertainty and understanding when a challenge may be too much, using these observations to guide further training. 🐕💙

Because when it matters most, dog and handler need to be ready to face the unfamiliar together. 💪

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

18/08/2026

A warm welcome and a heartfelt goodbye. 💙🐾

We’re very happy to welcome Sandra to the IRO Team! She will support us with a variety of organisational tasks and also contribute her ideas and enthusiasm to our communications and outreach activities. We can't wait to see her creativity, energy, and keen eye for detail in action.

Alongside her role at IRO, Sandra is studying for a degree in Corporate Transformation Management at Kufstein University of Applied Sciences. She is also actively involved in several voluntary initiatives and particularly enjoys connecting with people from different cultural and social backgrounds. Welcome to the team, Sandra – we’re so happy to have you with us! 🐶✨

At the same time, we’re saying goodbye to Amira, who is leaving us to embark on an exciting new chapter. After three years at IRO, she is pursuing her passion for sustainable engineering and modern design at a civil engineering consultancy.

Thank you, Amira, for three wonderful years with IRO and for being such a valued part of our team. We’re grateful for all the energy, dedication and positivity you’ve brought to the team, and we wish you every success and happiness in your new role! 🎉

17/08/2026

From preparation to action 🐕💪🇻🇪 Keeping a search dog motivated is part of every deployment.

👉 When two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, Slovak search dog handler Michal Palovič and his search dog Zerro were deployed on their first international disaster response mission. Search dogs don't search because they understand the disaster. They search because years of training have taught them that finding a person means it's time for their favourite game.

This is why Michal sets up a short motivational exercise for Zerro whenever there is time between search assignments. A quick find, followed by a game or one of Zerro's favourite treats, helps to keep him engaged and eager for the next search. These moments, together with years of training, mutual trust, and a strong bond, help Zerro to stay focused, even during long and demanding deployments.

The search may pause between assignments, but the handler's work doesn't. Keeping a search dog motivated is an essential part of preparing for the next search.

After years of training, and just eight months since completing the IRO Mission Readiness Test (MRT), Michal and Zerro found themselves suddenly putting their skills into practice. Working alongside international Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams, they searched collapsed buildings and supported life-saving operations in challenging conditions. ⛑️💙🐾

A heartfelt thank you to Michal and Zerro, and to every search and rescue dog, handler and emergency responder, for their courage, professionalism and unwavering commitment. 🙏

Read Michal and Zerro's full story on our blog. 📖 https://www.iro-dogs.org/en/from-preparation-to-action

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

13/08/2026

Furry Fact 💡 Dogs respond not only to what you say, but also to how you say it! 💬🐾

They can learn to recognise specific words and verbal cues, but communication is about more than just words. Tone of voice, pronunciation and consistency can all influence how clearly a dog understands a cue.

Using clear, familiar cues consistently helps dogs to know what is expected of them. Positive reinforcement, such as praise or playtime, can further strengthen the desired response. 🐕✨

For search and rescue dog teams, clear communication is particularly important. The handler and dog need to work closely together, often in challenging environments where trust, teamwork, and reliable communication are essential. 💙🐾

Which word or cue does your dog recognise instantly? 👇

At the International Search and Rescue Dog Organisation (IRO), we set international standards for search and rescue dog training and certification, ensuring that teams are prepared when every second counts. 🐶🦺🌍

12/08/2026

Meet the Supervising Judge of the IRO World Championship 2026 🌍🐶🥇From 11–16 October, Jerneja Ternovec will lead a panel of main and co-judges across five disciplines at the IRO WCH in Codogno, Italy.

An active search and rescue dog handler since 1995, Jerneja has dedicated more than three decades to training search and rescue dog teams. She established a search and rescue dog unit in her home region of Slovenia, is an FCI Judge, has served as an International IRO Judge since 2008, and currently heads the IRO Training Department.

In her role as Supervising Judge, Jerneja is committed to ensuring fair judging and consistently high standards across all disciplines. In her own words: "High-quality training is so important because many people discover search and rescue dog work through competitions and are inspired to join an operational response unit." 🐕🦺

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

10/08/2026

Spot our IRO Heroes across Salzburg and SalzburgerLand! 🐾🦸

From 1 to 14 August, our campaign is shining a spotlight on search and rescue dogs and the commitment, training and teamwork behind every life-saving mission. Have you spotted them yet? 👀

Join us in spreading the word! ➡️ If you spot one of our IRO Heroes, snap a photo, share it on social media and tag us :
📍 Getreidegasse 2 & 40, Salzburg
📍 Salzburg Central Station
📍 Maxglan roundabout, Hans-Schmid-Platz
📍 Barmherzige Brüder underground car park
📍 FORUM 1 Salzburg
📍 Hallein pedestrian zone
📍 Bad Ischl shopping centre

Every photo, every share and every conversation helps raise awareness of the life-saving work of search and rescue dogs and their handlers. Together, we can help train the heroes who save lives. 🙏

A heartfelt thank you to adplace.at - digital werben for generously supporting this campaign and helping us share the life-saving work of search and rescue dog teams with the public. 💙

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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