Specialist Search Dogs

25/05/2026

This weekend our K9 teams had a very busy and productive training programme.

Following standard readiness assessments on Friday, handlers focused on recognising and interpreting behavioural changes in the presence of trained odour. This training then continued throughout Saturday and Sunday during water search exercises.

At the same time, our search technicians carried out equipment readiness checks, including boats and engines, and participated in an excellent presentation and practical session on sonar capabilities.

As we continue to develop our water search protocols, we are preparing to further integrate sonar searches into our operations. A big thank you to Chris Beer, who travelled from Kent to deliver this specialist sonar training.

This equipment will support the full implementation of our Modular Submerge Search operating procedures, while also improving the accuracy of K9 training and helping us better understand the relationship between odour detection and underwater target location.

We were also pleased to welcome K9s Bosman and Bracken from Ireland, together with their handlers Maurice and Shayne, who joined us for a friendly visit during the weekend. Both dogs will soon begin their HRD training journey, and we look forward to supporting their development in the future.

SpecialistSearchDogs



www.specialistsearchdogs.org.uk

Make a difference, donate today.
Donate via Bank Transfer:
CAF Bank
Specialist Search Dogs
Sort Code: 83-91-46
Account Number: 00401537
Charity Registration No. SC052375

20/05/2026

We would like to thank Institut der BAG-RHV for organising and hosting the recent workshop and certification event in Germany.

The training provided an excellent opportunity for our handlers and dogs to work in challenging environments, gain valuable experience, and continue developing operational skills alongside international teams.

We appreciate the professionalism, hospitality, and effort that went into delivering the event, and we are grateful for the opportunity to be part of it.

Thank you once again to everyone involved, and we look forward to future cooperation and training together.

19/05/2026

Specialist Search Dogs – Community Support

A huge thank you to June Mean and her daughter Jane Foster, for their incredible fundraising effort, raising an amazing £2,000 for Specialist Search Dogs.

The fundraising duo were assisted by Sally Longstaff, the owner of Sally's at Warwick Bridge who raffled off items made by June and Jane among other fundraising activities.

Their dedication, creativity, and hard work have made a real impact. Every penny they raised goes directly toward supporting our volunteer search teams — helping us stay equipped, trained, and ready to respond when families need us most.

It means so much when local people and local businesses choose to stand behind the work our handlers and dogs do across the region. Community support like this genuinely strengthens our ability to save lives.

Thank you again to Linda, June and everyone at Sally’s at Warwick Bridge.
Your kindness makes a difference.
Working dogs. Real impact. Stronger communities

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14iz279Xx2b/?mibextid=wwXIfr

18/05/2026

"It is always a pleasure for us to participate in and support our firefighters.

17/05/2026

This weekend, five of our volunteers from Specialist Search Dogs travelled over to Germany for an intensive Human Remains Detection (HRD) training weekend with Institut der BAG - RHV at their incredible training facility.

From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel unbelievably welcome. The hospitality shown to the team throughout the entire weekend was absolutely first class. Everyone was incredibly friendly, supportive, and passionate about the work we all do with our dogs.

The training facility itself is phenomenal. An outstanding environment with fantastic training areas, realistic search scenarios, and the perfect setup for developing both dogs and handlers. Opportunities like this are invaluable for exposing teams to different search problems, new environments, and learning from like-minded people who share the same passion for operational search dogs.

We’re also super proud to announce that, as a charity, we now have additional dog teams certified in rubble searches. A fantastic achievement for the handlers and dogs involved, and a real reflection of the dedication, commitment, and countless hours of training put in behind the scenes.

A massive thank you once again to everyone at HRDD for their amazing hospitality, support, and professionalism throughout the weekend. We genuinely appreciate the warm welcome and the opportunity to train alongside you all.

We’re already looking forward to seeing some of the team again in July when they travel over to Scotland.

16/05/2026

Specialist Search Dogs at Dumfries Fire & Rescue Open Day

A brilliant day at Dumfries Fire & Rescue Station — proud to showcase our incredible dogs alongside the drone, submersible support kit, and sonar capabilities the team brings to search operations.

Huge thanks to Scottish Fire & Rescue for hosting such a well-run event, and to everyone who came along to chat, learn, and support. Great turnout, great teamwork — and even the weather played ball!

03/05/2026

A huge thank you to Rod, Paula, and our Specialist Search Dogs therapy team for their incredible work over the last month with the “Families Affected by Autism” group in Dunfermline.

Across multiple sessions, the team delivered calm, supportive interactions for children living with autism and other additional needs. The group have very generously donated £50 per session, totalling £400, directly supporting our ongoing community work.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E9BVBVqWy/?mibextid=wwXIfr

April was also a busy month for our therapy‑dog team, with 29 call‑outs supporting children and families across Fife, Tayside, Cupar, and St Andrews. These visits provide comfort, confidence, and connection where it’s needed most.

Thank you to everyone involved.
Working dogs. Real impact.





www.specialistsearchdogs.org.uk

Make a difference, donate today.
Donate via Bank Transfer:
CAF Bank
Specialist Search Dogs
Sort Code: 83-91-46
Account Number: 00401537

Charity Registration No. SC052375

10/04/2026

Member Spotlight – Shaun Ede & Monty

We’re proud to share that our member Shaun Ede has recently been featured on the Provincial Grand Lodge website, highlighting his work with Specialist Search Dogs.

Shaun volunteers as a Qualified Human Remains Detection Dog Handler alongside his dog Monty, supporting search operations across the UK. Based in Gloucestershire, Shaun is part of our wider team of handlers and search technicians who respond to requests from families and the police, contributing hundreds of hours to operational searches each year.

Like all of our teams, Shaun and Monty commit significant time to ongoing training, ensuring they are prepared and working to a high professional standard. Their work, both operational and behind the scenes, plays an important role in supporting families during difficult times.

As a self-funded charity, this level of commitment would not be possible without the dedication of volunteers like Shaun. We are grateful for his contribution and proud to see his efforts recognised.

https://www.glosmasons.org.uk/the-fourth-pillar-in-action/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook




Make a difference, donate today.
Donate via Bank Transfer:
CAF Bank
Specialist Search Dogs
Sort Code: 83-91-46
Account Number: 00401537

Shaun Ede talks about volunteering alongside his dog Monty with Specialist Search Dogs, a UK based charity.

06/04/2026

🐾 A Huge Thank You to the St Andrews Self Help Group 🐾

This week, our team member Rod had the pleasure of visiting the St Andrews Self Help Group alongside three of our incredible therapy dogs — Clova, Mia and Buddy.

Rod delivered a talk on the work we do at Specialist Search Dogs, from our operational search & rescue deployments to the vital support our therapy dogs provide across Scotland.

The group very kindly donated £30 to SSD, helping us continue our mission to support vulnerable people, communities, and emergency responders. We’re incredibly grateful for their generosity.

As part of our ongoing commitment to community wellbeing, the group has also been offered 24/7 access to SSD therapy dogs whenever they need comfort, company, or emotional support.

Thank you again to everyone involved — and to Clova, Mia and Buddy for doing what they do best: bringing calm, connection and a whole lot of tail wags.

SearchAndRescue



www.specialistsearchdogs.org.uk

Charity Registration No. SC052375

---

19/02/2026

Competency vs Currency – Why Both Matter in Search Work

In our training, we often talk about two key concepts: competency and currency. They are closely linked, but they are not the same — and both are essential in professional search dog work.

Competency means having the required knowledge, skills, and ability to perform a task to the expected standard. A handler and dog team may demonstrate competency in areas such as land search, water search, scent recognition, or operational procedures through structured training and formal assessment.

Currency refers to how up-to-date and regularly practiced those skills are. A team might be competent, but without regular training, review, and operational exposure, their performance can decline. Currency ensures that competency is maintained and effective in real-world conditions.

Maintaining competency proves you can do the job. Maintaining currency proves you are ready to do it now.

This is why we operate under a structured Continuous Training (CT) and review system — to ensure our teams remain both competent and current, meeting professional and operational standards.

In the coming weeks, we will share more detailed insight into how our assessments are structured and how our training is designed to meet these standards in practice. We will do this by releasing a series of documentary-style videos following our trainee dogs through their journey — “From Zero to Hero.”

These videos will show our audience, supporters, and followers what it truly takes to develop an operational search dog, from early foundation work through to assessment and readiness for deployment. Our aim is to provide a transparent look at the process behind building professional, reliable search teams and to demonstrate how standards are achieved and maintained.




www.specialistsearchdogs.org.uk
Make a difference, donate today.
Donate via Bank Transfer:
CAF Bank
Specialist Search Dogs
Sort Code: 83-91-46
Account Number: 00401537