About Us

Search Dogs

We specialise in providing trained search dogs to assist Lincolnshire Police in locating missing persons. Louth Search Dogs was established in 1997 when a Lincolnshire Police dog handler thought it would be a useful tool for the police to have a passive, volunteer search team of handlers and dogs  on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Our Mission

Dedicated to Service

We aim to support communities through effective search and rescue operations. The team of both handler and dog are assessed yearly by the police to ascertain they meet the standards and use the search systems set by the Lincolnshire Police.

Any team failing to meet the criteria are unable to go on a live search until the standards are met and the team are licensed.

Our Team

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The time it takes to train a team varies according to the handler’s experience and the dog’s willingness to learn, but it is normally around two years. Dogs must have basic obedience, and handlers a fair degree of fitness. We often have to search along busy roads and in fields of stock, and a search can go on all day, often over rough terrain. It is essential that the dogs like people and get along with each other. Most of all, they must be highly motivated to get their reward. We have regular training sessions throughout Lincolnshire, and these are on a variety of terrain, i.e. buildings, rubble, woodland, open areas, et cetera. All members have to be prepared to go missing for each other, and this can be quite uncomfortable in the middle of winter. Friends can also sometimes be coerced into this role! Each search is tackled differently, depending on a number of circumstances:

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Safety

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Terrain

Weather condition

Number of dogs and handlers

Time of day or night

Windspeed and direction

To the dogs, it is just a game of hide and seek. If they are trained correctly, they soon learn that if they locate human scent, they will get their reward. Dogs are naturally inquisitive and have approximately 120 million more scent cells in their noses than we mere humans; therefore, the job is very easy for them. Within a short period of time, the dogs come to know when they get to a training session and can’t wait to get started. We are always looking for new people and their dogs to train as search dog teams. Below is a brief resume of the basic criteria required.

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Handlers

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They will need the time and commitment to train both yourself and your dog for 18 months to 2 years to reach operational standard. As we train in locations all over Lincolnshire, you must be prepared to travel all year round and train in all weather conditions; a reasonable level of fitness is required. You will also be expected to act as a “missing person.”

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Dogs

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We prefer young dogs or no older than 3 years, from working breeds, for example, Border Collies, Labrador, Working Cockers, crossbreeds. The dog must have a sound temperament and must not show any signs of aggression, particularly to people.

If you think you and your dog may be suitable, please get in touch through the email address on our contact us page.

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Dogsbodies

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If you don’t have a dog, you could still help us. ”Dogsbodies” act as missing persons during training and on exercises. You will need to be comfortable around dogs and be available occasionally at our Friday morning training sessions which take place at a varitey of areas throughout Lincolnshire.