The dogs are nervous. They can sense that something is about to happen. In a state of excitement, they sniff the unfamiliar surroundings. After all, their owners are wearing the technical gear that they always have on when they’re heading out on a mission. And they drove here with them, to this car park, where other dogs are already waiting with their owners. Five of them are due to undergo important training today. Once the gate to the airfield opens, Miko, Odin, Bella, Mia and Hugo will then see, hear and smell a helicopter.
Canine support that’s not to be sniffed at
The five dogs belong to the canine unit of the Nordschwaben District Association of the Bavarian Red Cross. They are area search dogs, in other words, they search for missing persons over large areas. “That can be older people with dementia, children, suicidal people, and people in general who find themselves in a helpless situation,” explains Sina Raab, head of the unit. “Last year, we were deployed in fifty-five missing person searches. We are alerted by the police via the integrated control centre at any time of day or night.” A rescue dog team on duty consists of a dog handler, a dog and at least one helper, who search an area covering around 45,000 m2.
The members of the unit are all volunteers. The dogs belong to them and also live with them. The training to become a sniffer dog begins when the dogs are still puppies and takes about two to three years. It starts with socialisation with people and other dogs, and playfully searching for and finding people in different environments and situations. This strengthens and trains the cooperation between human and dog, and working at a distance and with distractions. “The training and the commitment are very time-consuming. Our members do this work alongside their normal jobs and their family life,” says Raab. “In addition, we also visit kindergartens, retirement homes and other public events, since we rely on donations.”
An unbeatable team
When the rescue teams go on search missions, there are usually helicopters in the air, flying over the area, which is why the dogs need to overcome their fear of them. That’s why they come to Donauwörth, the German headquarters of Airbus Helicopters. There’s a H145 standing on the airfield. This type is used by rescue organisations, police forces and armed forces worldwide for a wide range of missions. Wherever human life is at stake, that’s where they fly to, so it’s highly likely that the dogs will encounter a H145 on a mission.
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