FIRE BOMB - New Zealand Fire Service

Dog handlers around the country are a mix of civilians
and firefighters. Three firefighters are currently also
dog handlers – one based in Auckland and two in
Christchurch.
Firefighters make ideal dog handlers for several reasons:
• They are experienced in working in emergency
situations and the rescue environment.
• Most hold the appropriate rescue qualifications
required for a dog handler.
• They adapt well to working in a team.
If you’re keen but don’t have a dog, USAR can find a dog
for you. This way we can ensure that the dog has the
right attributes and play drive that a working dog needs.
Even if you’ve never owned a dog, that’s fine as well.
Sometimes the best handlers are those that come with no
dog experience but are willing to learn and be guided
along the way.
If you have a dog, that’s great. If your dog is a full or
mixed breed (preferably with a working breed component
such as border collie, blue healer, labrador cross and
has a high play drive which basically means the dog
will do anything to play with a ball or toy, we could
be interested.
There are some requirements that first must be met before
we accept a dog into the National Training Programme.
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine
Events
These include:
• At least eight months old and a maximum age of
three years.
• Shows no aggression to people or other dogs.
• No dogs classed as menacing by breed according
to the Dog Control Act 2006.
• Has a high play/prey drive.
• From a working background or breed.
If you don’t have the time or inclination to be a handler
but would like to help, you can ‘hide’ for the dogs during
their training exercises. The dogs need to get familiar
with finding strangers as part of the training. We need
‘subjects’ in Auckland, Christchurch and Wanganui.
Subjects don’t need to be firefighters, they can be anybody
– partners, friends, family and children (over the
age of 10 and not afraid of dogs).
If you or anyone you know is interested, there will be
an information night, followed by a dog testing oppor-
tunity at the Palmerston North Fire Station at 7.30pm on
Friday 25 September. Dog suitability testing will be on
Saturday 26 September at 9.30am (location to be advised).
For more information, please contact
brendon.irwin@fire.org.nz
Further information can also be found on the
Search Dog Association website: www.usardogs.org.nz
August 2009
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