Although a victim my be buried beneath snow or disaster debris, hidden by dense vegetation, difficult terrain, or lost in a river or streams, a multi-purpose trained SAR dog can use "Air Scent Search" techniques alone or combined with the better known nose-to-ground tracking technique find a victim. Air scenting is the technique of   having the dog search nose to the air in much like the cone of smoke that travels from a smoke grenade. When the dog detects this airborne human scent, it will travel back and forth as the scent cone narrows toward the source of the scent. Dogs working "off lead" are trained to return and guide the handler to a "find."

Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs (RMRD) is  an incorporated, non-profit organization of individuals in Utah who donate their time and resources to train in Wilderness, Avalanche, Disaster and Water search. Each dog/handler team must meet rigid standards in air scent search, tracking, canine obedience, mountaineering  skills, and search for a lost or injured person. Since an emergency can occur at any time, Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs maintains a constant state of readiness. A call to your local Sheriff is the quickest method of getting RMRD dogs involved in a search operation. Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs can advise the requesting agency of our usefulness in particular situations. SAR dogs are a valuable resource at any state of an ongoing search.  However, to maximize RMRD efficiency, an early call out is advantageous.
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