Skye’s handler, Deputy Team Leader Innes Beaton said ‘The dog adds a significant search ability to the team and I’m sure she will a be great asset’.  Innes and Skye are based in Keiss and for 10 months they have been attending training weekends all over Scotland with the Search and Rescue Dog Association.

We attended the annual assessment course run in Glencoe from the 22nd-25th of March this year. The course started on Thursday evening with a stock test for all potential Search Dogs, this is to ensure the dogs are safe around livestock and can also be controlled by the handler.

The next 2 days consisted of 3 areas to search with 2 'Casualties' in each area to be found by the dogs. Glen Etive and the White Corries both steep and rocking ground typical of the Glencoe area and the Black Corries very boggy open moor with Large heather Knolls.

On Friday night the search dog teams experienced the sound, smell and sight from a variety of flares. This helps to familiarise the dogs with what can be a very frightening experience for them.

The last day consisted of 1 area to search again with 2 'casualties' to be found followed by the presentation of certificates to successful dog handlers

There were two external assessors this year from SARDA Lakes who, along with SARDA Scotland’s own assessors, looked at each of the search dog teams over the three days of the assessment.

We are now on the call out list for SARDA but have another year of training to make it to Full Search Dog level.

Innes Beaton