10/9/2026

Why Temperament Matters: Lessons from Search and Rescue Anyone who has tried to train a dog that simply lacks the temperament for a particular task knows how frustrating the experience can be. Conversely, when a dog has the right temperament, the same training can seem almost effortless. I learned this lesson many years ago when I began training my fi...

5/4/2026

“Hero”  One of the things that has motivated us to breed fine dogs is our work in Search and Rescue.  The simple fact is, not every dog is suitable to be a Search Dog.  Therefore, early on, we sought to breed in order to produce dogs we could train as the best for Search and Rescue work. The following is the story of our first Search and Rescue Dog ...

4/18/2026

Reiny, The Search and Rescue dog in training, is a well behaved dog....

2/6/2026

From Kim and MacKenzie, "Here is Reiny (Nika x Tobbs 2025) nailing it as a tracking/trailing SAR dog." ...

1/26/2025

[TAG VON HOFFNUNG, BH, CDX, SEARCH AND RESCUE DOG](/females/tag), H.O. T. Handler owned, trained, and titled. OFA Good. Her name means, “Day of Hope”, hope of finding people who are lost or missing in Idaho and Washington. Tag has the sort of outgoing friendly personality with beautifully balanced nerve required for this important work. Able to think independently, yet willing to heed the requests of her handler, Tag is outgoing, affectionate, and smart enough to learn any task. Though retired the summer of 2006, Tag’s great characteristics are being carried on by her son, Max, our current Search and Rescue Dog……Back from retirement, Tag achieved her AKC CD Title May, 2007 and her CDX title in May. 2008. Tag is in the pedigree of our dogs, Max, Chinook, Piper, and Bristol. ...

12/27/2024

[INT’L CH ARGUS MAXIMUS VON HOFFNUNG SEARCH AND RESCUE DOG, H.O.T. “MAX”](/males/max) Handler owned, trained, and utilized on searches, our beautiful son of [Tag](/females/tag) and Dagger, followed in his mother, Tag’s, footsteps as our Search and Rescue Dog, on call with the Sheriff’s Departments of both Washington and Idaho. With a flash of red, Max would bound off to find the lost with a work ethic not soon to be forgotten. Max’s coloring and coat type is Red Sable, long coat. ...

12/19/2024

[NATIONAL CHAMPION KANAS KENEI VAN DEN HEUVEL SCHI, BH, CD, CDX , SEARCH AND RESCUE DOG, H.O.T. “HERO”](/males/hero) Handler owned, trained, and titled, son of the legendary **Norbo Ben Ju**, exemplifies his sire’s structure and working drives. His lines through both his dam, **Exa Z Esagilu**, and Norbo are 100% working Czech, with strong DDR backing. Hero is a dog of incredible heart and devotion, good with children and with other animals. With endless drive for the ball or tug, no hesitation on variable surfaces, a gusto that is pure delight, he has what I consider the ideal working ability. Hero’s coloring and coat type is Red Sable, standard coat. ...

8/8/2019

QUALIFICATIONS OF A SEARCH AND RESCUE DOG excerpted from K9 SUSPECT DISCRIMINATION  by Adee Schoon and Ruud Haak, Detselig Enterprises LTD, Alberta, Canada 2002 p. 85-86  MENTAL QUALITIES: \* placid composure:  self-confident, stable, not nervous or afraid \* temperament: lively, interested \* willing to work: willingness to continue even if there ...

7/9/2016

I was honored this week by this Certificate of Appreciation for Service to the Community from the Sheriff’s Department. It reads, “Thank you for 15 years of dedicated service to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office Volunteer Search and Rescue Unit.  Your hard work, dedication and expertise in the K-9 Unit has greatly improved the overall effectiveness ...

2/6/2015

Whatever you thought you knew about dog’s sense of smell, this will blow your mind.  While researching for a Presentation on Search and Rescue Dogs, I came across this article. “Dogs’ Dazzling Sense of Smell By Peter TysonPosted 10.04.12NOVA scienceNOW What lies behind their exceptional gift of sniff? They haven’t got no noses, The fallen sons ...