Front Range Rescue Dogs is currently NOT accepting new applicants. The information below is for reference only.
Updated Spring 2024
If getting out of bed at 2:00 a.m. and driving into the mountains to search for a missing person in a blizzard sounds like an adventure you would look forward to, then this might be the group for you.
Things to think about BEFORE considering joining a Canine SAR team
A canine search and rescue team is NOT a dog club. The fact that your dog “needs a job” or “has a good nose” is not enough. First of all – YOU are a wilderness searcher, and eventually, your dog becomes one of your most important tools. We highly recommend becoming a member of a team and learning about what it takes to train a search and rescue dog before actually selecting a dog to train. Many dogs do not have what it takes to become effective search and rescue dogs.
Being an active member of a SAR team is a way of life, not a hobby. It requires thousands of hours of training to become and stay proficient with your skills and your dog’s skills. To be the most effective you eventually need a vehicle that is good in the mountains, deep snow, and possibly 4WD roads. You need to carry your gear around in your vehicle at all times so you are ready to respond as quickly as possible. Your dog goes as many places with you as possible based on the weather, etc., again, so that you can respond quickly. Are you prepared to cancel your plans last minute to respond to a search, even on holidays? Will you get out of bed after a long day at work to search all night for someone that is missing? That is the type of dedication required for search and rescue.
You have to be comfortable in the wilderness, off-trail, in the dark, in bad weather, and in an area you’ve never been to before. You don’t necessarily have to start at that level – but that is what you are working towards.
SAR is an expensive undertaking financially. Minimal gear is supplied by FRRD. We have group radios for communication on missions and at practices, unifrom shirts/jackets and some other miscellaneous gear. All personal gear including clothing, skis, snowshoes, etc. is supplied by the members. Another significant cost is the fuel driving to and from practices and missions and putting hundreds/thousands of miles on your vehicle.
Requirements
The following are requirements necessary to be considered for a vote as an Applicant:
Be at least 18 years old
Complete an approved background check
Attend a minimum of eight practices and one meeting per quarter
Be physically and mentally able to perform the tasks common to canine search and rescue in varied environments and conditions
Maintain a professional image and demeanor when involved with FRRD in any capacity and act in good faith to further the purposes of FRRD
Not be a fielding member of another canine search organization fielding within Colorado other than FEMA
Process
The first step to becoming a member is to attend several practices and meetings so you can see how we train, and so you can get to know us and we can get to know you. To attend Monday night meetings, Saturday morning practices, or Wednesday night practices you must first send us an e-mail to let us know you are coming: contact@frontrangerescuedogs.com and coordinate when we can have you join us. We ask that all visitors please leave their dogs at home.
The first Monday of every month, at 6:00 p.m., is a training or business meeting, either held in person or online. We have practices every 2nd, 4th, and 5th Wednesday nights and every Saturday morning following those Wednesdays. Wednesday night practices begin at 6:00 p.m. Saturday morning practices begin at 9:00 a.m. Visitors will be given practice location information after coordinating with someone at contact@frontrangerescuedogs.com.
Our Saturday practices tend to be higher in the mountains and last longer than Wednesday practices. These practices are particularly important for navigation and longer search problems. We do not cancel practices due to bad weather. We search in most weather conditions so we practice in most weather conditions. On occasion, we are called for a search during our regular practice time. In that case, there may be no one at practice. We will do out best to notify people of this, but if you show up to practice and no one is there – enjoy a hike and try again.
Monday night meetings – the first Monday of most months – are held at either the Boulder Emergency Squad Office, 3532 Diagonal Highway, in Boulder or online. Please send a message to contact@frontrangerescuedogs.com if you would like to attend a Monday night meeting.
Attending practices and meetings before applying to become an Applicant is important because becoming an Applicant requires an affirmative vote of the current members. We need to know who we are voting on and you need to understand what our group is all about so you know if it will be a good fit.
As an Applicant, you will work on a list of sign-offs that must be completed in order to be considered for Field Membership. These sign-offs include areas such as Navigation, Radio Communication, and Air Scent Theory. There are not "classes" on each topic. In most cases you learn by working with members during practices, meeting with members outside of regular practice and by unearthing information on your own. Candidates have a maximum of one year to complete this training process and request to be voted on as a Field Member.As an Applicant your primary concern is to become a Field Member, once that is accomplished, you can spend more time training your dog. Whenever possible we suggest people become a Field Member before they get a dog, although we know that is not always possible.
We accept applications to become an Applicant at our quarterly meetings. These are held on the first Monday of February, May, August, and November. It takes most people the full 12 months to become a Field Member and at least 2 years to certify with their dog. Once you become a Field Member it is expected that you will go out on searches with certified dog teams or as a ground searcher in order to gain experience in searching. This experience is crucial in gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to become a handler of your own certified dog.