Johanniter trains two new search dogs
Johanniter's regional rescue dog unit in Harburg has added two certified search dogs, Jule and Sam, bringing their total to five. The dogs successfully passed their area search certification.
The Johanniter regional association in Harburg has expanded its rescue dog unit with two newly certified dogs. Border Collie mix Jule and Mini Australian Shepherd Sam, along with their handlers Anja Lütchens and Ann-Kathrin Diercks, successfully passed the rescue dog certification for area searches in February 2023. This brings the total number of certified dogs in the Harburg unit to five.
The certification process, which took place in Schleswig, involved a theoretical component covering tactics, first aid, and navigation, as well as practical tests. These included obedience drills and a demonstration of how the dogs alert handlers to a found person.
The practical area search simulated a scenario where four "victims" from a crashed hot air balloon needed to be found in a 30,000-square-meter forest area. Both Jule and Sam located all the "victims" within the 20-minute time limit, despite challenging conditions.
These certified dogs and their handlers are part of Johanniter's emergency response services, available 365 days a year. They work in cooperation with police and fire departments to locate missing persons, especially in difficult terrain. The training for a rescue dog typically takes two years, and certifications must be renewed every 24 months.