FAQ
MarK9 Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is MarK9?
2. How do I join MarK9?
3. What kind of dog can I train for SAR?
4. Do I have to start with a puppy?
5. Can I train more than one dog at the same time?
6. How long will the training take?
7. What skills will I need to learn?
8. What must I train my dog to do?
9. Is this time consuming?
10. Is this expensive?
11. Do I have to be in good physical condition?
1. What is MarK9?
Maricopa K9 Search and Rescue, Inc. (MarK9) is a non-profit, tax exempt corporation that provides certified K9 Teams for law enforcement agencies and emergency services. We are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. MarK9 has no paid positions and most expenses are paid for by individual members.
2. How do I join MarK9? The first step is to contact us at [email protected]. You will be send a prospective member packet which includes information about K9 Search And Rescue (SAR), the membership process, the time commitment and amount of work required to become an operational team member and forms for you to complete and return if you decide you would like to continue pursuing K9 SAR.
3. What kind of dog can I train for SAR?
There are numerous breeds of dogs that are capable of doing SAR work, though you will see that most are from working, herding or sporting breeds. Some breeds are more suitable than others. Not all breeds of dogs and not all dogs within a breed have the temperament and drives necessary to do the work.
If you don't already have a dog, it is highly recommended to attend our trainings, observe different breeds and ask for advice from a certified handler prior to getting a dog. All dog breeds have inherent traits and talents that make them either easier, or sometimes, more difficult to train than other breeds. If you are set on a specific breed, look for breeders of working lines vs. show lines. A reputable breeder should be able to answer any questions you have about working drives as well as any health problems. You don't want to get a dog that doesn't have the necessary drives to work, or put years of hard work into training a dog just to find out later that it is not capable of doing the work due to a genetically linked disease. You want to start with a dog that has the genetics, drives and temperament necessary to do the work.
4. Do I have to start with a puppy? No. You may train an older dog for SAR. However, one of the advantages of training a puppy is that it will most likely have a longer working career. Younger dogs also may not have acquired unsuitable habits or behaviors that may have to be untrained. You can also often train desirable behaviors into a puppy a little easier than into an older dog.
5. Can I train more than one dog at the same time? It takes a great deal of time and commitment to train even one dog. If you have more than one dog, we require that you work only one dog in one discipline. Once you have certified the first dog, you can either start another dog or a new discipline with the first dog. There are exceptions for experienced SAR K9 handlers.
6. How long will the training take? On average it takes a new handler & canine about 2 years (~2000 hours) of training to gain the skills necessary to become a certified mission ready K9 Team.
7. What skills will I need to learn? MarK9 requires that you become an experienced support person prior to certifying with a canine. In order to do this you will need to become proficient in navigational skills including both GPS and map and compass, Wilderness First Aid, CPR, Radio communications, scent theory, man tracking and helicopter safety to list a few. Your dog will also need to know basic obedience commands prior to starting K9 SAR work.
Below are some suggested classes you can get signed up for now!
FUNSAR Course & SARTECH II Certification: The Fundamentals of Search and Rescue (FUNSAR) course is the second, intermediate level of NASAR courses. It provides knowledge concerning the general responsibilities, skills, abilities, and the equipment needed by persons who are assigned to field operations during a SAR mission. This class is designed to prepare the student to challenge the SARTECH II certification exam.
https://nasar.org/education/courses/
FEMA Incident Command Systems
FEMA ICS-100 – Introduction to the Incident Command System
FEMA ICS-200 – Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
FEMA IS-700 – An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
https://training.fema.gov/is/crslist.aspx
Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and CPR
WFA: https://www.solowfa.com/
CPR: https://www.redcross.org
American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen (AKC CGC)
https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/
8. What must I train my dog to do? Your dog must come with basic obedience already mastered. The type of SAR training your dog will need depends on the detection discipline it is being trained for. If you have never trained a dog before, it will be helpful to read some dog training books for a better understanding of how dogs learn. Don't Shoot The Dog! by Karen Pryor is an excellent book. Most of what you will learn about training your dog will be taught at MarK9 trainings. However, your ultimate success will mostly be determined by the amount of time and effort you put in outside of MarK9 trainings.
9. Is this time consuming? YES! Expect to train 2-3 times a week. You will need to train on your own as well as with the group. MarK9 team trainings usually take place on the first and third Saturday of the month in varying locations. You will be expected to attend as many as possible.
We are on call 24/7 365 days a year. Search Deployments are never convenient and rarely planned. Callouts for searches tend to occur in the middle of the night. It is very common to search at night especially during the summer months due to the heat. Most searches are in Maricopa County, but we assist other counties and states when requested. Although you are not required to go on all searches, MarK9 members commit to making every effort to deploy when our services are requested.
10. Is this Expensive? YES! Since this is a volunteer organization, you pay for everything. All of your gear and your dog's gear. That includes navigation, communications and other electronic gear as well as hiking, camping and survival gear. You also have to consider wear and tear on your vehicle, gasoline, etc. All of your equipment must be purchased prior to your mission ready test. Because this is a volunteer organization, many of your expenses may be tax deductible-please consult your tax advisor to determine if it applies to you.
11. Do I have to be in good physical condition? In order to be a K9 handler and/or support person, you need to be in good physical condition. K9 SAR work is very active and physically strenuous. Searches can potentially last up to 12 hours a day for several days and be located in areas of very rough terrain with inclement weather. There is also the possibility of having to spend the night out in the wilderness during a search. So, mental as well as physical fitness is a must. Remember, on a search, you are there to help find subjects, not become a victim yourself. If you have any health concerns, it is best to consult with your physician to make sure s/he approves of this activity.
Please note: You don't have to be a K9 Handler or Support person to participate and support MarK9 and K9 SAR so please contact us if you are interested.
1. What is MarK9?
2. How do I join MarK9?
3. What kind of dog can I train for SAR?
4. Do I have to start with a puppy?
5. Can I train more than one dog at the same time?
6. How long will the training take?
7. What skills will I need to learn?
8. What must I train my dog to do?
9. Is this time consuming?
10. Is this expensive?
11. Do I have to be in good physical condition?
1. What is MarK9?
Maricopa K9 Search and Rescue, Inc. (MarK9) is a non-profit, tax exempt corporation that provides certified K9 Teams for law enforcement agencies and emergency services. We are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. MarK9 has no paid positions and most expenses are paid for by individual members.
2. How do I join MarK9? The first step is to contact us at [email protected]. You will be send a prospective member packet which includes information about K9 Search And Rescue (SAR), the membership process, the time commitment and amount of work required to become an operational team member and forms for you to complete and return if you decide you would like to continue pursuing K9 SAR.
3. What kind of dog can I train for SAR?
There are numerous breeds of dogs that are capable of doing SAR work, though you will see that most are from working, herding or sporting breeds. Some breeds are more suitable than others. Not all breeds of dogs and not all dogs within a breed have the temperament and drives necessary to do the work.
If you don't already have a dog, it is highly recommended to attend our trainings, observe different breeds and ask for advice from a certified handler prior to getting a dog. All dog breeds have inherent traits and talents that make them either easier, or sometimes, more difficult to train than other breeds. If you are set on a specific breed, look for breeders of working lines vs. show lines. A reputable breeder should be able to answer any questions you have about working drives as well as any health problems. You don't want to get a dog that doesn't have the necessary drives to work, or put years of hard work into training a dog just to find out later that it is not capable of doing the work due to a genetically linked disease. You want to start with a dog that has the genetics, drives and temperament necessary to do the work.
4. Do I have to start with a puppy? No. You may train an older dog for SAR. However, one of the advantages of training a puppy is that it will most likely have a longer working career. Younger dogs also may not have acquired unsuitable habits or behaviors that may have to be untrained. You can also often train desirable behaviors into a puppy a little easier than into an older dog.
5. Can I train more than one dog at the same time? It takes a great deal of time and commitment to train even one dog. If you have more than one dog, we require that you work only one dog in one discipline. Once you have certified the first dog, you can either start another dog or a new discipline with the first dog. There are exceptions for experienced SAR K9 handlers.
6. How long will the training take? On average it takes a new handler & canine about 2 years (~2000 hours) of training to gain the skills necessary to become a certified mission ready K9 Team.
7. What skills will I need to learn? MarK9 requires that you become an experienced support person prior to certifying with a canine. In order to do this you will need to become proficient in navigational skills including both GPS and map and compass, Wilderness First Aid, CPR, Radio communications, scent theory, man tracking and helicopter safety to list a few. Your dog will also need to know basic obedience commands prior to starting K9 SAR work.
Below are some suggested classes you can get signed up for now!
FUNSAR Course & SARTECH II Certification: The Fundamentals of Search and Rescue (FUNSAR) course is the second, intermediate level of NASAR courses. It provides knowledge concerning the general responsibilities, skills, abilities, and the equipment needed by persons who are assigned to field operations during a SAR mission. This class is designed to prepare the student to challenge the SARTECH II certification exam.
https://nasar.org/education/courses/
FEMA Incident Command Systems
FEMA ICS-100 – Introduction to the Incident Command System
FEMA ICS-200 – Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
FEMA IS-700 – An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
https://training.fema.gov/is/crslist.aspx
Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and CPR
WFA: https://www.solowfa.com/
CPR: https://www.redcross.org
American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen (AKC CGC)
https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/
8. What must I train my dog to do? Your dog must come with basic obedience already mastered. The type of SAR training your dog will need depends on the detection discipline it is being trained for. If you have never trained a dog before, it will be helpful to read some dog training books for a better understanding of how dogs learn. Don't Shoot The Dog! by Karen Pryor is an excellent book. Most of what you will learn about training your dog will be taught at MarK9 trainings. However, your ultimate success will mostly be determined by the amount of time and effort you put in outside of MarK9 trainings.
9. Is this time consuming? YES! Expect to train 2-3 times a week. You will need to train on your own as well as with the group. MarK9 team trainings usually take place on the first and third Saturday of the month in varying locations. You will be expected to attend as many as possible.
We are on call 24/7 365 days a year. Search Deployments are never convenient and rarely planned. Callouts for searches tend to occur in the middle of the night. It is very common to search at night especially during the summer months due to the heat. Most searches are in Maricopa County, but we assist other counties and states when requested. Although you are not required to go on all searches, MarK9 members commit to making every effort to deploy when our services are requested.
10. Is this Expensive? YES! Since this is a volunteer organization, you pay for everything. All of your gear and your dog's gear. That includes navigation, communications and other electronic gear as well as hiking, camping and survival gear. You also have to consider wear and tear on your vehicle, gasoline, etc. All of your equipment must be purchased prior to your mission ready test. Because this is a volunteer organization, many of your expenses may be tax deductible-please consult your tax advisor to determine if it applies to you.
11. Do I have to be in good physical condition? In order to be a K9 handler and/or support person, you need to be in good physical condition. K9 SAR work is very active and physically strenuous. Searches can potentially last up to 12 hours a day for several days and be located in areas of very rough terrain with inclement weather. There is also the possibility of having to spend the night out in the wilderness during a search. So, mental as well as physical fitness is a must. Remember, on a search, you are there to help find subjects, not become a victim yourself. If you have any health concerns, it is best to consult with your physician to make sure s/he approves of this activity.
Please note: You don't have to be a K9 Handler or Support person to participate and support MarK9 and K9 SAR so please contact us if you are interested.