Planning
First, know your resources. How many dogs are available, what are their disciplines? Do you know the dog's certifications? What can you expect the dog to do? I can not stress enough -- find out about in advance as much as you can about your local resources, the local agencies, and their training standards. If you expect a single dog to be a panacea, you're not being practical. Here's a few suggestions for various situations.

HASTY MODE - Trailing Dogs
Do not feel like you have to wait until later operations to call in dog teams. Trailing dogs, ideally, can and should be one of the first on-scene while the trails and area are free of the numerous searchers that can/will be walking on them during the search. Handlers train on fresh, 24 hour old, 48 hour old, and even older trails on a regular basis so their dogs are used to different aged trails. They can do a very good job even when an area has been contaminated by other searchers. If you do not have trailing dogs on your team, call in resources as soon as you can.

Don't be tied into only one opinion. Use more than one dog--get a second, or third, opinion. Most dog handlers are use to working in areas where other dogs have been. Tell them if they are or are not not the first dog team in the area. Tell them about ANYONE that has been there previously. Ask for a confirmation once they start their assignment for their level of confidence in the dog. Not all dogs, even if trained to the same standards, will be at the top of their game at any given time. Most handlers will recognize this and give you an honest assessment as the dog progresses from the PLS to, hopefully, the subject.

Writing your trailing assignment : best practice

   1. Acquire a scent article
   2. Go to the PLS
   3. Determine and report any high-confidence direction of travel
   4. Stay on track until dog locates subject or loses interest - radio in

Trailing Team : best practice

   1. Dog handler
   2. Tracker (team leader)
   3. Radio, map, & all around support team member

HASTY MODE - Area Search
Again, do not feel like you have to wait until later operations to call in dog teams. Many area dogs train to cover trails, 10 to 50 feet off trails, and areas of interest within a given search area. Think of the dog extending the detection ability of the handler.

Be cautious not to put more than one dog team in too close of proximity UNLESS the teams have trained previously to work in tandem (contiguous search areas or trails). Also be cautious about the proximity of other search teams. Many dogs will "range out" (go quite a distance) from their handlers and could locate other searchers. This isn't a bad thing, as it can keep the dog motivated ("Oh boy, I found someone -- give me doggy treats"), but it could also add to the scent-complexity of the search area for some dogs. Keep in mind some dogs train in highly contaminated scent pool areas.

One special note of consideration is the use of both dogs and ATVs. ATVs and other gas burning vehicles (and generators) produce a chemical byproduct that can desensitize a dogs nose. Also, it's not too fun for the dog to chase an ATV.

Writing your area assignment : best practice

   1. Identify a trail or area you want covered (regardless of the operational period)
   2. Try to utilizing the best weather conditions for the dogs -- cool & moist mornings, dusk and evenings will yield a
       better result and higher level of effectiveness.
   3. Expect your team to give you very reasonable, if not higher, probability of detection (POD) than a ground pounding
       team (which varies based on #2 above).

Area Team : best practice

   1. Dog handler
   2. Tracker (team leader)
   3. Radio, map, & all around support team member

Debriefing
Both trailing and area dogs will tell you various bits of information which may help you in determining what to do regarding the area just searched.

One common term used, though not truly defined by most dog organizations, is "interest" -- "My dog showed 'interest' in the following..."

Take this for what it is -- a POTENTIAL clue about scent in the area. Scent does strange things and is highly effected by weather and wind. This clue could mean that (1) the subject's scent blew into this particular area, (2) some other search team's scent is in this area, (3) some other dog has been in this area (most dogs are discouraged to care much about critters and most handlers can tell when a dog is chasing critters). If a dog team reports interest in a vast wilderness area where few teams are out, take this seriously and ask either the handler or an experienced dog operations staff member to figure out a probable reason for the interest.

Be sure to record any information that the hander and the dog does, as sometimes the subtle cues can be the 'clues' to finding the missing person.

Demobilization
Though wrapping up a search is tedious and you may feel like you're the last one's out of the field, consider your dog teams needs. If they have been working hard on several assignments with no "find", a simple 5 minute exercise will keep the dog's skill level and motivation level high for the next assignment.

Ask the handler what you can do to help the dog have a "success" after a long day. You'll both be better served by taking the time.