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What Makes Canine Search and Rescue Successful? Insights into Environmental, Management, and Personality Factors
Silvia Silvestri1, Gabriele Brecchia2, Olimpia Barbato2
1School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Circonvallazione 93/95, 62024 Matelica, Italy.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|February 27, 2026
Summary
Search and rescue (SAR) dog performance is influenced by environmental factors like temperature and humidity, alongside traits such as arousal and reactivity. Understanding these elements can help optimize SAR dog effectiveness and well-being.
Area of Science:
- Canine behavior and performance science
- Applied animal behavior
- Search and Rescue operations
Background:
- Search and rescue (SAR) dogs are crucial for locating missing persons.
- Factors influencing SAR dog operational performance are not fully understood.
- Optimizing SAR dog performance is vital for mission success and canine welfare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of environmental conditions, behavioral history, management practices, and personality traits on SAR dog performance.
- To identify key determinants of successful search and rescue operations.
- To provide insights for enhancing SAR dog training and selection.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-two dog-handler teams participated in a search trial in a wooded area.
- Data collected included handler questionnaires on dog history and personality, objective environmental measurements (weather, GPS), and performance evaluations.
- Statistical analysis was used to correlate various factors with search performance metrics.
Main Results:
- Environmental factors: Temperature and wind speed negatively impacted performance, while humidity positively correlated with it.
- Dog-specific factors: Litter size, age at adoption, experience, and management practices were associated with performance.
- Key performance determinants: Speed, ground coverage, high arousal, and reactivity significantly predicted good search performance.
- Handler ratings indicated potential self-reporting bias and suggested refinement for the 'Distraction' parameter.
Conclusions:
- SAR dog performance is a complex, multifactorial construct influenced by both intrinsic (dog traits) and extrinsic (environmental, management) factors.
- Identifying and understanding the contribution of each factor can guide strategies for optimizing SAR dog performance and welfare.
- Further research with larger samples is recommended to confirm these findings.
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