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Avalanche Search and Rescue in Frauenau, Bayerischen Wald from 03. to 09. March 2013
For the first time Dagmar along with her Bären Indi, Cheyenne and Gino, joined
forces with other Barrett families for an Avalanche Search and Rescue training seminar.
The seminar was held with members of the Bavarian Mountain Rescue Team. A very interesting
seminar that brought all of us closer to our four legged companions, intensified by
the high play drive, made it easy for the dogs to master the tasks they were confronted
with.
The search was not only for the Bären to find their masters, but also to search
for other person, known or unknown to the dogs. All of the participating showed willingness,
and confidence to ride the gondela, chair lifts, and the winter rescue vehicles - like
snowmobiles, rescue sleds, etc.
It confirmed once again how well balanced the German Sheppard is as an "all-round"
companion and working dog is.
All of us first time participants found the course so interesting, and enjoyable that
we just have to share with you the information, the camaraderie and naturally the fun
that we had.
Several of us have already informed the Mountain Rescue Team that we are interested
in joining even more such training seminars and naturally would welcome any others
that would share the adventure with. We demonstrated how well the House Barrett Bären
are able to master the challenges of becoming a Search and Rescue member. We will announce
future such seminars on our "News" site, when we receive any notifications
from the Bavarian Mountain Rescue Team. This is one way for others to learn the ideal
means to have a greater and better understanding into our dog-human-working relationship
and deepen our relationships with our companions and fellow man kindred.
In closing we wish to give an extra thanks to Bernd, who was our guide and instructor
during the days filled with new challenges, excitement, and learning's.
Here below, are pictures where Dagmar will try to give you an insight of some of the
training, challenges, camaraderie and esprit we had that week.
from left to right: Cheyenne, Indi, Leonidas and Flash
Our welcome evening at "Hundehotel Falkenau"
Info sheets
Beverly and Kaspar wait for thier cue
Beverly is the first one to learn
Beverlys master then walks on
to the "snow cave" where she will wait
Ready, steady
Bernd let Beverly go, and tells her to search...
And then (as the Germans say) she is at 100 (kmh)
Quickly she reaches her goal
Where she naturally is immediately rewarded
Even though her master must still "climb out", that doesn matter much, as Beverly has her toy
Now its Indi's turn
Indi is very excited and can hardly wait
She wants to start now
With a command "Such" (Search) she starts
SHe begins with a self search - no direction given
and needs to learn also to enter the ice-cave
As far in as possible
Now found, Dagmar can make her way out of the cave
Continously rewarding and praising
One of the most important points in the training
This Candidate knows the score and how it goes.
This cave entrance even was covered up
But he digs until he finds his master
Then they play and praise
Good job !
Now Franka wiats for her cue
Same as the others
SHe leaves and hides in an ice-cave
and Franka is sent to find her
This dame shows a lot of spiritedness
and play-drive, she is a Buddy-daughter
Now it's our "Devil Cheyenne" turn
Dagmar demonstrates,
how one must back into the cave
And Go!
Cheyenne learned this fast
how this game is played
Search for Mama and find her
and then get treats
SHe didn't want to get out, she likes it here
Flash is only 10 months old
Leonidas (calling name is Joker)
Selina is proud of her two Bären
Here we ate our lunch daily
The forecast was for sunny days
It doesn't get much better than this
Sun, sun and more sun!
The following pictures show,
How the sniffing game
is played
Here the one being searched for is a stranger
Now for a view from the "buried" side
and make it a little harder by covering up the entrance
with some snow
But even then the challange was well solved
and it isn't easy to get out of the wet, cold cave
Made it!
Here Indi is waiting for her cue,
this time for a stranger
It doesn't take long
With a hop, she is into the snow cave
Luts of praise makes her happy.
Beverly doesn't quite know if this is OK!
But the selfconfidence wins, and she makes it
Here we took the afternoon break
Waiting for the next cue
Flash looks with curiosity into the cave
Selina comes and gives some assistance
Cheyenne, "the Clown", is next up
Why should I go in there?,
when my master is behind me? so let me look around.
Cheyenne says - "You go in there first
Maybe you can convince me and I will search further"
Finally she did decide to look herself
but she is head strong, and follows her individuality
Kaspar is a son from Buddy and Hera
and shows he has what it takes to be a S & R
That pleases his master immensely
Now its Joker's turn
Cautiously he moves towards the cave
WIth continual praise from Seline
There was so much snow
Absolutely wonderful!
Bernd with his well trained Avalanche S & R dog "Alf"
Calm and confident he picks up the scent!
SHortly before we take a break
Another view of the winter wonderland
But before we go to lunch
we need to go up the mountain
So that means a gondela ride
Like "pro's" Gino and Cheyenne ride in the Gondela
Beverly
Cheyenne enjoyed the fresh air
Pharo
relaxes on the menu
Cheyenne is not one to relax, she is very aware and looks for new adventures. I wonder what she is thinking of here
Dagmar with Indi and Cheyenne
Little Gino was not registered but
Dagmar wondered how well would he do in the searching
So he was given the chance to search though the snow for the "Hundemama"
Here Dagmar animates him with a biting toy
It is hard to hold him back
Where did she go?
Go find her
And full power - Go
He sprints looking
and look here, already disappearing down the hole
One can hardly see him
And immediately praised and rewarded
By getting his
He holds the Beißwurst tight
Not willing to give it up
Super good job, Little Gino! Look how proud he is. One would think he really knows how well he did.
Cheyenne is always up to something Mischievous
On the way to Start
she needs to Clown around
This time it was "Search with obstacles"
She found the cave
and tries to get to the by the obstacle to get to the Beißwurst
And as you see,
she did it!
SO we do it again
and this time with master
Cheyenne finds it amusing , how her master tries to crawl out of the cave
but then its play and praise
For Pharo with the same exercise
Search with obstacles
And once at the goal
he finds her and
is praised
Now it is the spirited Franka's
turn
Look at her go!
She enjoys this game
and her ball
Gino was allowed again
Does he ever show spirit!
Ready -Steady - !
Super job!
Beverly with her master praticing
Flash is to search for Selina
He has no problem with the obstacle
Sometimes it is harder for us to get out then the dogs!
Selina rewards Flash with treats more than with toys
Important is to reward the dog, with treats or toys and lots of praise. The positive rewards bring more.
Short break for instructions
Waiting for the next cue!
No Comment necessary!
Jennifer with her dame
Cheyenne with Flash (left ) and Joker (right)
We do hope that this male may beable to improve the House Barrett blood lines in the near future
We cross our fingers and give good wishes that he passes. He is currently training for the IPO (Schutzhund/ Protection) services.
Flash is a son from Yanka and Buddy
He will be one year old soon.
A very cute female!
Flash has a very dark mask
Flash and Leonidas (call name is Joker)
On Wednesday the riding of the chair lift was on the agenda
Hundemama has her Gino already in the harnest
Lets go!
He doesn't look to "happy" here!
But he trusts that everyhting is OK
And trust means that he follows without any problems
and look here
everything is OK, and the ride begins!
Selina find it is challanging,
to carry both her males and at the same time
to sit down in the chair lift
The whole family. Kaspar wants to share some kisses
and go!
These two are "pro's" at this
Once arrived, Beate and Gino
As do Joker and Flash wait for the rest
They had to ride down and get the next
Chair lift riders . Cheyenne takes it "cool" by the ride
A little skill is needed here.
as the final meters are without the safety bar. But here is no problem.
We decided spontanously that we would
enjoy walking down the slope
Which is sometimes not so easy with such energetic
and spirited Bären
FInally back at the car. Beate is finished - naoe time would be good now.
Cheyenne
Indi
Gino, Cheyenne and Indi
Cheyenne in front, Beate with Indi
These two will spend a lot of time together
this week
Cheyenne full of spirit and energy
One partner this week: Kaspar, Son from Buddy and Hera
Franka, Tochter from Yanka and Buddy
Pharo, Son from Dorcas and Buddy
Beverly, Daughter from Funny and Buddy
Indi, daughter from Queeny and Buddy
"Little" Gino, Son from Nixe and Tyson
Cheyenne and Gino
Gino
Leonidas
A male almost two years old
Flash, Son from Yanka and Buddy
Almost one year old
Leonidas
left Leonidas, right Flash
Barrett-Group
In the near future, we will put a link here where there are more pictures available from the other participants of the seminar. A complete group picture of all participants will also be posted soon.