Search and rescue dog

Search and rescue dogs find people who are lost or trapped. Air-scent dogs range off lead across bush and hillside, working the wind for any human scent, while trailing dogs follow one particular person's track from where they were last seen, and urban teams search collapsed buildings. In New Zealand a LandSAR dog and handler usually train for around two years before passing an operational assessment, then are reassessed every year. Border Collies, Labradors, German Shepherds and Malinois are common, but drive and fitness count for more than pedigree.