REDOG, the Swiss search and rescue dog association, is a Swiss organisation that provides comprehensive training for search and rescue teams comprising dogs and humans that search for missing persons and disaster victims. Volunteers without their own dogs can help in the Technical Detection unit.

The training for most of the units takes place in the 12 regional groups. The entry conditions differ from location to location and depend on the individual regional groups.

Videos with some of our dog handlers (in French & German)

The training to become a deployable search and rescue dog team takes three to four years, depending on unit. The training often starts when the dogs are still puppies or young.

Requirements for dogs

Dogs of different breeds and sizes can be trained as search and rescue dogs. These requirements are mandatory for every dog:

• Enthusiastic and tireless workers
• Physically agile
• Resilient to stress
• Confident and friendly when meeting unknown people
• Great social interaction with other dogs

Additionally, for dogs deployed for terrain searches: Great love for running and stamina.

Requirements for dog handlers

All dog keepers who are interested in training for the search and rescue dog teams should be aware that this demanding task requires great effort in terms of commitment and time. Disaster victim search teams train up to 50 times per year and also attend practice and continuous education events for the required technical skills. Trainees attend one regular training per week in the evening, at least one weekend practice per month plus three to four weekend training events per year. REDOG dog handlers are willing to dedicate the majority of their free time to their passion. The terrain search team members travel large distances in their own cars for training and practice events and training often takes place in adverse weather conditions.

The training is wholly based on team work: it takes the continued and committed help from colleagues during the training period for a team to become deployable.

• You love working with dogs and people
• You are physically fit
• You are empathetic and resilient to stress
• You are used to being outdoors in every weather
• You have a highly developed sense of responsibility and safety.

The training is delivered in stages and with specific goals in mind and the practical training is continuously supplemented with theoretical knowledge. You must be at least 18 years of age to take your deployment test. Persons over 65 years of age are no longer deployed to Swiss Rescue activities abroad.

Deployable dog teams could be deployed at any time. You therefore need prior written consent from your employer to participate.

The training is of a high standard. After around three to four years of intensive training and the successful completion of several exams and suitability tests (performance checks), a dog team is admitted to the nationwide two-day deployment test event, where it is decided if a team is deployable or not. The team's suitability for deployment is confirmed every three years. Deployable teams also complete a suitability test once a year.