Customer Reviews

Man-Trackers & Dog Handlers in Search & Rescue : Basic Guidelines and Information

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As a military tracker I found a lot of the information in this book applicable. Currently the military tracking program only entails visual trackers without argumentation from scent dogs, this is complete 180 from the mid-seventies when the Army maintained dedicated tracker team with visual and scent tracker capabilities. The military still utilize search (scent) dogs but the handlers are no longer given any instruction in the visual art of tracking. I believe that the use of dogs used with visual trackers is an excellent tool (not in all tactical scenarios) and it provides, both the dog and tracker to work to their fullest potential by complementing each other skills and attributes. Basically the dog can only follow a specific scent on the ground or in the air, but cannot read signs left behind by the "quarry". This is were the visual tracker comes in; he is trained to judge sign through reduction and deduction, obtaining valuable information from the sign. With this book it will introduce the pair and explain some of the misconceptions and expectations of both. It also covers skills, tactics and management for employment of both in a SAR environment. For its small size there is lot of information, what I really liked in particular was the end book matter; glossary, appendix, and index. All were very useful an in-depth. For a finale note this is geared toward SAR (search and rescue) but most of the information carries over to the tactical tracker, which by the way can be used in a CSAR (combat search and rescue) operation. Well worth the buy!

Just finished Greg Fuller's(et al) book on the (above) subject and I must say that this was an outstanding job accomplished. Long time needed.

We have often worked track trained searchers with dog handlers and have had good luck when they click together as a "team". This book helps work your man-trackers and dog handlers toward a search team concept that tends to be missing in todays SAR Unit.

Check it out ... I believe that Greg has lit on something that the ground SAR world needs to take a look at...

Keep your SAR Team, beating the brush and being active "team" members. Help them stay focused on the "team" concept without dividing into "my resource is better than your resource" camps. Allowing us to expose our SAR members to skills and tools that tickle their desire ... to be all that they can be, while avoiding building "empires" of these specialized SAR interests.

This book is written to maintaining your SAR "TEAM" to the benefit of the lost subject.

Reads easy and doesn't rub any raw spots (if you know what I mean ;)

This book will assist you, as a SAR member (or SAR Coordinator), from becoming too singularly focused on one SAR resource and this should be to the end advantage of more successful reunions of the lost person and their families.

Good job Greg!

Having worked in this arena the tactics detailed and depicted in this book work. Having a place in which to go to get the perspectives of what the other is capable of has been needed for a long time. Working with a dog team is a practical use of each others skills and also lets the reader (if a student of tracking) know what it is they need to work on in order to become the best they can be. The book is full of usefull, practical information for both sides of the fence. Those resources in the field as well as the search manager. Excellent, to the point, time proven, non bogus information.

The perspectives of the different approaches (tracker, dog handler, medical emergency team) were most interesting. This book is helpful for establishing a common platform for a diverse search team. Interesting references and case studies.