CSAR K9 Unit

A well-trained search dog is a valuable resource for any search organization. Cincinnati Search and Recovery’s K9 unit is made up of a group of handlers that each bring their unique skills to the table. Each team member has multiple years of experience training K9s, and the CSAR K9 team leader alone has over 20 years of experience in search and rescue in addition to canine training. Those years of experience affords the K9 team real-world training scenarios that are invaluable during deployment.  CSAR K9s are capable of many tasks, and are trained in trailing, area search and human remains detection on land and in water.  We have specially trained K9s that have the ability to rappel with their handler into areas which would otherwise be inaccessible.  Furthermore, CSAR K9s have been trained to fly in helicopters, which allows us to have a quicker response time to remote areas that might take hours to reach on foot or ATV.  All of the canines are put through national law enforcement certifications and train hundreds of hours. Our K9s have been deployed on urban, rural and wilderness searches for missing individuals, on cold cases for law enforcement, disasters, and cadaver searches. Not only do CSAR dogs go through extensive training, but so do our handlers. Training includes CPR/First Aid, navigation, crime scene preservation, hazmat, bone scatter, K9 first aid, and FEMA/NASAR courses. 

Training: Weekly, sometimes more.  

 A Flanker's main responsibility is safety for the handler and K9 they are assigned to in the field. The handler needs to be able to focus on their K9's behavior and what the K9 may be indicating to during a search. The flanker must be the eyes and ears for the handler and K9 they are with in the field. Calling out possible dangers or obstacles for the handler is an important task of a flanker. Flankers are in charge of communication between the K9 team they are with and IC when in the field along with navigation.