Dogsbodies

One of the most important aspects of search dog training is the person that hides for the dog to find. The quality of a body can make the difference between success and failure for a dog.

In the early stages of training, the body should understand the principles of search training and be able to motivate the dog by making the finds as exciting and fun as possible. This is done by playing and making a fuss of the dog when it finds them. As the training progresses the body introduces the idea of barking before getting to play with it's toy. Eventually the body becomes innate when the dog makes the find and will only play with the dog once the handler arrives, which motivates the dog to bring the two together in order to get play.

It is this groundwork which motivates the dog to search for long periods of time once they have reached an operational standard.

We rely on these wonderful people who are prepared to give up their free time to hide for our dogs in all weather in order to make our training possible.

If you feel you have what it takes to be an effective body, please feel free to contact us at mail@sardaiom.org

A few of our regular 'bodies'.

Lissa Barklie

Lissa first bodied with SARDA in November 2006 for the Lowland Search dogs training weekend, and also atteneded her first call out with SARDA the same weekend! Lissa was also integral to the lifesaving find and rescue by Lola as she was Matt's navigator on that callout.

She works full time for a charity, working with people that have mental ill health since December 2006.

Lissa is a Civil Defence volunteer since April 2006 & a T.T and MGP Marshal.
She has volunteered in Africa. First in South Africa (2006) and then Kenya (2007) in Orphanage/ community development programmes.Her enthusiasm and ability is a huge asset to SARDA.

David Whiting

David Whiting joined SARDA in November 2006 for the first Lowland Search Dog Southern weekend & has bodied regularally since.
Dave is a voluntary member of Isle of Man Civil Defence from April 2006 and also a T.T & MGP Marshal.
Dave works for the DHSS at the Nurses Training Centre as Administrative Officer, plays hockey for the Isle of Man Bacchanalians Club and has future plans to train a Search dog of his own in the near future!

Chantel Johnson

Chantal Johnson is a sixth former at St Ninians High School and has been bodying with SARDA IOM since January 2006. She has consistenlty been out in all weathers and locations around the Isle of Man and has shown good commitment to the charity. Chantal also works weekends at Milan Vetinary practice where she is aquiring exeperience as she is in the process of applying to universities to study to be a vet.

Some of our bodies working and a body's eye view of Lola making a find