OCR Text |
Show Consequently, the combination of the leader's understanding and the most likely search area for the nose of the dog results in a quick find. In this case, the fine nose of the dog is able to work without interference and without any direct human influence. The behavior of the dog, who announces the result of the efforts of his nose in some manner, is again used by the dog leader on the basie of hie understanding and knowledge. The better the training of the dog's nose and the leader's understanding, and the more they are attuned to each other, the quicker will be the results obtained in the search. The three fundamentals: 1. Confidence in the dog 2. The wind as helper 3. Use of the dog in the search. Confidence in the dog. Experience has shown time and again that every man has a tendency to prefer his understanding to the fine nose of the dog* However, every time that happens, failure results. A great number of failures can be blamed on avalanche dog leaders who did not believe their dogs, even when they were already eagerly at work digging and had to be dragged away from the detection point almost by brute force » Lack of confidence in the nose of the dog appears to be an original sin which can be observed over and over again* Note: The dog has the nose, not the leader! If the dog points unmistakeably to a certain spot on the avalanche, then it is the definite duty of the leader to investigate the reason for the dog's behavior! It is thus immaterial whether the indicated spot appears to be out of question according to human understanding of avalanches, or whether other rescue workers, avalanche experts and witnesses are 100$ convinced that nothing can lie at that spot* The dog leader has to counter this as follows: According to the avalanche and the terrain, this is an impossible spot* However, according to the behavior of my dog, there is definitely something buried under this snow* - 63 - |