Search and rescue dogs from around the world were unleashed Friday for the 2004 world championships in this eastern German town, which will test their skills and improve international rescue coordination.
Some 139 canines from 16 countries are competing for top honors — as well as biscuits and treats — in a good-natured contest organized by the German Rescue Dog Association.
One of the German dogs competing helped to rescue people trapped under rubble in an earthquake in the Iranian city of Bam last year.
International interest in the contest has grown each year, with dogs competing from across Europe to as far away as South Korea and Japan. Officials said 2004 has seen a big jump in participants.
Dogs put through their paces
“The quality of work by rescue dogs globally has improved considerably in recent years,” said Helmut Haller, president of the German rescue dog association.
“In the past there were huge gaps in the standard of rescue work in different countries but increased communication among trainers has raised the level of rescue dog training.”
The dogs will be tested for obedience and agility as well as being put through their paces on searching, tracking and retrieving over a variety of difficult terrains.
“Obedience is obviously crucial,” Haller said. “If they’re on unstable or dangerous terrain, the dogs must be able to follow orders to stop immediately so they won’t be killed.”
Rescue dogs are used to search for survivors of earthquakes, avalanches, explosions and underground accidents.
'Temperament is a major factor'
Nowadays mongrels are used frequently as rescue dogs and sheep dogs are no longer seen as a favorite for the work.
“Their temperament is a major factor,” Haller said.
Because Germany has no quarantine regulations, trainers from around the world can bring their dogs without difficulties to the town of Wittstock, located 60 miles north of Berlin.
Germans are pinning their title hopes on 12 canines. Regina Gebhardt won the championship for Germany in 1998 and hopes to win again this year with Bruno, a 10-year-old chocolate brown wire-haired dachshund.
