AMAZING SUMMER

Summer training camps are always events that all rescue brigades look forward to with great anticipation, and even some of the more passive members often enthusiastically join in.

This year’s summer, with the kind of weather everyone dreams of for the perfect holiday, is in full swing – and for every dog handler, it's a time of the most beautiful experiences. Days spent with a canine partner, usually surrounded by like-minded people, are not only absolutely unforgettable but also the most valuable from a training perspective. A systematic week of training brings results and progress that are simply incomparable to what can be achieved over regular weekend sessions throughout the year. The continuity of several days of training is truly irreplaceable, and its effects are noticeable for everyone after a week of effort.

However, the only real condition is truly professional training guidance – something that, unfortunately, is sometimes replaced by simply increasing the number of repetitions. That’s a fatal mistake, often masked at the beginning by what seems like a working system. But over time, instead of building on carefully designed training tasks, it degrades into merely getting the dog familiar with all hiding places in the search area. An experienced handler will immediately notice that the dog is no longer working through scent localization, but is instead checking each hideout to see if someone is there. It’s a great shame that many groups have no understanding of systematic training and rely on this flawed, overly simplified method. Naturally, when tested with randomly placed hides by a judge or examiner, they fail.

A dog’s nose is a fantastic tool, and targeted use of its capabilities can deliver truly incredible results. This is especially clear and visible in tracking dog training. The popularity of tracking and mantrailing has significantly increased recently – even though tracking isn’t a key discipline for rescue teams. Fortunately, training in this area tends to be the least prone to breaking systematic steps and rarely skips critical stages – unlike rubble search training, for example. And summer camps – which should represent the training peak of the year – offer plenty of time for theoretical reflection on such challenges, which simply cannot be ignored.

It’s hard to comprehend how some handlers selfishly waste the whole summer on their own entertainment, completely ignoring training, which is actually their dog’s greatest joy, just out of laziness.

Members of K9 Rescue CZ, who not only train but are also handling demanding tasks in developing the Londonka base, are taking full advantage of every opportunity the summer and the beautiful Třeboňsko protected area offer – under the leadership of dedicated trainer Kristýnka. With a temporary decrease in rubble work, the focus has shifted to deepening field searches, water exercises, cadaver training, and tracking – including the basics of mantrailing. Thanks to continuous multi-day training, significant progress can be seen, often exceeding expectations for the age of the mostly young dogs.

The rapid development of conditioned responses creates a necessary routine, which can later be transformed into a desirable ritual and ultimately evolved into a dynamic pattern of high-level B-grade training.

These amazing days of an amazing summer are being enjoyed by truly amazing people who, through their dedication to their dogs and their team, truly deserve it. This is how truly great collectives are formed...