By Jason M.
It was an exciting day for dog training at The Family Foundation School on Sunday, January 11, when tryouts were held in the gym after breakfast.
Each student had to walk a dog around the perimeter of the gym, then change directions, all the while holding the dog’s attention, and afterward command the dog to sit, successfully, and finally, reward the dog by playing with him or her. Easy, right? Not always, especially under the critical eye of experienced dog trainer, Rita Argiros.
A dog trainer needs to be responsible and in a good spot within their family. This will certainly affect whether a student makes the cut or is eliminated from the class. Students trying out had to fill out a form, listing previous experience with training, caring for, and handling dogs. If students tried out for Search and Rescue (SAR), they had to cite previous outdoor experience.
A unique aspect of the tryouts, which threw a curveball at the students, was that each student had to perform with a different dog; some easier to work with, some harder. As a result, students were judged on their performance in relation to a specific dog.
A large number of students tried out for dog training. Students already on dog training were present to assist Argiros, including Justin N., Greg G., and dog trainer work study, Joslyn P. If students make dog training, they have the privilege of walking dogs and training dogs in obedience and Search and Rescue.
The Search and Rescue training is the most extensive training, and it includes area searches, where a dog searches for a subject within a certain area; evasive subject training where a subject enacts a mock runaway while the dog follows and is then trained to bark at the subject; snow burial where a subject is buried in snow and the dogs must locate him or her and alert the handlers; and object searches where dogs will search for articles of clothing or other items.
Search and Rescue training is aimed at training dogs to find injured people, corpses, people trapped or unable to move, and in the case of The Family School, runaways.
