We use a lot of different terms in search and rescue. This glossary help you keep track of them.

Air Scent Dog: A dog trained to locate the scent of any person carried in the air, often used in searches where the exact location of a subject is unknown. They work indepently off-leach, usually searching large areas and will find anyone in that area. 

Alert: A trained signal or behavior exhibited by a SAR dog to indicate that they have detected a scent or found something significant. It is how the dog lets their handler no know they found something. 

Cadaver Dog: A dog trained specifically to locate the scent of decomposing human remains. We don't really used "cadaver dog" any more. The current term is Humain Remains Detection (HRD) Dog.

False Alert: An incorrect indication by a SAR dog, usually due to environmental factors or training inconsistencies.

Grid Search: A systematic search method where a specific area is divided into grids to ensure thorough coverage.

Handler: The individual who trains, works with, and directs the SAR dog during search operations.

Humain Remains Detection (HRD) Dog: A dog trained specifically to locate the scent of decomposing human remains

Indication: A behavior or signal from the SAR dog to the handler that they have detected something of interest. An indication is something the handler observes in the dog, but it is short of the trained alert.

Live Find Dog: A dog trained to locate live humans. Most air scent dogs are live find dogs. 

Obedience Training: Basic training all SAR dogs undergo to ensure they follow commands accurately.

Refind: A behavior where an air scent SAR dog working independently off-leash finds a subject and then returns to the handler to indicate a find and then leads the handler back to the location of the subject.

Scent Cone: The pattern that a scent follows as it disperses from its source, affected by wind and terrain.

Tracking: The method by which a SAR dog follows a specific human scent trail over various terrains.

Trailing Dog: A dog trained to follow the path of a specific scent trail left by a person, often used in urban or wilderness tracking. Trailing dogs work on-leash 

Water HRD Dog: A Human Remains Detection dog trained specifically for locating human remains in water environments, such as lakes or rivers, working either from the shore or from a boat.