Rob Johnson and Skye

Four specialist members of search and rescue teams passed their tests with flying colours during a weekend assessment in north Wales.

The canine rescuers and their handlers took part in the Search and Rescue Dogs Association Wales spring event, with two new dogs joining the callout list and two others upgrading their rating to work on mountains.

Rich Beech and Scout

The four handlers and their animals were joined by external assessors from England, Scotland and Ireland at Caethro and conducted searches in the Llanberis Pass, Ogwen Valley, on Snowdon and on the Glyderau.

Kev Taylor and his dog Nop qualified as lowland novices, while Steve Nelson and Boris made the grade as a novice trailing team.

Rich Beech and his dog Scout, and Rob Johnson and his animal Skye both qualified as novice mountain teams.

The assessment took place in weather described by Mr Johnson as ‘glorious’.

Kev Taylor with Nop

Sarda mountain members are already qualified mountain rescue team members. They train with their dogs to assist in search and rescue operations with their own teams and others where the dogs’ ability to find casualties can save time and potentially lives.

Lowland rescue dogs and their human team-mates search in open areas, buildings, woodland, sand dunes and caravan parks and makes up the majority of callouts.

Both Mr Beech and Mr Johnson are members of the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team. Mr Taylor is a member of the RAF Valley Mountain Rescue Team and Mr Nelson is with the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.

Steve Nelson and Boris

Trailing dogs differ from air-scenting dogs in that they are trained to follow the trail of a specific person, starting from the place they were last seen, and have to ignore any other scents they come across.