The water rescue dogs of the Moosburg water rescue service took part in a training camp - and are now fit for any kind of action.
Moosburg
- The pandemic also thwarted the international training camp for water rescue dogs in Milan.
The Moosburg water rescuers were unable to travel to Italy, but instead completed a training camp in Augsburg at the beginning of June - with success, as Martin Hofmann, responsible for press and public relations at the water rescue service, reports.
Dogs got used to boats and stand-up paddle boards
In the training camp, which lasted several days, the dogs were playfully prepared for their tasks. The training took place on the Lech and on a gravel pond in Augsburg. On the day of arrival, the tents were set up first in order to then carry out the first training session in the form of a mutual exchange of information. There was a lot to talk about because we couldn't see each other for a year and a half because of Corona. The participants were then instructed on how to carry their dogs in the event of injuries. The dog handlers also learned how to hand over their animals to other rescuers. All teams then went into the water for refresher sessions.
Initially, the training for the teams began with a phase of getting used to boats and stand-up paddle boards - first they practiced on dry land, then in water.
In the afternoon, the rescues at the pond continued.
The dog handlers were divided into the groups beginners and advanced.
The instructor Marco Greiner, certified instructor SICS Italy, was enthusiastic about how high the level of training already was for the beginners and the advanced.
The knowledge learned could be accessed immediately by dog handlers and dogs.
Abseiling with the helicopter
The next day they started to dismantle the tents and prepare for the next part of the training. Although it was rainy, the participants decided not to practice in the dry, but directly on the river. Abseiling exercises were carried out on a bridge on the Lech with the support of Bergwacht Augsburg. This training section serves as the basis for abseiling in difficult-to-access terrain with a helicopter. Despite the heavy rain, everyone was there with enthusiasm.
“In the debriefing it was found that all teams from Bavaria have a very high level of training.
This was an excellent advantage for the cooperation of all teams in terms of the exercises and securing the participants, ”writes Hofmann.
It was also decided that the rescue dogs should wear a uniform harness in Bavaria in the future.
This is currently under development and is expected to be in use by the end of this year.
It can be trained more effectively in larger groups
SICS Italy is the pioneer for water rescue dog training, and their concept has been adopted in Bavaria.
“So far, the teams in Italy have been tested.
From now on, our teams can be checked on site by our own inspectors, ”explains Hofmann.
In the end, the teams decided that in the future it would also make sense to train in larger groups in order to be able to practice more effectively.
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Just recently, the Moosburg water rescue service had to go on a large-scale operation: the emergency services recovered a lifeless man from the Anglberger Weiher near Zolling.
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