Rubble search training in Finland

Challenging rubble search scenarios, different training approaches and plenty of opportunities to try something new: At a training camp in Lapua, Finland, participating search and rescue dog teams spent three days honing their skills and gaining valuable experience for their future training.

From 17 to 19 July 2026, Finnish IRO member organisation Suomen Palveluskoiraliitto (SPKL) hosted the camp in cooperation with IRO. The teams were supported by IRO Trainers Claudio Bötschi (Switzerland), Magdalena Koczera (Austria) and Borut Modic (Slovenia).

Tailored training approaches
Unstable surfaces, hard-to-reach hiding places and complex scent patterns presented the dogs with a variety of challenges. The training programme focused particularly on independent searching, moving confidently across rubble and accurately indicating the presence of human scent.

Divided into three groups, participants trained in a different rubble search area each day. The dogs’ individual abilities and working styles provided plenty of opportunities to tailor the training to their needs. Working closely with the handlers, the IRO Trainers analysed the challenges each team encountered and developed suitable solutions.

Particular attention was also paid to the interaction between the dog, its handler and the person in hiding. The structure of each exercise, the handler’s behaviour, and the hiding person's well-timed rewards all play an important role in successful training.

Training from the dog's perspective
Working with the IRO Trainers gave participants the opportunity to explore different approaches and take away fresh ideas for training their own dogs. They valued the attention given to each dog’s individual needs and abilities.

Particularly impressive was how the trainers approached challenges from the dogs’ perspective, broke complex tasks down into clear, understandable training steps and, in doing so, strengthened the dogs’ confidence.