Training mountain rescue dogs

Training mountain rescue dogs

What are the abilities that a professional rescue dog needs? To guarantee that obstacles can be (17) ________, focus, stamina and agility are essential, not to mention outstanding natural instinct. Both a rigorous and comprehensive (18) ________ regime and a highly nutritious diet are vital for rescue work. It is regular rest, rather than constant activity, that provides animals with the (19) ________ they need to work. This means that sleep is more (20) ________ than constant hard exercise. Such a routine enables them to work very effectively when needed. Failure to follow a balanced schedule can result in the (21) ________ to maintain stamina. Regular training to increase muscular (22) ________ is also a vital part of a dog's routine, and this is (23) ________ done by running over obstacles. Rescue dogs are prone to injury but a careful training programme can ensure that the (24) ________ of these can be minimised.