Search dogs

The mountain rescue search dog associations in England and Wales (and those in Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man), have their roots in the Search and Rescue Dog Association (SARDA) which took shape in Scotland in 1965, inspired by the work of Hamish MacInnes, then team leader of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team. Having witnessed the use of avalanche rescue dogs in Switzerland, he set up the first UK training course in Glencoe, in December 1964, and SARDA was formed the following year.

Initially, the organisation covered the whole of the UK but, by 1971, it had split across country lines into Scottish, English and Welsh associations. Currently, there are four mountain search dog associations specific to England and Wales: Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England, Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs, SARDA South Wales and SARDA Wales.

Lakes Search Dogs

The Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs Association (LDMRSDA) is dedicated to the training, developing and deploying of search dogs within the Lake District mountains and fells. All Lakes dog handlers are operational members of mountain rescue teams within the Lake District and must already be competent in first aid and survival in a mountainous…

Read More

Search Dogs England

To find out more about Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England, go to www.mountainrescuesearchdogsengland.org.uk or find them on Facebook.

Read More

SARDA South Wales

To find out more about the Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA) South Wales, go to www.sardasouthwales.org or find them on Facebook.

Read More

SARDA Wales

To find out more about the Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA) Wales, go to www.sardawales.org.uk or find them on Facebook.

Read More