Sharmin Dominke, an Evergreen GRC member, has decades of showing, breeding, and working Golden Retrievers. What makes Sharmin unique is her commitment and experience with Search & Rescue (SAR). She is member of the German Shepherd Search Dogs of Washington State. Formed in 1961 it is the oldest air scent group in the USA. In 1996 she purchased her first Golden Retriever show dog,
Bear, who also then became her first SAR canine. She has two current Golden Retriever SAR canines. Risky (CH Tristar Nose No Bound'ries RN JH SAR-W SAR-U1 CGC) is 4 years old and certified in wilderness/urban live find, water search, human remains detection (HRD) land and HRD crime scene. Secret (Tristar's Page Of Secrets RI BN CGC MBISS) is 14 months old is currently working on live find searches and certification for Gun Shot Residue (GSR). She trains with the King County and Sound Transit Bomb dogs and plans to continue to seek certifications for her dogs.
I wanted to interview Sharmin about her experiences and share some insight about what it is like to work on a SAR team. Her decades of knowledge and commitment may inspire others to inquire about SAR with their Golden Retrievers. Sharmin shares some excellent lessons and stories in the following interview.
Bear was Sharmin’s first SAR canine, but originally purchased as a show dog. At 18 months old he had 14 points and both majors, so just needed a single to finish, but was too much for his current owners. Once he earned his final point Sharmin knew Bear needed more to do. At the time she had only been interested in SAR but had no experience with even hiking. At the ’98 National in Seattle she worked the rescue booth and happened to meet a woman who worked SAR and invited her out. From there the rest is history.
Sharmin has been on 100’s of rescue missions and shares her two most memorable rescue missions: “One was for a missing 2-year-old who was camping in the Olympics. Mom went in the tent to change and left the two-year-old in the wading pool in front of the tent flaps only to look out moments later and he was gone. The lake was just down the path which is where everyone was sure he was. I had the “privilege” of working my current dog on a canoe on the lake which was very entertaining but neither of us got wet. And even better the 2-year-old was found safe and sound by a teammates dog about 2 miles away. The best we could get out of him is he followed a bunny through the bushes. The other mission was down near the Carbon River for a 77-year-old gentle man who had gone missing. It was a long drive to base, but as I drove in, I stopped occasionally and yelled to see if I could get a response. At one point I thought I heard whistling but couldn’t pinpoint it. So, we continued into base, and I asked if the missing man knew how to whistle. His wife assured me she had been married to him for 50 years and her husband could NOT whistle so that was not him. Ironically, my assigned search area ended up being the river side of the road we drove in on. So, this time we walked working the dog and doing the same type of voice checks. Once again, I heard whistling and the dog wanted to go down into the riverbed which was quite steep, but following the dog, down we went. Only to find our missing gentleman standing in the middle of the river in a dry area, whistling as perfectly as anyone I had ever heard. He had made a bed in a dry part of the riverbed and was ready to settle in for the night. He was most upset that he had missed the JAG season finale. This was pre-DVRs and streaming so I told him I had recorded it on VHS and would mail it to him. He was very happy to hear that!!”
For those that are interested in SAR I asked Sharmin what are some mistakes that recruits make. She says that the biggest mistake is being determined to make a dog work and failing to recognize that not all dogs can be SAR dogs. “They spend years trying to fit a square peg into a round hole and in the end it usually just doesn’t work. I was fortunate and my first dog was an incredible search dog, but it doesn’t always work that way. So, I would stress the importance of being open minded and recognizing that not all dogs are cut out to be search dogs. Then they either need to be willing to get a new dog, not work a dog and be support or just realize SAR may not be in their future if they are determined to work a dog.”
Another mistake new recruits make is failing to realize the commitment needed. Unlike other dog or social clubs, SAR is mission focused. She says it is important to understand that it is more than a hobby. “Someone’s family member’s life may depend on us responding. I have heard it compared to a volunteer fire department. Yes, they are volunteers and yes, they can say they are not available but then the house may burn to the ground.” Sharmin also says that those who want to be involved with SAR should be self-starters who are motived to succeed. Find a team with personalities that you enjoy.
SAR is grueling physically. Sharmin says that SAR isn’t consistent in regard to missions. It can vary from months with no missions to a mission every day last multiple days at a time. She says that it is important for a handler to know what their own limits are. And mentally it is important to be aware of those challenges as well. “Like some dogs are not meant to be search dogs there are some people who are not meant to be search dog handlers.”
I asked Sharmin what she finds unique in using a Golden Retriever for SAR compared to other breeds. It’s not hard to miss that she is on a SAR team named after the German Shepherd. She says that there are a lot of GSDs in the group and that she herself loves them too. She spent time with her husband in Germany and at one point wanted one. But it’s hard to miss how “easy” Goldens can be. “. Golden Retrievers are just born social. They love people and they are easy to train to find people and they really want to be team players. The floppy ear dogs like the Labradors and the Goldens are also easily accepted by the public. They are not seen as a threat. Whereas a pointy ear dog like a German Shepherd, Malinois, Dutch Shepherd can be very intimidating to people. So, for a hobby that is already a challenge I just find Goldens make it that much easier.”
A good SAR interview wouldn’t be without advisement for hikers. What are some things hikers can do in the event of an emergency? Sharmin advises these top 10 essentials: Navigation, headlamp, sun protection, first aid, knife, fire, emergency shelter, extra food, extra water, extra clothes. And the importance of telling someone where you are going to be going and when you expect to be back. And if you do get lost to stay where you are so you don’t get more lost. This will also make the SAR volunteer’s job easier. There is also satellite based SOS beacons that can be helpful in areas with no cell service.
Thank you Sharmin for this wonderful interview and allowing us to get to know you and your Goldens.
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