Beagles for Search and Rescue

Question
Hi, I've got a question about training Beagles for search and rescue. I've been training dogs for search and rescue for years, mainly Golden Retrievers, but my main dog will retire soon, so I'm looking for another dog. Because we also do a lot of helicopter work I'm actually looking for a breed which is smaller than the Goldens and I would like to know your opinion about training Beagles for search and rescue.
Thank you very much

Kind regards
Muriel Dekker

Answer
Hi thanks for writing, interesting question. My first thoughts are that they are frequently used as customs dog due to their heightened sense of smell, their noses are supposedly many times more sensitive than other breeds, they also are rabbit hunters using scent to track and then alert with baying. Other thoughts are however that they are very food driven and not as much driven by being rewarded with play or praise. To train a beagle you pretty much have to do it with treats although it isnt as if they can't learn with clicker training as well but it IS a lot of work, they also tend to be distractible unless food is involved and then they are very focused and single minded in their purpose.

I guess my final thoughts would be that it isnt impossible and they might be really really good at it because of the scent abilities and can be trained to alert with baying but it will take a tremendous amount of patience and work to get there. While some dogs might take to it easier because they want to please or with some breeds working is satisfaction for them, beagles do stuff because they get to eat!  :) I am sure however that there would be a way to extinguish the eating as reward once training was established and shift over to praise or play intermittently with treats. I just know in my experience as I said it will take lots of dedication and I don't think you could ever completely extinguish the distractibility factor because they are hard wired to use their first brain, their nose! It can be lessened though with a lot of training.

Hope this helps!