Volunteer With Search and Rescue Dogs of Colorado
Two ways to help: become a handler team with your dog, or volunteer as a hidden subject to train ours.
Make a real difference when it matters most. When someone is lost in the mountains or a family is waiting for answers, our K9 teams step up. Search and Rescue is demanding, unpredictable, and deeply meaningful work — and every mission begins long before the callout. It starts with dedicated handlers who train week after week, building a partnership with their dog that can truly save a life.
If you and your dog thrive on challenge, love the outdoors, and want to serve your community, SARDOC is the place to grow. Our members train in rugged Colorado terrain, day and night, building the skills, fitness, and readiness needed for real-world missions. You’ll join a supportive team that values professionalism, teamwork, and the extraordinary power of the human-animal bond.
What being a SARDOC handler team looks like:
- Consistent weekly training and ongoing skill building
- Day/night work in varied environments
- Physical fitness for steep, remote terrain
- Certification standards and yearly maintenance
- Operational readiness for real deployments
If the idea of helping bring someone home inspires you — we’d love to meet you. Start with our Prospective Member Portal to learn the pathway and submit your interest form. And if you don’t have a SAR dog but still want to help, volunteering as a hidden subject is one of the most fun and valuable ways to support the team.
Become a Handler Team
Have a driven, confident dog and the time to train? SARDOC handler teams commit to a structured training pathway, field readiness, and certification standards that prepare you to deploy on real missions.
Start with the Prospective Member Portal to learn requirements, timelines, and submit your interest form.
Volunteer as a Hidden Subject
Volunteers are essential to training our dogs. You’ll hide where a trainer tells you, wait while the dog searches, then reward and celebrate the find. It’s simple, safe, and genuinely fun.
What you’ll do:
- Hide in safe, simple locations
- Wait quietly while dogs search
- Reward the dog when found
- Be part of real SAR training days
No SAR experience or dog required — we guide you every step of the way.
