Black Hawk is proud to feed all operational Land Search & Rescue Dogs in New Zealand (LandSAR).
LandSAR trust the real, quality ingredients in Black Hawk to give their dogs everything they need to stay healthy and happy.
Nourishing the Extraordinary
When these dogs are called upon, being healthy and in top condition matters. Quality nutrition plays an important role in supporting their overall health and wellbeing, and Black Hawk is incredibly proud to feed the operational LandSAR Search Dogs and play a part in supporting the extraordinary work they do.
Because some dogs do extraordinary things. We believe they deserve to be nourished accordingly.
Proudly feeding New Zealand Land Search and Rescue Dogs
At Black Hawk, we believe some dogs do extraordinary things, and they deserve extraordinary care.
That’s why we’re proud to support and feed the operational dogs of New Zealand Land Search and Rescue Dogs, helping provide the quality nutrition these remarkable dogs need to stay healthy, happy and ready for the important work they do.
It’s all part of our commitment to Nourishing the Extraordinary.
Who are New Zealand Land Search and Rescue Dogs?
New Zealand Land Search and Rescue Dogs is a volunteer search dog organisation providing specialist search and rescue services to help find lost, missing and injured people across Aotearoa. Its dog teams work alongside Police and other search and rescue volunteers in outdoor environments throughout New Zealand.
There are 16 operational search dog teams across Aotearoa, with volunteer handlers available from Northland to the Catlins.
Behind every team is an extraordinary partnership between dog and handler, built through extensive training, trust and a shared commitment to helping others.
Extraordinary instincts. Life-changing work.
A search dog’s greatest tool is something that comes naturally: their remarkable sense of smell.
LandSAR Search Dogs train for different types of search work. Tracking dogs follow scent left behind where a person has walked, while area search dogs detect human scent carried through the air. All of the dogs are also trained in article searching, locating items carrying human scent.
These abilities make search dogs a highly specialised resource, capable of searching across varied environments and working effectively during the day and at night.
It takes time to become a search dog
Becoming a qualified search dog doesn't happen overnight.
Training a search dog is a two-to-three-year process, requiring a significant commitment from both dog and handler. Handlers must first be operational field team members of a local Land Search and Rescue group, helping ensure they have the outdoor and operational skills required to work safely as part of a search and rescue team.
It's an extraordinary commitment from volunteers and their dogs, with countless hours dedicated to developing the skills they'll need when called upon.
Did you know?
Different search dogs use scent in different ways
Tracking dogs work with their noses to the ground, following scent left where someone has walked, while area search dogs detect human scent carried on the air.
They can search at night
Search dog teams routinely operate during the evening, overnight and in the early morning.
Every dog can perform an article search
LandSAR Search Dogs are trained to locate and indicate items carrying human scent, which can provide valuable information during a search.
There are 16 operational teams across Aotearoa
Operational handlers are located from Northland to the Catlins, ready to deploy as part of a coordinated search and rescue response.
Watch the below video and see what it’s like to be a Land Search & Rescue Dog like Rocket, and the incredible bond that he shares with his partner Matt.