Then Came Cam
(As seen in Golden Opportunities, V-32, Issue 2, 2025)
By Dennis Stauffer, ABCDT, ABC Mentor Trainer, Kennel Manager
We hear the same thing so many times from surrendering owners: “Too much to handle, too wild, can’t provide the needed exercise….” Last year (2024), we took in over 170 dogs that were two-years-old or younger, so we’re pretty used to handling the usual jumpy, mouthy, untrained, out-of-control adolescent dogs. In fact, those are the ones I enjoy most!
We’ll spend a couple of weeks working with these dogs on basic obedience and working on proper interactions, building self-control, and making sure they get plenty of exercise. Then when it comes time for their adoption, people often say, “Why would anyone give up such a wonderful dog?”
But then came Cam.
Cam, a one-and-a-half-year-old Labrador Retriever, was surrendered to us last June, and we heard the usual “too much to handle” reason. While we’ve seen a lot of adolescent behavior in dogs, this guy was anything but typical or usual. His drive to find toys was off the charts. In fact, it was so high that living with a typical family was not feasible. If his ball went under a couch, he would stop at nothing—including destroying the entire piece of furniture—to retrieve it. I knew that this guy was going to need special ways to channel this drive to be happy and do “work” that supported it.
I thought of National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF), located in Santa Paula, California. This 501(c)3 organization has the mission to strengthen disaster response in America by rescuing and recruiting dogs and partnering them with firefighters and other first responders to find people buried alive in the wreckage of disasters.
In the month Cam was at DVGRR, we conducted and videoed myriad tests requested by SDF. In over 15 years and over 5,000 dogs, Cam is the only dog that passed all the initial tests required by SDF. We’ve had others that came close and that almost passed but hesitated for just a second or two that caused them to fail. Not Cam. He continued to pass with flying colors, and we had countless conversations with the folks at SDF about his health and behavior. In July, SDF sent a van cross-country to take Cam to their facility in California.
SDF is looking for dogs with the highest imaginable drive… dogs that will plow through anything to get what they want. Dogs in this program may be sent all over the world to sites of plane crashes, flood zones, fire aftermath, etc. to find and aid in the rescue of survivors. They are the Navy SEALs of the canine world.
After he arrived in California, SDF has continued to update us on his progress. We recently learned
that he’s been elevated yet again to “senior” level. We hope he becomes part of the SDF team and that Cam will become a life-saver for disaster victims in need! We’ll keep you posted.
WATCH CAM’S VIDEO – click here!
CAM’S SDF UPDATES:
7/28/2025
Watch Cam’s Pairing Ceremony! Cam was paired with SDF’s Brock Bybee, who will continue to train him until they are ready for deployment.
7/20/2025
Cam graduated! Tune in Saturday, July 26, at 10:00 a.m. PDT (1:00 p.m. EST) to join the Search Team Pairing Ceremony watch party! Following months of training together at the NTC, they will celebrate the pairing of their newest search teams as trainers pass the leash, and their newly graduated search dogs (like Cam) debut with their new first-responder handlers for the first time. The watch party will be broadcast on Facebook, so mark your calendars and join us as we cheer on our latest teams! Click for details!
(Note that this will be a Facebook live on the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF)’s Facebook page. You can visit their page by clicking here.
5/12/2025
I am excited to let you know that this month, Cam was signed off on his canine aggression skill proficiency. He is now fully signed off and ready for the upcoming MPA. Until then, he will be perfecting his skills for his handler to come.
We are so proud of him and can’t wait to match him with a handler!
3/18/2025
Mr. Cam continues to impress!
He’s a fast learner in direction control and agility and is doing well with his long wait. He has been working for the new cohort of handlers here recently and he did amazing for them, winning them over with his goofy snuggles and his rock solid rubble searches and toy play.
We just love this happy boy!
3/6/2025
Here’s the latest on Cam!
Cam is an effervescent, energetic pup whose joyful personality is infectious. This smart boy loves to bark and quickly progressed from drive work to learning how to alert at a bark barrel. He recently started working on multiple barrels and finding the missing person, but he was starting to get a bit distracted, so the training team has been doing some isolated alert and drive work mixed in to keep it varied. We are excited to continue working with Cam!
2/19/2025
Can you give me some more details on Cam’s progress?
Currently in our Junior class, is moving up the ranks and seems to truly love this work! He’s working towards proficiency on all of the search elements, including agility, direction control, and obedience, and has already passed his bark alert, emergency stop, and human aggression benchmarks.
How many more steps does he have to go?
Cam has to complete all of his proficiencies (still left to go is off lead heeling, long wait, agility, dog aggression, rubble search, and direction and control). While it sounds a bit daunting, he’s well on his way to completion for all of those and has also been able to work with many visiting handlers and on challenging rubble searches – he’s done great with everything!
How long do you anticipate it will take before he gets assigned to a team or when he would be ready to be in the field?
As with most things, dog training progress is not exactly linear, so it’s difficult to really give a timeline. But once a dog is placed with their handler, the team will immediately begin working towards certification, which usually takes 6-12 months. Once certification is achieved, the team will be officially deployment-ready.
1/22/2025
Here’s the latest on Cam!
Cam has been busy with everything from rubble and building searches to learning the foundations of agility, direction control, and emergency stops. In addition to all the training Cam receives, he strikes the perfect work-life balance by taking long leisurely walks, enjoying the food enrichment prepared for him daily, and racing around outside with his playgroup friends.