Below the water line – The rise of Water Search Dogs in Ireland
In a country crisscrossed with countless rivers, over 12,000 lakes and delimited by a rugged 7,500-kilometer coastline, water is part of life in Ireland. It’s beautiful, and unforgiving.
"During summer in Ireland, short periods of very warm weather can lead people to swim in unfamiliar or unsafe locations, and accidents do occur," says Éadaoin O’Gorman, founder of Hounds and Helis and Training Officer for ISSARD, Ireland’s Specialist Search and Rescue Dogs. "In winter, heavy rainfall and storm conditions cause rivers and lakes to rise and overflow, turning previously safe ground into a hazard for walkers."
These incidents place significant pressure on Search and Rescue (SAR) teams, who work tirelessly to recover those missing and bring closure to families in distress. “Having additional assets such as trained search dogs can make a meaningful difference," Éadaoin says.
The rise of Water Search Dogs
But until now, Human Remains Detection (HRD) dogs, also called cadaver dogs, were limited by the shoreline.
"Until this year, our cadaver dog training has focused mainly on land recovery," she explains. "But there is an urgent need in Ireland for dogs who are trained to detect deceased casualties submerged under water".
ISSARD Team on National Training in Cork, Ireland.
In 2026, that capability will begin taking shape. Through a new collaboration between ISSARD and Killarney Water Rescue, Éadaoin is launching Ireland’s first dedicated Water Search Dog project: a specialized unit of HRD dogs trained to detect scents from above the surface.
“This project will allow us to train dogs to search from boats and bring an entirely new capability to missing person searches in Ireland.”
An opportunity for other SAR teams around the world to learn from this work, and to develop their own water recovery capabilities based on what’s being built here.
How water scent detection works
The science of scent in water is different from how it works on land.
"As a body decomposes underwater, microscopic scent particles and gases are released and travel upward through the water column to the surface. Once they reach the surface, wind and current disperse that scent across the water".
"HRD dogs are trained to detect human scent by identifying the unique odor produced during human decomposition," Éadaoin explains. Water search dogs are trained further to sample the air just above the surface from a shoreline or boat.
"The boats we work from are small and purpose-selected, with the bow kept close to the water’s surface so the dog can sample scent as close to the water as possible," she says.
K9 Pepper is working from a boat.
On the water, it becomes a tightly coordinated effort. The coxswain is responsible for maintaining a slow, steady speed so the dog can work effectively, while the handler directs the search pattern across wind and current.
Meanwhile, the specialized training of the canine crew member comes into play.
“The dog’s movement is restricted, the surface and motion of the boat are unfamiliar, and they can no longer independently work to source,” Éadaoin says.
"When the dog encounters human scent, they show a change in behavior that alerts their handler," she says. From there, the water rescue team intervenes.
Connected by purpose
For recovery to succeed, Éadaoin insists that dog handlers, coxswains, and water rescue specialists must work as one, each bringing critical knowledge shaped by experience on land and water.
"My biggest piece of advice is to work in partnership with local river rescue or water rescue teams from the very beginning," she says. "SAR dog teams are experts in dogs and scent behaviour. Water rescue teams are experts in how water behaves, including currents, tides, submerged hazards, eddies, sieves, and how those elements change with weather and time. That knowledge is critical, not just for effective training, but for safety".
Lorraine from Killarney Water Rescue and Éadaoin are working on a boat with K9 Murphy.
And the results show when those worlds train together.
"When dog teams and water rescue teams train together, you get safer operations, better informed search strategies, and dogs that are trained in realistic and well managed conditions. It is not something that should be developed in isolation."
Gear that can keep up
That same level of trust and reliability extends to the gear they use in the field. When dog teams are working in unpredictable conditions, every piece of equipment becomes part of the team.
"When the gear does its job properly, it removes a whole layer of concern for the handler. We don’t have to worry about whether the dogs are cold, wet, or unsafe. We can focus entirely on the search".
The most critical piece for her canine team on the water: dog life jackets.
"Every dog working from the boats wears a Non-stop dogwear Protector life jacket. We needed something that fitted properly, stayed secure in moving water and boat conditions, and that we could genuinely trust," she says. "The fit is so good that the dogs are completely unfazed by wearing them. They move, work and focus exactly as they would without them, which is crucial”.
K9 Pepper with handler Becci during a Water Search training.
Post-mission, recovery gear matters just as much. The dogs wear drying coats to wick away moisture fast, and fleece dog jackets to stay warm and comfortable before and after a deployment.
For those ready to step in
This is a demanding discipline, and Éadaoin is open and eager to support those willing to take it on.
"We’ll be sharing regular updates from our Water Search Dog training on social media," she says. "For those who want a deeper look behind the scenes, we’ll also be putting together a monthly newsletter. That will give more detailed insight into each training block, what we worked on, the challenges we encountered, and how the dogs and handlers are progressing."
If you are based in Ireland and want to get involved or support the work, you can reach out to ISSARD.
Internationally, Éadaoin also leads The Crew, a global online community for handlers.
"The Crew is my online community for cadaver and mantrailing handlers. It’s a place where operational handlers, teams in training, and pet dog owners come together to learn, share, and grow," she says.
With you in every operation
At Non-stop dogwear, we are proud to support professionals like Éadaoin and her team through our Pro program. Our focus is to be the best facilitator of dog and human equipment to professionals whose work revolves around dogs.
“It ensures that our dogs will have the equipment they need to train safely and comfortably,” Éadaoin says, “and it eases the financial pressure on our volunteer team members.”
If your work takes you into the field, the water, or the unknown, and your dogs go with you, we’re here to make sure you are equipped for it.
