Sandy & Jett
Yara
Sage
Sandy Banthem joined Chesapeake Search Dogs in 2007 and became an Operational Flanker in 2008. In 2014 she became an Operational K9 Handler with her GSD partner Sage. In 2016 Sage became Operational as an Advanced Air-Scent dog. In 2020, Sandy became a NASAR certified HRD Handler with her second GSD partner, Yara. Yara and Sandy have also achieved IPWDA Crime Scene and Water certifications as well as an NSDA HRD Land cert. Sandy is currently training her third dog, a Border Collie named Jett. Jett has received his NASAR Canine III live-find cert, but is now focused on HRD only. Jett is certified with IPWDA in Land HRD, Crime Scene, and Water. Sandy holds a SARTECH I certification as well as an Amateur Radio Technician license and is an AKC, CGC Evaluator. Sandy and her husband Al, live in Harford County, Md.
Jett is a Border Collie who is operational in Wilderness Air Scent and Human Remains Detection and currently holds NASAR HRD III Land Certification, IPWDA Land HRD, Crime Scene and Water Certifications. Jett’s favorite things are his yellow balls and agility.
Yara is a German Shepherd Dog who is operational in Human Remains Detection and currently holds NASAR HRD III Land Certification, IPWDA Crime Scene, Basic Land, and Water Certifications, and NSDA HRD Land certification. Yara’s favorite things are spiky balls and treats.
Sage is a German Shepherd Dog who held a CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Certification, NASAR Canine SARTECH II Area Search certification, and is was operational as a Wilderness Advanced-Air Scent K9. She loved spending time with her handler, Sandy, playing with her Frisbees, and ice cubes. Sage retired in 2020, and passed in 2022 at almost 13 years old.