Some meetings leave behind more than just a shared photo – they leave new ideas, valuable insights, and inspiration to keep moving forward.

A few days ago, some members of our association had the opportunity to meet Linda Dombrovska, Editor-in-Chief of the Medības magazine. Linda was joined by her charming German Wirehaired Pointer, Drātiņš, who quickly became the centre of attention and everyone’s favourite.

The conversation was both insightful and warm, with plenty of good humour. We discussed how to act when encountering wildlife in the forest, including bears, wolves, and lynx. We also talked about the safety of both people and dogs, preventive measures, and had the opportunity to learn more about bear deterrent spray and how to use it.

After the discussion, Linda also had the opportunity to see our dogs in action. We demonstrated not only a successful search process, but also what happens when things don’t go according to plan. It is precisely these situations that show how important a handler’s ability to analyse, adapt, and help the dog find the right solution truly is.

It was especially interesting to compare search work with rescue dogs and hunting dogs. Although our tasks are different, we realised that we have much more in common than one might initially think – close cooperation with the dog, trust, precision, and a constant desire to learn and improve.

A huge thank you to Linda for her time, open conversations, and the valuable exchange of experience. We truly believe this was just the first of many meetings to come, and that cooperation between different fields of working dogs helps all of us become more knowledgeable, safer, and stronger.