When a Cold War Nuclear Bunker Becomes a Training Ground for a Search & Rescue Dog

Barnton Bunker is more than a historic Cold War site. As restoration continues, the space is increasingly being used by community groups, educators, artists and specialist organisations who need a unique environment to train, learn or create. In January, that included a search and rescue training exercise, where the bunker’s complex layout became a real-world challenge for a working K9 dog and handler team.

The tunnels and stairwells weren’t echoing with stories of the Cold War. Instead, they became a real-life training ground for Cabella, a search and rescue dog, and her handler. From pitch-black corridors to three-storey stairwells, the bunker provided the kind of environment that’s almost impossible to recreate anywhere else. Hidden rooms, thick concrete walls, narrow passageways, and air vents that carry scent in unpredictable ways all combined to create a unique challenge.

As Cabella’s handler explained, the work is a true partnership:

“All the work I’ve told you about is very much a partnership. I couldn’t do it without her, and she couldn’t do it without me. I’ve had to learn to read her, to notice when something’s there, even if it’s not quite in the exact location yet.”

That relationship, built on trust and observation, is what makes search and rescue work possible.

Despite the intensity of the training, Cabella herself has a gentle personality:

“Believe it or not, she’s not much of a barker. She was actually taught to bark as a puppy, but she’s pretty quiet now. She’ll do anything for food, though, if you have something in your hand, she’ll just sit and stare at you.”

Moments like these are a reminder that behind every working dog is a companion with quirks, habits, and a life beyond training. For the volunteers who observed the session, the experience was unforgettable. Watching a search dog navigate the maze like interior of the bunker gave a completely different perspective on the space.

It also highlighted something important, Barnton Bunker isn’t just a historical site. It’s a living place, still being used in ways that serve the community today.

Built to survive the unthinkable, the bunker continues to find new purpose, sometimes in unexpected ways!

Huge thanks to K9 Search and Rescue and all the volunteers who spent the morning training underground. We hope to see them back again soon. To keep up with Cabella follow @k9sardac on Instagram.