K9 Police Dog Training
K9 police dog training starts when the dog is still a young puppy. Certain breeds of dogs such as German Shepherds or Malinois are genetically wired for protection and patrolling tasks, while Labradors and Bloodhounds are naturally more talented for tasks such as searching and detection of certain goods .By choosing the right breed and using his naturally inbred talents, youve already taken one right step to successful K9 dog training.
The personality of the puppy is another factor to take into account when choosing a dog to train as a police dog. Police dogs must be alert, calm, obedient and smart. They cannot be shy or anxious because those traits at best will make them less capable and at worst, make them dangerous.
Why Are Police Dogs Called K9
Domesticated dogs are identified in Latin as Canis lupus familiaris, and the term canine has become a shortened version of that. The term K9 or K-9 is a homophone of canine and is used to abbreviate canine. While any dog can be referred to as a K-9, it is more commonly used to refer to police dogs now.
Canine working dogs have been used since the Middle Ages. Initially bloodhounds were used to hunt down outlaws. Over time, other dog breeds have been used, including German Shepherds, Retrievers, and Belgian Malinois.
Other Elements Of Police K9 Dog Training
Although the basic elements of police K9 training are very similar if not the same for every dog, there are also a wide variety of working situations which require very specific skill sets. Particularly for police dogs, no two job descriptions are ever the exact same. For this reason, we are happy to provide specialized training in any area specifically requested by our customers. If you need a dog to perform a job, we can train it!
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How Do Police Departments Obtain Their Dogs
According to the National Police Dog Foundation, most K9 units do not take in dogs from the public. They often get them from specialized breeders in Europe. This tradition has been in place for decades. Unfortunately, many police departments donât have a budget for K9 units. As a result, in many areas, agencies raise funds to acquire police dogs.
Police dogs must be intelligent, have a strong sense of smell and possess a willingness to work. Dogs that are innately shy or anxious donât make ideal police dogs. However, intensive training that begins at an early age can help foster certain traits in a dog. Socialization and obedience training are also important since dogs in K9 units must follow challenging and complex commands in demanding and stressful environments. Some police departments acquire dogs with basic obedience training and then assign them to more intensive training to bring them up to speed. In other cases, the police purchase dogs that have already undergone police dog training.
Regardless of how the dog was trained, itâs important for the police handler to develop a relationship with their canine. Once both the dog and its human partner are adequately trained, they are certified to work in the field.
K9 Positive Training: Overview
1. Do your best to eliminate compulsion from your training. Look for every opportunity to reinforce your dog for increasingly better efforts.
2. Support your local police canine foundation theyre often a source of funding for police K9 units.
Stephanie Colman is a writer and dog trainer in Los Angeles. She shares her life with two dogs and actively competes in obedience and agility.
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All About Police Dogs
Police dogs are specially trained to be part of the force. Theyâre referred to as K9s, a shortened version of the term âcanine.â Police dogs may sniff out criminals, drugs, bombs or other items, and different dog breeds may serve different purposes on the police force. For example, Rottweilers and Doberman Pinschers are often used for protection, and retrievers, hounds, collies, schnauzers and beagles are frequently assigned to search and rescue or drug detection missions. Moreover, Tarheel Canine Training explains that there are single and dual-purpose service dogs. Single-purpose dogs primarily track scents and provide protection. Dual-purpose dogs serve those functions and also detect narcotics or explosives.
PetPlace is committed to teaching pet owners around the world about how incredible their animal companions are. Today weâll be filling you in on everything you need to know about police dogs.
Police Dog Training Methods
After we bring the dog to our house and have named them it is very important task to train them as well so as to enhance their attachment with our family members. The method of educating a dog to perform various deeds in response to our commands is the basic of the police dog training methods. We must train our dogs to obey us by understanding our commands properly.
There are several methods of training. Dogs may be trained to follow some commands to obey us or to be obedient. They may also perform tricks, these require more advanced training. They can also help in guiding a blind or to rescue the victims at the time of emergency. Some dogs are used in hunting purposes, herding the cattle, tracking and retrieving. There are snuff dogs used by the police departments that aid in tracing out the culprits. So whatever the nature of job the dog is involved they are trained accordingly to serve us.
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The Importance Of Bonding In The K9 Training Experience
Although honing the physical and mental abilities of each and every dog we work with is of the utmost importance, there is one factor which is even more important to the long-term success of a dog and handler team. Because of the highly personal nature of the handler-dog relationship, bonding can be the most integral part of the K9 training experience.
A good patrol dog will attack without command in the event of an attack on its handler, and in order to have that kind of trust, there is no substitute for a properly executed training regimen. At Global, we focus heavily on the understanding that a handler must be able to rely upon his or her dog, and that in return a dog must be able to rely upon its handler as well.
How Are Police Dogs Named
A police dogâs name will be called out loudly and repeatedly throughout the course of its career. Most training facilities and K9 units agree that their dogs should have names that represent their aggressive, rough nature. After all, criminals should be intimidated when the handler calls out a police dogâs name. Yelling out âDaisyâ isnât likely to scare anyone. Names like Bomber, Kujo, Attila, Fury and Blade are more appropriate for police dogs.
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Train The Positive Police K9 Way
Whether training a strong-willed Shepherd or a creampuff Cavalier, the art and science of learning theory and behavior modication remains the same. White offers the following ve tips designed to improve training results:
1. For big results, youve got to think small. Always look for, and reinforce, the littlest increments on your way to the end behavior.
A nished behavior is the sum of its parts. For example, when training acceptance of nail trimming, remember to start with basic foot handling without clippers, and at a level your dog can tolerate. That might mean touching one toe, with one nger, for one second. Work up from there.
2. Street-reliable skill sets are narrow and deep. Concentrate on uency and generalization of the few behaviors youll need on the street.
Watch out for the jack of all
trades, master of none phenomenon, where your dog can sort of do a lot of things, but lacks a solid performance in any of them.
3. Over-train wisely. Build levels of uency, generalization, and resistance to distraction beyond what youll need on the street.
ln training classes, we practice stays while remotecontrolled cars pulling miniature wagons lled with treats zoom past. If your dog can do that, hes more likely to successfully handle sitting patiently as you prepare his dinner. Be creative in your training, but always work at a level that is fair to your dog.
Remember that behavior change doesnt happen overnight. Persistence, patience, and practice are key.
Breeds And Personalities That Are Preferred
There are two dog breeds that are most commonly used as K9 Unit service dogs. These breeds include the German Shepherd and the Belgian Malinois.
However, other dog breeds such as the Labrador retriever, giant schnauzers, and other shepherds are also used in the program.
Typically, the canines used in the Police Force are labeled as working dogs or hunting dogs.
These dog breeds are specifically bred for hard work, sniffing out a target, intimidation tactics, trainability, loyalty, and intelligence.
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By Step On How To Train A Police Dog
Its no doubt that this the police dog as well as its handler can take its place in the list of the most fascinating aspect of the force police.
That area of the police force is called the K9 unit. Since the times of the Romans, humans have been making use of the canines for hunting and general security. In the 1970s, the K9 unit started as an important asset for the departments of police across the U.S, and since then, it hasnt been less of that.
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In case you dont know, dogs converted to police dogs are mostly used in the crime scenes, they are also taken for operations taking down culprits, and the likes. You may already be asking, how can a dog be converted to a police dog?
Want to know, right? Lets proceed!
Now, take the CIA as an example the CIA is a complete team of professionals with distinctive dexterity, they are trained intensively to carry out their duties in order to keep America safe. And YES, that team has dogs as part of the team. The CIAs K9 Corps consist of about 15 officers could also call them doggy officers.
These doggy officers work hand in hand with the human handlers in order to get rid of explosive and securing people from danger. Most people desire to transform their dogs into a police dog are you part of them? Have you been looking for the step by step process?
Hello, here are they. Follow it carefully, read in-between the lines, and practice on your dog.
A More Reliable Way To Train
Fortunately, early in his career, White realized there were better ways beyond the force- and fear-based methods of his first experience. In the mid 1970s he began exploring the works of Leon Whitney , Ray Berwick and Patricia Gail Burnham . These three books served as a trilogy of concepts that was later supported by Karen Pryors Dont Shoot the Dog, and set a path toward a training future based on positive reinforcement.
Whites first post-military canine assignment came with the Kitsap County Sheriffs Office in Washington State, and he later joined the Seattle Police Department. He now also runs i2i K9 Professional Training Services, a consulting and training business operating out of Rivendale Learning Center, a No Force No Fear® training company owned and operated by Steve and his wife, Jennifer.
White learned that one of the problems with negative reinforcement and punishment is the ability to create conflict, as his Army dog, Astro, so aptly demonstrated. He also learned that, conversely, positive reinforcement and negative punishment are more likely to foster increased cooperation as the dog learns to trust the handler, and the team develops a stronger working relationship.
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Punishment In Dog Training Creates Conflict
For many dogs, especially those who are deliberately selected for their high-drive personalities and strong physical and emotional make-up, these techniques routinely create a conflict between dog and handler that results in a bite.
For White, the bite came after working with Astro, his first canine partner. The dog was willing to acquiesce to sit and perform heelwork, but was all too ready to fight back when White attempted to force him into a down. In an intense battle of wills, White sustained a bite that sidelined his training for two weeks. He returned to work a different dog and went on to finish the program as a Distinguished Honor Graduate.
was common enough that they taught you how to deal with it, says White. They taught you how to protect yourself . . . to string up a dog. If the dog came at you, you lifted up on the leash and kept the pointy end away from you until the dog stopped fighting. It wasnt an act of training it was an act of self-defense until the dog could no longer offer an offense.
One of the dangers of punishment, aside from the potential for physical harm and its ability to erode the dog-handler relationship, is the tendency for the handler to escalate out of frustration or a misguided desire for revenge.
Another media report recounted how, in June 2006, a frustrated Miami-Dade Police Sergeant, Allen Cockfield, delivered a lethal kick to his canine partner, Duke, in an ill-fated training session.
Are Police Dogs Trained To Be Aggressive
Bite sleeve training teaches police dogs to attack people who threaten the dogâs partner. During this type of training, an aggressor will wear a bite sleeve and act in a threatening manner toward the handler. When the handler gives a command, the calm dog will bark viciously and attack the sleeve. Dogs in the K9 unit are also trained to read their partnersâ body language. If the officer is relaxed, the dog will most likely be relaxed. But if the handler shows signs of fear or tension, the dog will react by intimidating the source of the threat.
Itâs worth noting that police dogs are trained not to engage in active aggression unless they are given a command. Attack commands are usually given in German. This is partly tradition and partly to ensure that the dog only responds to the handlerâs orders. Although police dogs can be aggressive on demand, they usually make great pets. These loyal, obedient and intelligent animals can become great additions to any family.
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The Cia Reveals Their Top 10 Dog Training Tips
The CIA is a team of elite professionals highly trained to keep America safeand that team includes dogs. The CIAs K-9 Corps is made up of 15 doggy officers who work alongside human handlers to sniff out explosives and protect people from harm.
According to official CIA documents, the dogs on the K-9 team are just like all of the CIAs best employees: enthusiastic, hard working, loyal, and dedicated. Theyre also highly trained by CIA handlers.
Of course, not every dog can join the CIA, but the CIA training program has a lot to teach us civilians and our dog best friends. Read on to learn more about CIA dogs, and how you can train your own best friend the CIA way.
Globals Approach To Police K9 Training
The first and most important aspect of Global Training Academys police K9 training program is handler protection. This means that the most immediate goal of any dog trained by us will be the defence of its owner. In the event of an attack on its handler, a properly trained K9 will attack, regardless of whether or not it is commanded to do so.
This is an important and well-established reflection of the dogs loyalty, and demonstrates the all-important bond that is necessary between a working dog and its handler. When properly trained, police K9s are absolutely committed to the protection and well-being of their handlers. Beyond any other skill set or ability, this loyalty is what separates good working dogs from great working dogs.
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Police Dog Training: K9 Unit
The K9 Unit is one of the departments within the police force which consists of the trained police dogs and their officer handlers.
Dogs have been an essential component to serving and protecting humans dating back to the Roman times when they would serve as security and companions.
In 1888, a search was conducted in London, England for Jack the Ripper. Bloodhounds were enlisted to assist with the search due to their impressive sense of smell and direction.
It wasnt long after this search for Jack the Ripper in 1888 that the European Police Force began enlisting the help of canines.
Can Pit Bulls Be Police Dogs
Pit bulls can make excellent police dogs, and they are becoming increasingly common. The first pit bull police dog in New York was a female named Kiah who came from an abusive environment and went on to become an excellent police dog. Most people from them to be even-tempered and highly trainable. That said, Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds are still the most common dogs used as police dogs.
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Why Do Police Teach Their Dogs In German Command
Police training their dogs in German command is beneficial for two reasons. First, it limits the issue of language barriers. Second, using German commands allows the dog to re-perform specific behaviors that involve obeying a humans orders as opposed to those of other dogs.
Also, According to K9 Officer Randy Widdicombe, its a myth that non-English commands are meant to ensure no one besides the handler can command the dog toattack or sit. In reality, most police dogs, German shepherd dogs in particular, are purchased overseas and were trained with those command words. Its easier for the officer to learn a few German words than to retrain the dog with new commands.